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London 2012: Olympics road restrictions begin amid confusion London 2012: Olympics road restrictions begin amid confusion
(about 1 hour later)
Drivers in London say they are confused by new road restrictions designed to help the movement of Olympic athletes, officials and the media. Drivers in London say they are confused by new road restrictions designed to help the movement of Olympic athletes.
Starting from 06:00 BST, a £130 fine has become enforceable for drivers and cyclists driving in the Games Lanes.Starting from 06:00 BST, a £130 fine has become enforceable for drivers and cyclists driving in the Games Lanes.
Puzzled drivers said some lanes were still open to all traffic, while some signs appeared to be conflicting. Transport for London said motorists should follow advice on electronic road signs while Locog said the lanes had allowed athletes to reach the venues.
Transport for London asked people to follow the advice on 150 matrix signs. About 25% Games Lanes are now active. However, puzzled drivers said some lanes were open to all traffic while some signs seemed to be conflicting.
The TfL spokeswoman said the lanes were intended to be "flexible" and up-to-date advice was available. About 25% of the Games Lanes, which are intended to let athletes, Olympic officials and the media move quickly around the city, are now active.
A TfL spokeswoman said the lanes were intended to be "flexible" according to traffic needs and up-to-date advice was available.
Some of the lanes are activated and the messages on these will be adapted according to traffic flow and the demands of the Olympic "family". TfL is monitoring the lanes using CCTV cameras.Some of the lanes are activated and the messages on these will be adapted according to traffic flow and the demands of the Olympic "family". TfL is monitoring the lanes using CCTV cameras.
'According to need''According to need'
There were traffic jams and queues on a several roads including the M4, the A4 and the A40 in west London; the A12 at the Lea Interchange and A13 Canning Town Flyover in east London; and in central London at Hyde Park Corner and Euston Road. There were jams and queues on a several roads including the M4, the A4 and the A40 in west London; the A12 at the Lea Interchange and A13 Canning Town Flyover in east London; and in central London at Hyde Park Corner and Euston Road.
TfL said that while 170 miles of road that made up the UK-wide Olympic Road Network (ORN) was now in force, the Games Lanes were being adjusted according to traffic needs. The traffic has returned to normal on most roads, with the exception of those leading up to the Hammersmith flyover where vehicles are restricted to one lane, BBC London's travel desk reports.
On Twitter Jon Mack asked: "Could this be less clear?" Many commuters and motorists complained they were confused by the changes.
On Twitter, Jon Mack asked: "Could this be less clear?"
The BBC's Chris Lansdown said that on the A40 eastbound near the Hanger Lane underpass in west London, a blue sign by the roadside told drivers that the Games Lanes were being enforced, but a matrix sign advised motorists they could use the reserved lane.The BBC's Chris Lansdown said that on the A40 eastbound near the Hanger Lane underpass in west London, a blue sign by the roadside told drivers that the Games Lanes were being enforced, but a matrix sign advised motorists they could use the reserved lane.
He said: "It was already causing a tailback at 06:45."He said: "It was already causing a tailback at 06:45."
Stephen Sitaram, a lorry driver from Hillingdon, said navigating the Hanger Lane roundabout was challenging as one lane was "coned off" and the Games Lane started some distance down the road, leading to a traffic build-up.Stephen Sitaram, a lorry driver from Hillingdon, said navigating the Hanger Lane roundabout was challenging as one lane was "coned off" and the Games Lane started some distance down the road, leading to a traffic build-up.
He said people joining the A40 were guided by notices saying Games Lanes were in operation, but there were no digital signs clarifying whether or not they were activated until drivers reached Marylebone Road.He said people joining the A40 were guided by notices saying Games Lanes were in operation, but there were no digital signs clarifying whether or not they were activated until drivers reached Marylebone Road.
Mr Sitaram said: "They are making it confusing. They should have illuminated signs rather than sticker signs. If you join in halfway, you don't know... that's why a lot of traffic is building up."Mr Sitaram said: "They are making it confusing. They should have illuminated signs rather than sticker signs. If you join in halfway, you don't know... that's why a lot of traffic is building up."
Paul Camp, who was driving on Euston Road, said he was stuck in an "unnecessary traffic jam" for 40 minutes as people were wary of using the Games Lane, despite a digital sign instructing them to do so.Paul Camp, who was driving on Euston Road, said he was stuck in an "unnecessary traffic jam" for 40 minutes as people were wary of using the Games Lane, despite a digital sign instructing them to do so.
He said: "You know there is chaos because the lane is empty while we sit in the traffic, but the digital sign was saying all traffic can use it.He said: "You know there is chaos because the lane is empty while we sit in the traffic, but the digital sign was saying all traffic can use it.
"People are thinking the sign may be wrong and hasn't been changed.""People are thinking the sign may be wrong and hasn't been changed."
BBC London 94.9 reporter Jason Rosam said motorists on Marylebone Road were sticking to just one lane as they "don't realise the former bus lane is now open to all traffic", despite signs on the road saying so.BBC London 94.9 reporter Jason Rosam said motorists on Marylebone Road were sticking to just one lane as they "don't realise the former bus lane is now open to all traffic", despite signs on the road saying so.
Contrary to the misery expressed by motorists, cyclists seemed happy about the change. Contrary to the misery expressed by motorists, some cyclists seemed happy about the change.
Scott McMillan tweeted: "If London can give up some road lanes for the Olympics, it can give them up for good. After the Games, turn them into cycle lanes."Scott McMillan tweeted: "If London can give up some road lanes for the Olympics, it can give them up for good. After the Games, turn them into cycle lanes."
Leon Daniels, TfL's managing director of surface transport, said people accidentally straying into the lanes would not automatically incur a fine.Leon Daniels, TfL's managing director of surface transport, said people accidentally straying into the lanes would not automatically incur a fine.
He said: "We don't want enforcement, we want compliance. Nobody will be harshly dealt with if the Games Lane becomes activated after they pass it."He said: "We don't want enforcement, we want compliance. Nobody will be harshly dealt with if the Games Lane becomes activated after they pass it."
Debbie Jevans, Locog's director of sport, said: "The traffic has moved, the Olympic lanes have worked well this morning and athletes have gone to the venues and are training as they have been for a week now."
The Games organiser's director of communications, Jackie Brock-Doyle, said: "London is moving well this morning."
Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: "There will be a lot of disruption and London is a congested city anyway."Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: "There will be a lot of disruption and London is a congested city anyway."
Some 30 miles of road in London have been designated as Games Lanes, and are clearly marked with the Olympic circles logo. Cat Kobylinski, from traffic information firm Inrix, said journeys into London from Heathrow took "more than twice the normal length of time" and "congestion doubled" between Waterloo and London Bridge.
TfL is urging people to avoid driving into central London and near the venues and warned that roads within the North Circular and the South Circular are likely to be badly affected, with the A2, A3, A12, A13 and A40 likely to experience congestion. TfL has urged people to avoid driving into central London and near the venues and warned that roads within the North Circular and the South Circular were likely to be badly affected, with the A2, A3, A12, A13 and A40 likely to experience congestion.
More information can be found on the Olympic "Get Ahead of the Games" website.More information can be found on the Olympic "Get Ahead of the Games" website.
Live travel updates can also be found online from the Highways Agency and on BBC London 94.9.Live travel updates can also be found online from the Highways Agency and on BBC London 94.9.
Have you been affected by the designated Games Lanes? What do you think about the restrictions? You can send us your views and comments using the form below.Have you been affected by the designated Games Lanes? What do you think about the restrictions? You can send us your views and comments using the form below.