Commuters urged to travel differently during London Olympics

Transport ambition is to reduce non-Olympic demand during the Olympics by 30 per cent

Commuters and businesses in London are being urged to think differently about how they travel during the Olympic Games, such as walking or cycling to work instead if they live near.

Commuters who live further away are being encouraged to try different routes, stagger their journey times to avoid the busiest periods, work remotely, or use video conferencing for meetings.

It is predicted that 3rd August 2012 will see an extra three million trips made on top of the 12 million trips on public transport being made on an average London workday.

In the run up to the Olympics, around £6.5bn has been invested in upgrading and extending transport links including the first ever domestic high speed train in Britain, new stations, more tube trains and line extensions.

Investment has been put into everyday improvements such as innovative customer travel information systems and more user-friendly walking, cycling and river routes.

Up to 800,000 spectators and 55,000 athletes, officials, organisers and members of the media will be travelling to and from the Olympic venues every day. The overall transport ambition is to reduce non-Olympics demand during the Olympics by 30 per cent, although there will need to be larger reductions at specific stations and lines.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "The Games will be a once-in-a-generation test for both our transport system and our adaptability. As we edge ever closer to the Olympics, hand-in-hand with new investment must go new solutions."

Further information:
Department for Transport