London 'Games Lanes' open for VIP travel

Описание

As traffic whizzes by on London's roads, one lane remains almost empty. This is one of the new Games lanes which opened across the capital on Wednesday. The 100-mile network is reserved for Olympic officials, athletes, sponsors and the media. The lanes have sparked complaints and protests from residents, and from drivers of the city's famous black taxis who are also banned from using them. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TAXI DRIVER: There is a lot of confusion about at the moment. I dare say by the weekend, I mean they'll all be enforced by then - but there's a hell of a lot of confusion. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECOND TAXI DRIVER: You're going to get it wrong. Drivers are going to get it wrong, definitely. That's going to happen all the time. And 130 pounds fine - that's not cheap. Olympic organisers stress that providing dedicated lanes for Olympic traffic is a key requirement for all host cities. With days to go until the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday, Transport for London continued to encourage Londoners to walk, cycle or work from home to beat the crowds. Simon Hanna, Reuters