London Mayor Boris Johnson urged to “get a grip” on cycling issues before Games begin
Green Party London Assembly member Darren Johnson has expressed concern Olympic chiefs are encouraging people to walk and cycle during the Games next week, but are making it difficult for people to do so.
Last week a towpath from Homerton Road, billed as a primary cycling and walking route to the Olympic Stadium, was suddenly fenced off for “security reasons.”
A long and complicated diversion includes notoriously dangerous roads, and commuters are up in arms.
“The Mayor and the Olympics organisers are encouraging people to cycle and walk, rather than driving or using public transport, but they are not making it easy for many people to do so,” said Mr Johnson.
“Cycling should be one of the quickest, healthiest and most convenient ways of getting around London during the Olympics,” he said.
You may also want to watch:
“But cycle parking at the Olympic Park is actually a 30 minute walk away from the entrance and people who work in the park have nowhere to change or store cycling clothes and equipment.
“A major cycling route has been closed off along the towpath near the Olympic Park and the advertised alternative routes include the notorious Bow Roundabout.”
Most Read
- 1 'Heads need to roll', says domestic violence campaigner after 'reckless' council data blunder
- 2 Key road closed: Hackney and Islington travel news July 31 - August 6
- 3 Students earn scholarships at top schools worth £150,000
- 4 'It's like toilet', say Dalston residents who have had enough of broken locks, rats and scaffolding
- 5 £5.75m investment agreed for "historic" Clapton leisure centre
- 6 Dangerously overloaded vans leaving New Spitalfields Market taken off the road
- 7 Lidl opens! First shoppers enjoy Finsbury Park supermarket
- 8 Anti-lockdown and vaccination camp remains in Hackney Downs after a week
- 9 Massive drugs haul suspected to be worth over £1million seized in Hackney
- 10 Drug dealer who killed "beloved" Hackney father convicted
Mr Johnson expressed concern that people who stray into the Games Lanes will face a fine of �130, and that with just over a week to go, the plans for the extra cycle parking promised for commuters in central London are still not clear.
“I do hope the Mayor can get a grip on these issues before the Games begin, otherwise it could dull some people’s enjoyment of what should be a great event,” added Mr Johnson.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games has not answered the Gazette’s request for comment.
