Londoners brace for Olympic traffic

2012-07-02 59

As workers block off 30 miles of busy streets for Olympic traffic, not everyone is in the celebratory mood.

Many Londoners are planning to work from home or escape the city during the rush.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) COMMUTER SANDRA JONES SAYING:

"Absolutely diabolical and everybody is worried. I know a lot of people who have taken holiday to go away because they can't cope with it."

One taxi driver is happy the games will bring customers.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) TAXI DRIVER MITCH SMITH SAYING:

"I'm very optimistic about it because the Olympics is on the six quietest weeks of the year for us, so it can only be a good thing."

From a high-tech monitoring center, London's transport COO said all resources will be used to accommodate visitors without disrupting daily commutes.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) GARRET EMERSON, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR SURFACE TRANSPORT AT TRANSPORT FOR LONDON (TFL), SAYING:

"There are two challenges for us here - one is to get the Games family where they need to be and put on a fantastic Games, the second is to keep London moving."

The summer sporting event will run from July 27 through August 12.

Lindsey Parietti, Reuters