In an attempt to increase active travel levels and ease congestion during the Olympic Games, London 2012, in conjunction with Transport for London, has enhanced its Active Travel programme, with a range of measures which promise to make it even easier to walk or cycle to the London 2012.
Above: The Walker family from Cheltenham have planned their journey to the games using the Active Travel programme's new journey planner. (Getty Images)
The programme offers 18,800 free cycle parking spaces across the Olympic venues, with 7000 at the Olympic park alone. There will also be free ‘keep you going’ cycle maintenance available at the Olympic Park, Box Hill, Hampton Court, Hadleigh Farm and Brands Hatch.
A range of new maps will highlight the variety of cycle routes around the Olympic Park, which, combined with an easy to use journey planner, promises to make active travel to the Games a real option.
Furthermore, the Active Travel programme includes 425 guided cycle rides, giving Games-goers inspired by Team GB’s efforts to burn some calories of their own, whilst learning new routes under the guidance of experienced ride leaders.
A family that is taking full advantage of the Active Travel programme during their stay in London is the Walker family from Cheltenham. Jim Walker, his partner Bronwen and four children, Noah (6), Toby (13), Ben (16) and Jake (18) have planned their walking route along the Jubilee Greenway to the Olympic Stadium, to watch the Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby, using the spectator journey planner.
Bronwen Thornton said: “We’re really looking forward to walking to the Games and Noah is especially excited that he can bring his scooter with him to beat his brothers back to the hotel. It’s fantastic that there are such great routes for us to use. This way we know we get to burn off some of our own energy and make sure we don’t miss seeing any of the athletes burning theirs!"
The organising committee claims that London 2012 will be the first Games to run an active travel programme of this scale and is working with Transport for London to “use the power of the Games to encourage walking and cycling across the UK”.
The programme aims to enable around 300,000 spectators to cycle or walk their whole journey to venues in London and many more to incorporate cycling or walking within their journey. TfL anticipates an additional one million active travel journeys every day across London during the Games.
In guidance issued to ticketholders, London 2012 is advising: ‘leave plenty of time to travel to your venue. London will be extremely busy and very different to what you’re used to.’
Also launched is TFL’s revised London Cycle Guide for the Olympic Park and surrounding area. The map highlights the variety of on and off road cycling routes available and shows the Games time diversions and temporary spectator cycle parking locations. It is available to order online from www.tfl.gov.uk/cycleguides.
