Countdown to the biggest transport snafu London has ever seen?

London, host city to the 2012 Olympic Games, will be shouldering the burden of up to three million extra journeys each day during the global sporting event, putting its transport system to the test.

Across both games there will be 14,000 athletes, 7,000 technical officials, more than 20,000 media and 11million spectators.


How our transport infrastructure deals with the surge in numbers during the summer months - when it will be used more than ever before - will largely determine the success of the games as a whole.


Transport disruptions have the ability to affect us in more ways than simply delaying the time we arrive at our intended destination. A disruption to the individual often has a knock-on affect that snowballs, even affecting society itself.


So far, the outlook has been dismal. Potential staff cuts on the railway as well as flexible hours for staff on the underground will only serve to further strain the transport network. 
We took a quick look at the issues that will be affecting the nine million plus ticket holders, commuters, residents and tourists alike as they struggle to traverse the nation's capital from July 25 to September 11.

Games Lanes 

Dedicated lanes to ensure the uninterrupted passage of athletes, VIPs, officials and media - will impose restrictions on the flow of traffic to and from, in and around, Olympic venues. Pall Mall will be closed to motorists over the Olympic Period while it is used for events such as the marathon and the nearby Equestrian centre is built.




Taxis
The result of all that traffic congestion and prolonged queuing time? A taxi-fare that gets bigger and bigger while you go nowhere. Many of London's black-cab drivers are threatening to quit the streets in protest against travel restrictions.


Steve the black cab driver: "They've got us handcuffed during the olympics, I'm going to have to use a helicopter to get around."


Tubes and Trains
Over 20,000 railway network job cuts will leave London with a 'third-class service' with 'eye-watering' fare rises. Not to mention the serous risk of over-crowding as commuters clash with ticket-holders on their way to an early-morning event showing.


Cyclists
Don't rely on the the indestructible Boris Bike to get you around the city during the games. There's a real risk of strike action by members of the RMT Union that could lead to severe disruption in services including Barclay's Cycle Hire, whose workers are affiliated to the union.
Andreas @ London Cyclist: "Many of the bus lanes will be closed to cyclists to allow for officials, sponsors and athletes to move through the city. I fear that safer routes through the capital will be restricted for cyclists and we'll have to merge with the rest of the traffic."


Hospitals and donors
Road closures risk preventing medical supplies and even donor blood and organs from reaching hospitals in good time. Hospitals in London are considering reorganising surgery timetables, changing shift patterns and moving delivery ties all to accommodate the olympics. 


Businesses
Although TFL has been engaging with businesses, there are many who have been left feeling disillusioned by false assurances as to the extent of travel disruptions. 45 companies in Hackney Wick have expressed their discontent for the disruption to their businesses by sending a petition to their local council.
Graham Phelps of Phelps Transport: "All we have been told is that we will be able to trade and we will be fine. If something goes wrong we've had it."


Commuters
Companies have encouraged their workers to stay at home or work alternative hours during the games. Economists have forecast that the overall affect on the economy will be negative, despite the retail boost from visiting olympic-goers.
Are you affected by any of the issues above? If so leave a comment letting us know how you plan to get around on @FJMayhew or @ryrealtalk

How Pleasant to know Mr Lear

The unusual personality of Edward Lear, the quirky writer of The Owl and the Pussycat and other ‘nonsense’ limericks, is being celebrated this year as 12^th May marked his 200^th birthday.

Edward Lear, self portrait by the artist

Born in Holloway in 1812, Lear suffered asthma, bronchitis, depression and epilepsy which many think gives a melancholy tinge to his work.

Yet he created many fantasy worlds, fantastic creatures such as the ‘Quangle Wangle’ and introduced fun new words like ‘runcible spoon’ into the English language.

Michael Rosen, children’s author and broadcaster for BBC Radio 4's 'Word of Mouth' will be performing at the Nonsense Poetry Slam at Platform in Islington on 29^th May to celebrate the bicentenary.

He says that there is an incredibly diverse poetry scene in north London from commemorations of past poets like Keats House, presenting new work (traditional or not) and at poetry slams performed with music or dance.

Michael Rosen

Rosen who sometimes uses Yiddish words in his poetry which English people are unfamiliar with, says: “The funny thing about 'runcible' is that it had no meaning. Lear used it in very different ways. I think he liked the sound of it.”

The great thing about creating new words, or neologisms is that once they’re in the English language people want to know what they mean.  Lear’s ‘Runcible spoon’ caused years of intrigue and is now generally accepted to be the term for a three-pronged fork which is spoon-shaped.

Dean Atta who performs all over the country at part of a Poetry collective called Rubix from Camden, will use slang and other influences such as Jamaican patois in his poetry.

He says:  “Some words are not in the English dictionary but are in people’s spoken vocabulary. I’m happy to use it if my audience knows what I mean.”

Dean Atta, spoken word artist, described by the Guardian at the Iphone Poet after his poem about Stephen Lawrence went viral

Atta recently had a surge of interest in his work when his spoken word poem in memory of Stephen Lawrence went viral online.

When I spoke to him about Edward Lear he said he’s never written a limerick himself.

“It makes me think I should teach limericks at workshops, they’re quite cool. They are quite accessible in that they are easy to recite.”

Rosen adds: “I think limericks are a popular art form. People love the neatness and punch of them. They particularly like them if they're about people or places they know.”

Atta is brought into English lessons to teach poetry to help prepare students for their GCSEs and A-levels and also to help those who are learning English as a second language.

Lisandro Tavares is a young spoken word artist who performs under the name Poetika around London at spoken word events at venues such as the Buffalo Bar near Highbury & Islington station.

He believes poetry should be taught as a vocation in schools and that it has the power to create a link between teachers and pupils. 

Poetika Uk check out http://poetika.co.uk/

“A lot of people are webtroverts, meaning they’re disconnected in life and can only connect and express themselves through words online.” He says.

“What you think, to what you write down, to how you say it is all interlinked. If teachers ask children to write down what they want to be in life, then when they express it, that’s poetry because it comes from the heart.”

Expression of the self was present in all of Lear’s works.  A lot of his limericks focus on eccentric individuals.

Michael Rosen says: “It seems as if Lear was in some ways a very unhappy man and often travelled, perhaps to escape from his illnesses and emotions.”

His Book of Nonsense popularised limericks in 1867 included his most famous piece, The Owl and the Pussycat and the main theme was about the joy in adventure and travelling which probably reflects the happiness he was searching for.

It is a testament to Lear that he still entertains people today and that is why his bicentenary is being celebrated near his birthplace and worldwide.

How pleasant to know Mr. Lear!

Who has written such volumes of stuff!

Some think him ill-tempered and queer,

But a few think him pleasant enough

Owl and the Pussycat

They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon.
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand.
They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.