Government plans to reduce impact on transport during Olympic and Paralympic Games
Francis Maude has spoken about the government’s plans to reduce the impact on the transport network during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
26 January 2012
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude has spoken about the Government’s plans to reduce the impact on the transport network during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Introducing ‘Operation StepChange’, Francis Maude said:
The Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a great moment for this country and we are determined to do everything we can to support them.
The Games will be a wonderful boost and leave a lasting legacy, but they also present a huge logistical challenge. On the busiest days up to 800,000 ticketed spectators will be making an extra 3 million trips in London on public transport. And, as a large organisation with staff in central London, the government has a key role to play in ensuring business gets done and in reducing the impact on our transport network.
Across Whitehall, government departments are making plans to positively change 50% of commuting, business travel, deliveries and collections during the Games and, to make sure our plans are fit for purpose, we are running a test week. This is about different ways of travelling and working, from changing routes in to avoid hotspots, to walking or cycling to work instead of taking public transport, to using office space outside London.
The lessons learned on different working practices and using IT more smartly will help us become a more flexible and effective workforce.