• Very large crowds and temporary road closures for all London 2012 road events will result in exceptionally busy roads and public transport networks
  • Full road closures for the road races required to ensure a competitive and safe race, roads will be reopened as soon as possible
  • Olympic events get underway at the Olympic Park too, and across the Capital
  • Road users, residents and spectators urged to avoid driving near to race routes, in central London, around the ORN, and venues
  • People travelling to airports over the weekend are urged to check if their route crosses the London 2012 road event course - and to plan alternative routes to avoid the road closures
  • Plan ahead with the latest Games travel advice at www.GetAheadoftheGames.com and follow @GAOTG on Twitter
  • For the latest on how transport services are operating, check before you travel at www.tfl.gov.uk and follow @TfLTravelAlerts (Tube, DLR and London Overground) and @TfLTrafficNews (roads)

As the Opening Ceremony marks the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the first road event will be taking place tomorrow (Saturday 28 July) going through London and Surrey.

Huge crowds are also expected to line the streets of London and Surrey tomorrow to support Tour de France hero Bradley Wiggins and his team mates Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish as they aim to land Team GB's first gold medal of the Games. 

The men's cycling road race is the first of the London 2012 Games road events, all of which will see temporary road closures and parking restrictions. Viewing capacity in central London will be very limited. 

Events will also be taking place across the capital at the Olympic Park and other venues in London. 

Spectators will be travelling to the Olympic Park, ExCeL, North Greenwich Arena, Greenwich Park, Royal Artillery Barracks, Horse Guards Parade, Earls Court, The Mall, Lord's Cricket Ground, Wimbledon and Wembley Arena.

London's Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy CBE, said: 'As well as it being the first of the road events, which will see Bradley Wiggins and Team GB cycling through London and Surrey, other Olympic events will get underway in the Capital.

'Public transport will be exceptionally busy tomorrow as people make their way to watch the cycling and to the venues.

'Millions of Londoners have already planned their journeys at GetAheadoftheGames.com but for anyone who hasn't already done so, I would encourage them to do this and make sure they leave extra time for any journeys.'

On Sunday 29 July the Women's Cycling Road Race will follow the same route through London and Surrey.

Spectators of the Men's Cycle Road Race

  • The Men's Cycle Road Race offers a great opportunity for many to see an Olympic event and very large crowds are expected to attend
  • If you are planning to attend please arrive early, be prepared to wait for several hours and think carefully about bringing small children
  • Pack food and water, sun cream or waterproof clothing, depending on the weather
  • Think about the best viewing option for you, your friends and family. For some, it may be better to view the event at one of the many Live Sites across the UK or on TV at home, with friends, at a pub or local community centre
  • Try to 'stay local' and enjoy the Road Cycle Race as it passes through your local community
  • Have a back-up plan. If it gets really busy, you might want to enjoy one of the wealth of free events, cultural and entertainment opportunities on offer across the UK and during London's summer like no other. Find out what's happening and sign up for updates at www.molpresents.com and download the London 2012 'Join In' app
  • If you are intending to travel - plan ahead. Go to www.GetAheadoftheGames.com which has all the tools and information you need about London 2012 road events and how to plan your journey

Spectators

  • If you have a ticket to a London 2012 event, make sure you don't miss it - check london2012.com for your recommended arrival times and leave plenty of time to travel
  • Make sure you have the correct Games Travelcard for the day of your event
  • Re-check your travel plans before attending an event by using the Travel Planner at london2012.com/journey
  • Expect queues when arriving and departing venue stations. Leave plenty of time to get to your venue

During the Games, up to one million extra visitors are expected in London every day, making an additional three million journeys over and above the usual 12 million daily journeys on public transport.

At certain times and in certain places, London's roads and public transport networks will be exceptionally busy. Anyone intending to travel should ensure they plan ahead at GetAheadoftheGames.com and leave extra time for their journeys.

TfL's key travel advice for tomorrow (Saturday, 28 July):

  • The Olympic Route Network (ORN), including the Games Lanes, is now in operation and being enforced.  Avoid central London, around the ORN, venues and the Men's Cycle Road Race
  • Games lanes are operating flexibly. Check the electronic roadside message signs which will clearly state if the Games Lanes are open to general traffic or reserved for Games vehicles
  • If you have to drive, plan ahead, consider re-timing your journey and allow more time
  • Events will be taking place at the Olympic Park ExCeL, North Greenwich Arena, Greenwich Park, Royal Artillery Barracks, Horse Guards Parade, Earls Court, The Mall, Lord's Cricket Ground, Wimbledon and Wembley Arena
  • The Men's Cycle Road Race will be taking place and will see road closures across London and Surrey
  • Cultural events will also be taking place across London, see www.molpresents.com for further information
  • Before travelling, check out live travel updates at www.tfl.gov.uk or by following @TfLTravelAlerts (Tube, DLR and London Overground) or @TfLTrafficNews (roads)
  • For full information on avoiding roads and public transport hotspots visit:  www.GetAheadoftheGames.com and follow @GAOTG on Twitter

Public Transport:

  • Don't chance it today - plan ahead to avoid delays and disruption to your journey
  • If you need to travel around London today, but are not intending to watch the Olympic Cycling Road Race, avoid stations that are close to the route. Check out the route on GetAheadoftheGames.com
  • The Central, Jubilee, Piccadilly and District lines and DLR will be very busy throughout the day. If possible, you should consider using alternative lines at busy times
  • The busiest times across the network will be 08:00-10:00, 12:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00. Consider retiming your journey to avoid the busiest times

Roads:

  • Motorists are advised to avoid central London, around the ORN, venues and the London 2012 road event courses, including Box Hill in Surrey
  • The Men's Cycle Road Race starts and finishes in the Mall via Fulham, Putney, Richmond, Hampton Court, Kingston and parts of Surrey, A map of the race route is available at http://www.london2012.com/cycling-road/event/men-road-race/coursemap
  • Road closures for the Men's Cycle Road Race will be in place from early morning
  • Don't get caught out - you will not be able to cross the race route by road
  • Road closures will remain until a few hours after the race has finished, when it is safe to reopen the roads
  • Instead, please use public transport, cycle or walk
  • The Men's Cycle Road Race will take place along some roads that make up part of the Olympic Route Network (ORN), which links key venues to ensure athletes, coaches, technical officials and the world's media get to events on time, while also keeping London moving. While events are taking place on sections of the ORN they will use an alternative route
  • Changes to the way the ORN will operate will result in delays to journey times in some areas previously affected by the Games. Some roads previously unaffected by the ORN will have changes to the way they operate


Notes to editors:

This Transport for London (TfL) London 2012 Games travel bulletin is issued twice per day, at the expected times of 0700 and 1400
  • Alongside these media travel bulletins, at 1400hrs each day, TfL will also publish the full 2012 Transport Factsheets on which they are based.  Factsheets for each day of the Olympic Torch Relay, Olympic and Paralympic Games have already been produced and published at GetAheadoftheGames.com, but they will be revised on a daily basis, based on the latest information and experience, throughout the Games
  • TfL operates the following services: London Underground, London buses, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London's major roads, including the Olympic and Paralympic Route Networks in London, Cycling - including Barclays Cycle Hire and Barclays Cycle Superhighways, Emirates Air Line, London Overground, London River Services, Victoria Coach Station, Taxis
  • The TfL Press Office will be available 24 hours a day on 0845 604 41 41 and will have a member of staff in the London Media Centre during normal opening hours
  • A number of services are available including:
    - Pre-packaged scripted films through the London Media Centre and on the TfL website at www.tflimages.com
    - B roll footage of London's transport network available from www.tflimages.com
    - A comprehensive image library providing free access to images of London's transport network available from www.tflpressgallery.co.uk
    - Interviews with TfL spokespeople