London cabbies block traffic in Olympic protest

Associated Press
A taxi cab drives past an Olympic lane on a street as the city prepares for the 2012 Summer Olympics, central London, Monday, July 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

LONDON (AP) — Hundreds of London taxi drivers have blocked a major intersection in the heart of the city to protest their exclusion from the road lanes dedicated to Olympic traffic.

Drivers in black London cabs blared their horns as they jammed Parliament Square on Tuesday, sending lines of traffic snaking back along surrounding streets.

The cabbies are miffed that they are not allowed into the "Games Lanes" reserved for Olympic athletes, officials and VIPs. The first lane already opened near Heathrow Airport and the rest start two days before the games, which run from July 27 to Aug. 12.

Jonathan Myers of the United Cabbies union says it's "unacceptable" that cabs were not allowed, adding that "this is a working city and we need to get around and do our job."