Some motorist have issues

He added: "It takes seven hours to wrap a bus (in the livery), and 11/2 months to do up all the buses. During this time, the drivers still need to make a living."

Intensive trials of the buses began last week, so be prepared to see more of them. During the YOG, there will be 400 such buses and 300 cars and limousine taxis ferrying athletes and officials around.

Some motorists have also taken issue with the lanes allocated to YOG vehicles.

These lanes are the second left-most lanes and are painted with the five Olympic rings and the words "Give Way".

Mr Tan Poh Lam, 54, the owner of the Video-Ezy chain, took issue with the need for these lanes, saying: "If you want the motorists to giveway to the YOG buses, it doesn't need to be (in) lane 2, it can be all lanes. Or they can use the existing bus lanes.

"And why is there a need to mark the lane out and erect road signs instead of just using the EMAS(Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System) signboards?"

Responding to queries, a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesman said the YOG lanes were adapted from a tradition in which cities hosting the games provide lanes which are closed to all other traffic to ensure smooth passage for Olympic vehicles.

But in Singapore, other vehicles are also allowed on these lanes, as long as they give way.

The spokesman said they are using existing platforms like the EMAS signboards and LTA's traffic updates, but "need to supplement these with other platforms for a wider reach".

More importantly, clearly marking out the designated YOG lanes in a multi-lane road "would reduce any uncertainty or ambiguity for road users" on those lanes when they encounter YOG vehicles.

The LTA had considered the option of using existing bus lanes for YOG vehicles, but found this to be inadequate as not all routes between YOG venues had bus lanes, the spokesman said.

"Also, most of the existing bus lanes operate during the morning and evening peak hours only."

The YOG lanes were therefore designated along the expressways and arterial roads that have been identified as key routes between venues, "to ensure timely travel for athletes and officials participating in the games, which is important to the success of the games."

The spokesman added: "The YOG presents a good opportunity for us to showcase Singapore as a kind and gracious host to the rest of the world.

"A small gesture like giving way on the roads can go a long way in creating a positive experience for our guests.

"We also hope that this greater sense of showing graciousness on our roads will be a lasting YOG legacy."

Addressing complaints about giving way to foreign athletes at the expense of ordinary Singaporeans who might then be stuck in traffic, the LTA spokesman said that the scheme has been designed taking into consideration the needs of all motorists.

The YOG lane is not a dedicated lane, hence other motorists can still use it. They just have to be alert and ready to give way.

Furthermore, accredited media and local athletes will be using the YOG vehicles, not just foreigners.