ablemarle, maybe not, but they can decide to strike and leave us all in the lurch, whether it's at the Olympics or not. If one is reliant on public transport, and there is no other method one can get to the destination then they have us by the short and curlies. Pay them and hope that the next big event that rolls around doesn't cause the same problem. As an aside I find most of them horrendous, a law unto themselves, park way off from the kerb, which is bad for anyone but especially for those who are disabled.
The attitude is poor, and ask a driver for any kind of help and it's unlikely you will get it. I have no choice but to use the buses, as the tube is horrible and i suffer from claustrophobia, so it's buses or walk, and that isn't an option.