A Fun, Fast Way to Get Around to 2010 Live City Free Zones

Becaue there are so many road closures int he downtown core, and parking fees are extra high if you do bring your car, the best way to get around during the 2010 Winter Olympics to see the Olympic venues and Free Live city zones, is by public transit.

The BC Public Transit Translink authorities have done a remarkable job of organizing the routes for buses, trolleys, Skytrain, Canada Line trains and the Seabus.  Extra vehicles have been put into service, extra help with supervision the stations and lots of friendly host volunteers around willing to show you where to go.  So far the lineups haven’t been too unmanageable, with not too long waits and surprisingly at some times of day half-empty cars.  At the Richmond/Bridgeport station on a cold rainy Saturday the Salvation Army was on hand giving out free coffee and hot chocolate to people waiting in line to board the station platform.

You can by a transit day pass  or you can choose to get just a single ticket. Tickets are transferable for 90 minutes.  You can also buy a 2010 six week Games pass good for all transit and the West Coast Express. (for information on fares see Translink You buy your tickets at the stations from the vending machines or at various stores that sell them.

My friend I set set out from New Westminster by Skytrain to Waterfront Station downtown where we boarded the Canada Line train bound for Olympic Village Station. This is the stop nearest the Science World. This train goes all the way through to Richmond Bridgeport where you can connect for the Richmond Oval by bus, and also stops at Yaletown near the Live City venue in David Lam Park.

At the Olympic Village Station we boarded the free Bombadier tram that took us all the way to Granville Island without more than a 10 minute wait.  There are several venues on Granville Island.  When we finished looking around there, we decided to get on the False Creek Ferry that took us direct to David Lam Park ($3. one way, $5 return. Half price for seniors and kids)  This pleasant boat trip gave us time to relax and enjoy the scenery along False Creek.

At David Lam Park wharf we walked around into the live site zone, waited in line for approximately half and hour and were in for the rest of the afternoon enjoying the variety of entertainment.  When it was time to leave, we walked a couple of short blocks up from the Roundhouse Community Centre,  over to the Yaletown Canada Line Station, rode the rain back to Waterfront Station and from their caught our transportation home.  An easy journey that took is no time at all and made us really feel like we were tourists in our own home town.

To check transit prices, routes and times,  check here

PHOTOS by W. Ruth Kozak