Planning on driving your car during the 2010 Games? With the various road closures, the special “olympic lanes” and the various street venues, make sure you plan your trip ahead, allow enough time to get to your destination and use public transit…

Here’s what the city of Vancouver say about traffic and the Olympic Route Network on their website.

At the heart of the Games are the athletes, technical officials and the media who are all needed at venues based on the competition schedule. Following the experiences of the previous Host Cities, Olympic routes have been designated throughout the City of Vancouver to provide reliable travel between venues, accommodation, and other locations such as the Olympic Village and Main Media Centre.

Olympic Lanes

Were possible, normal traffic management measures are being recommended to ensure the athletes, officials, and media are traveling reliably as well as our normal everyday traffic.  In some areas, particularly Downtown and its approaching bridges, Olympic Lanes are necessary in one lane of traffic, where space permits.  These Olympic Lanes (marked in blue on the Host City Olympic Transportation Plan map) would transport Olympic-accredited vehicles; that is, those who have an operational purpose at Olympic venues.

In Vancouver, we believe public transit must also have priority, to help local residents, spectators, and the Games workforce to move efficiently and effectively. For this reason, TransLink buses are permitted in all Olympic Lanes in Vancouver.

Designated Olympic Lanes for TransLink buses and Olympic accredited vehicles will be in place from February 4 to March 1, 2010 for 24 hours, 7 days a week.Olympic Lanes in Vancouver will be in the curb, or right-hand lane during this period at the following locations:

• Burrard St, Burrard Bridge to Pender St
• Seymour St, Granville Bridge to Hastings St
• Howe St, Hastings St to Granville Bridge
• Pender St, Cambie St to Howe St
• Cambie St, Cambie Bridge to 59th Ave
• Broadway, Arbutus St to Commercial Dr
• Georgia St, Richards St to the Stanley Park Causeway
• Hastings St, Seymour St to Boundary Rd

All cars stopped/parked in Olympic Lanes or parking restricted areas between February 4 to March 1, 2010 will be fined $100 plus an automatic tow.

Daily traffic will have access to the street, but only VANOC accredited vehicles and TransLink buses will be able to travel in Olympic Lanes. However, other vehicles will be able to enter Olympic Lanes to turn, and for access to and from properties.

The Vancouver Police Department will enforce the types of vehicles that are permitted in Olympic Lanes and regular traffic violation fines will apply.

Learn about the changes made to the Street and Traffic By-law to accommodate Games-time transportation plans such as the Olympic Lanes.