While we recommend planning to attend a maximum of one event per day, if you have two tickets for different competition events in one day please first consult with the Olympic bus network website to understand the bus schedules before purchasing a transportation ticket.

From the departure hubs, travel to Whistler area venues can take up to three hours and to Cypress Mountain between 30 to 60 minutes. The total travel time will depend on weather and traffic conditions, but all departure times have been scheduled to get you the venue in time for competition start. 

After each competition you will be transported back to your originating departure point in Metro Vancouver.  The last Olympic bus departs two hours after the competition’s end. 

Spectators are encouraged to plan their trip carefully as refunds will not be given if the return trip on the Olympic bus network is missed.    Spectators travelling southbound from Whistler are welcome to make other arrangements for their return trip to Vancouver.  Several commercial motorcoach companies currently provide service between Whistler and Vancouver; visit www.travelsmart2010.ca for more information.

Event ticketholders will also be able to use VANOC’s soon-to-be launched fan-to-fan marketplace site if they no longer wish to use any of their tickets.

The Olympic bus network is designed to transport spectators to and from one venue per day.  With the purchase of an Olympic bus network transportation ticket, you reserve a round-trip seat to Cypress Mountain or a Whistler area venue.  After each competition you will be transported back to your originating departure point in Metro Vancouver. The last Olympic bus departs two hours after the competition’s end.   

Those that wish to stay longer at a second event during one day are welcome to make other arrangements for their return trip home.   Several commercial motorcoach companies currently provide service between Vancouver and Whistler; visit www.travelsmart2010.ca for more information.

Spectators are encouraged to plan their trip carefully as refunds will not be given if the return trip on the Olympic bus network is missed.  Event ticketholders will be able to use VANOC’s soon-to-be launched fan-to-fan marketplace site if they no longer wish to use any of their tickets. 

The system was designed to transport spectators to and from one venue per day.  With the purchase of an Olympic bus network transportation ticket, you reserve a round-trip seat to Cypress Mountain or a Whistler area venue.  After each competition you will be transported back to your originating departure point in Metro Vancouver.  The last Olympic bus departs two hours after the competition’s end.  Spectators are encouraged to plan their trip carefully as refunds will not be given if the return trip on the Olympic bus network is missed and parking at the departure hubs is valid only for the day of the event.

If spectators choose to remain in the Whistler area, they are responsible for the return trip to Metro Vancouver – we suggest using commercial motorcoach service. For fees and booking instructions to reserve a seat on a commercial carrier, visit www.travelsmart2010.ca.  In Whistler, spectators can walk or take the enhanced BC Transit system to get to their Games event.   Remember, public transit is included with your event ticket on the day of the event; plan your route at www.travelsmart2010.ca.

Yes, the Olympic bus network is designed to transport spectators travelling from Metro Vancouver on the day of their event, including international guests, to events in Whistler, as well as all spectators with tickets to Cypress, regardless of where you purchased your event ticket.

For more information on transportation and the Olympic bus network please visit www.travelsmart2010.ca. Additional details about how to arrive at each venue are available to view in the Spectator Guide online.

Public parking will be significantly reduced in Whistler during the Games, so the best way to get from the Metro Vancouver area to Whistler is to use a commercial motorcoach service. The Vancouver-Whistler route is well-served by several companies. Once in Whistler, you can use the public transit system to get around.

Public parking in Whistler will be significantly reduced. In particular, the day skier parking lots (Lots 1 through 5) and Lots 6 to 8 will not be available for the month of February 2010, as they will be used to facilitate transportation and operational logistics for the Games. Parking at Whistler Creekside will transition from full access to restricted access from the fall of 2009 to Games time.

During the Games, travellers are asked to leave their cars at home.

As alternatives to driving, residents of the Sea to Sky corridor will have priority access to an enhanced public transit service from Squamish through to Pemberton. For those travelling from Metro Vancouver, commercial motorcoach is the best option – the Vancouver-Whistler route is well-served by several commercial motorcoach companies. In addition, VANOC will operate a charter bus service for its ticketed spectators travelling from Metro Vancouver, including the North Shore.

Because public parking will be significantly reduced in Whistler, managing traffic volumes going into the area will be critical to ensure athletes can get to their events and people and business in the Sea to Sky corridor and Whistler Resort can move efficiently.

To manage traffic volumes, vehicle permits will be issued and will be needed to travel north of Squamish during peak hours. Peak hours will be specified in the fall, but travellers should be aware they will be considerably longer than current rush hours in the region.

Anyone travelling outside the peak hours will not require a vehicle permit, but as public parking in Whistler will be significantly reduced, motorists should confirm their parking arrangements before driving to Whistler.

Vehicle permits are intended to prevent discretionary trips into Whistler where public parking is significantly limited, while ensuring access for residents, workers and visitors who have confirmed parking.

Residents, general workforce and visitors who choose to drive and have parking will require a vehicle permit.

The majority of vehicle permits will be distributed through the mail in November, based on municipal tax lists, as well as to hotels for distribution to their guests.

Distribution offices will also be established to support the issuing process for those who are not captured in the mail out or other means of distribution. Current planning is to open these offices in December 2009 and that they will operate through to February 28, 2010.

The process for commercial vehicles that need to travel north of Squamish is being developed. Please note, deliveries to businesses in Whistler during the Games must be made between midnight and 6 am, which is generally outside the peak hours when vehicle permits will be needed.

A traffic management checkpoint will be implemented north of Squamish to ensure vehicles proceeding into or through Whistler have the necessary permit. The checkpoint will be in place by February 11 and will operate until February 28, 2010.

Taking the bus around Whistler is the recommended mode of transportation. With increased frequency and additional routes, you will be able to get to where you need to go. Walking and cross-country skiing will also be encouraged on the Valley Trail.

Transportation on the Olympic Bus Network is a separate system. All ticketed Games spectators will have access to public transit the day of their event, so a separate public transit pass would not be required. For other BC Transit customers, a separate souvenir bus pass will be developed that will be sold for use on public transit in Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton.

There will be no public parking at Games venues, and very little public parking in Whistler. Instead of driving, all ticketed Games spectators travelling from the Metro Vancouver area to Whistler events will be transported on VANOC’s Olympic Bus Network, a charter bus service operating from a network of designated departure points. Olympic Bus Network transportation tickets are sold separately from Olympic event tickets.

Ticketed spectators in the Sea to Sky corridor are asked to take the enhanced public transit service to the Whistler venues. Tickets to Olympic events include complimentary access to public transit the entire day of the event.

With every event ticket, spectators have unlimited access to public transportation on the day of the event. Spectators are encouraged to walk, cycle or take transit to the events. All the city venues can be accessed using public transit, which will be the most efficient mode of transportation at Games-time. There will be no public parking at any Games venues.

All ticketed Games spectators travelling from Metro Vancouver to Cypress and Whistler events will be transported on VANOC’s Olympic Bus Network, a charter bus service operating from a network of designated departure points in Metro Vancouver. Olympic Bus Network transportation tickets are sold separately from Olympic event tickets.

Similar to HOV lanes, Olympic Lanes will dedicate the curb lane in each direction to Olympic vehicles and TransLink buses, providing priority access for athletes, officials, the media and public transit 24-hours-a-day. No other vehicles, including taxis, couriers, or motorcycles will have access to these lanes. The Vancouver Police Department will enforce the types of vehicles that are permitted in Olympic Lanes, and regular traffic violation fines will apply. The Olympic Lane will be on the approach to each bridge and not on the structure itself.

The City of Vancouver has identified potential routes where road space will be reallocated to accommodate increased volumes of pedestrians that will bring streets to life during Games time. The concept evolved to date is that the entire road space will become available for pedestrians between the hours of noon to midnight with some access exceptions. The street will therefore operate as usual in the morning rush period up until noon to facilitate deliveries in particular.

All buses, including community shuttles, are equipped with bike racks that can handle two bicycles and the policies that apply today will apply during Games time. Taking a bike on the bus will generally not be an issue, provided there is a spot in the rack. However, we expect that the transit system will be heavily used, not only during peak times, but throughout the day, so more time should be allowed to take a bus that has space on the bike rack. Transit customers should expect some restrictions for bikes on the SkyTrain system due to this increased demand.

BC Ferries has added additional early morning and late night sailings on the three routes that are expected to have the largest increase in traffic during the Olympic Games:

Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria (Swartz Bay)
Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Sunshine Coast (Langdale)

TransLink will be providing additional bus service connecting the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal to Park Royal and Downtown Vancouver. From there, passengers can get to all Games venues.

In addition, TransLink is working closely with the District of West Vancouver to ensure there are adequate resources to assist with any additional demand on the bus system during the day. Up-to-date information on ferry schedules can be found on the BC Ferries website.