Transportation Chaos Vancouver 2010 Olympics

The GLITCH GAMES

http://onlyinVANCOUVER.com

This bus episode is only one small example of the problems in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Transportation, like at all Olympic events was chaotic. It was very difficult to get anywhere in the region throughout the entire event. Bus schedules were radically changed and communication with residents and spectators was almost nonexistent except for the warning by the city not to drive because city streets would be a nightmare. That was about the only thing they got right. Bus drivers usually didn't have a clue about the schedule and often sent us off on the wrong bus in the wrong direction. Thankfully most drivers never made riders pay, and drunks always rode for free in order to keep them pacified.

Many buses were old and in poor shape. They broke down on the sides of mountains with Olympic athletes onboard, plus, drivers got lost, and some even quit only a few days into their service.

The best option was to walk everywhere, but after a couple of days on your feet it was obvious the Olympics is not for anyone who is not fit, or over forty. Taxis were very hard to flag because they were not allowed into the main areas.

There was a high and very intimidating police presence everywhere in the downtown core. Police walked together in large groups for their own protection and constantly stopped people drinking alcohol on the streets and made them pour it onto the curb, which I assume eventually ended up in the ocean because Vancouver does not have a modern sewage system. Lucky fish.

Pavilions are spaced out all over the city and to walk to more than a couple a day is a challenge well beyond most people. There were a few located in the central party of Vancouver's downtown area, but they were so busy it took between 3 to 6 hours waiting in line to get in, and then only to find little of quality entertainment, food, or anything of cultural interest that would keep you there for more than about twenty minutes.

The pavilions where people stayed the longest were basically drinking tents, and boy did people drink.

Drunkenness became such a problem police ordered local liquor stores to close at 7pm. There was a revolt by partiers so after a few days the police relented and instead boosted their patrols. The street was a very scary place when Canada lost a hockey game, which fortunately didn't occur often.

Food at pavilions was adequate at best. The Sochi Russia pavilion for example even had food safety issues and was closed for health reasons by inspectors until the issues were fixed. It wasn't a good sign considering Sochi is hosting the Olympics in 2014.

Even food at the biggest places was average at best, and in some cases horrible. I ate a tepid overpriced chicken sub at BC Place during Opening Ceremonies and was ill the next day.

Many of the restaurants and bars in the city boosted their prices, but even they had very long lines to get in. The secret in an Olympic city for a bar or eatery is to have a TV. If you do, and it is turned to the Olympics you pretty well have an automatic crowd you can gouge until the wee hours. Many pavilions, like Irish House, or Holland House for example were basically nothing more than rowdy drinking environments with average entertainment and food.

It became tiring very fast unless you were looking for a hangover and sore throat from screaming Go Canada Go all night. Definitely a place for the young set interested in getting blasted and hooking up. What's not to like! BC Bud was everywhere, used in copious amounts and easy to obtain despite the oppressive police presence. They basically looked the other way unless they caught you selling it on the street, and even then they simple took it. One shop was even busted during the Olympics for selling it over the counter.

http://onlyinVANCOUVER.com
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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Olympics
• chaos
• transportation
• police
• driver
• 2010
• crowd

[OnlyInVancouver]

The people on the bus clapping after it finally took off says it all.

The bus driver was the only hero in this entire chaotic episode.

[Mazzucco8]

You should contact Translink before making false claims on bus drivers quitting their jobs during the games. Or at minimum the bus services to Whistler because the fact is. Zero quit their jobs during the games. Yep. That was zero. Goes to show your lack of credibility. Just because you're too stupid to negotiate a city in celebration, doesn't mean there was a glitch. If you didn't foresee transportation issues, than I only blame you sir, because everyone else did and planned accordingly.

[OnlyInVancouver]

Mazzucco8 see Nightly News NBC, 2/16 CTVOLYMPICS ... "buses to Whistler run smoothly, but many of the buses to Cypress prove no match for the steep road to the slopes overlooking Vancouver." Several dozen buses have broken down, "several dozen drivers quit, upset at onerous working conditions," while others "get lost" google - sportsbusinessdaily ..../article/137081

[OnlyInVancouver]

A bus ferrying reporters to Cypress for the women's moguls skiing got lost and then broke down ... "They give you a map, but you haven't a clue, " said the driver who is from Alberta. The bus missed a turn, pulled into a mall parking lot and drove over a curb. On impact, two tires went poof. Buses carrying Jenn Heil and the Cdn women's moguls team broke down on two consecutive days this week en route to Cypress. google Ottawa Citzen newspaper

BTW Mazzucco8 we didn't identify Translink - U did

[OnlyInVancouver]

This bus was empty because almost everyone bailed out after waiting so long and walked or looked for another bus.

[swangardian]

@igorvasilevsky Oh you poor Russian Communist Baby....

Upset that we kicked your ass in hockey? Upset that despite having a larger population we have more medals than you?

Sochi is going to be one giant GULAG! HAHA go home Russkies

[Vanster46]

I had a blast at the Olympics, but you forgot to mention all the asshole drunks throwing up and intimidating people on the late bus runs at night.

There was zero police presence on the busses and sometimes it was freaky, but mostly cool.

Survival of the fittest - higher, faster, stronger is the Olympic code and it was needed at night.

[JBaizful]

You're only upset because your country failed epically. Get over it, Canada is better than you. PS. Learn how to spell.

[JBaizful]

You lack spirit, I don't know where you're from but I'm from Vancouver and I was there every day. While there were a few glitches, the games went off fine. Any deaths were simply tragic incidents that have nothing to do with the credibility of the Vancouver Olympic games. It's people like you that ruin nationalism for others. Poor sport. PS. Learn how to spell.

[sponger]

@OnlyInVancouver those were not translink or bc transit busses those were busses and drivers brought in from the USA mostly california many of whom had never even been to vancouver before tyring to find their way around with a paper mapblame vanoc if anyone not translink they were not responsible

[originalkush]

suck it igor

[pilgrimpictures]

Weak.

Over-simplification.

[Ruutu321]

had no problems getting to and from vancouver, absolutely no problems at all actually.