Walking & Cycling
Pedestrian StrollsThe walk time from the closest transit stop to any venue ranges from five minutes to 20 minutes. Shuttles from Canada Line to the Oval and from the Oval to the O Zone will be provided for those unable to walk.
The pedestrian experience will be enhanced by additional wayfinding, volunteer guides and traffic control personnel.
Pedestrians are advised to dress for the weather, and wear comfortable shoes.
Cycling
Cycling is an excellent transportation choice during the Games. The City has more than 40 kilometres of on-street cycling routes, and the new Canada Line bridge over the North Arm of the Fraser River features a cycling/pedestrian path.
Additional bike racks are planned for the Oval and the O Zone:
Oval: on River Road, east and west of the venue, under the No. 2 Road bridge and under the Dinsmore Bridge, and within the WorkSafeBC site (6951 Westminster Highway) which can be accessed off Elmbridge Way.
O Zone: in the Gateway Theatre parking lot and the northwest corner of the RCMP parking lot.
During the O Zone, the bike lane and shared vehicle lane along some routes will be used for vehicle parking and drop off points. Be sure to check the transportation map to identify how traffic patterns may change along your normal cycling route.
The Dutch and the Bicycle
While Canadians are slowly taking to cycling in the winter, for the hearty Dutch, it’s been the normal way to get around for a century. In Holland, (where the average winter daytime temperature is two degrees) the 15+ million inhabitants of the Netherlands own about 15 million bicycles, making full use of 20,000 kilometres of bicycle paths, complete with cycle bridges, cycle tunnels and cycle ferries. Cycling is the primary mode of transport for young adults and in urban areas dedicated cycling lanes have made Holland cities among the most bike friendly on earth.
Holland Heineken House is arranging for more than 400 bicycles for their volunteer staff and predominately Dutch visitors to use as the main form of transportation. They are graciously donating 25 bikes to needy families in Richmond at the end of their stay.
If you are driving, please be aware of the increased number of cyclists on Richmond streets this February, and give them the room they deserve. Better yet, park your car in its garage and join the hundreds of happy cyclists using this earth-friendly, cost-efficient and healthy mode of transportation this February.
Make sure you have a light and reflectors on your bike and wear a helmet at all times.
