Maps and info for the Golden Ears Bridge celebration
June 10, 2009
Maps and info for the Golden Ears Bridge celebration
June 10, 2009
If you’re going to the Golden Ears Bridge celebration, we’ve now created two maps describing the park-and-ride, bike valet, and pedestrian access locations on both sides of the bridge. (There’s no vehicle access to the bridge during the celebration.)
You can download both maps in PDF format here:
And you can get the full schedule of events in PDF format here:
You may have already seen these maps and the schedule in local papers, but it’s definitely info worth repeating.
As well, I’ve also put up all the details of the celebration in this blog post.
What’s the best way to get to the bridge and the celebrations from downtown Vancouver for those of us who depend on public transit?
@ non-driver:
I’d say the best way to get their from DNTN is to take the 160 from Burrard Station to COQ station. Then take the 701, it goes right near Maple Meadows station. Then its a quick shuttle run to the bridge.
Or you could go to the langley side. Just take skytrain to Surrey Central then take the 501 to Walnut Grove Park and Ride. The shuttle goes their too…..lol
The map show pedestrian access and cycling valet parking on the east side of 113B Avenue. Just wondering if that is the only pedestrian access route or could I walk on from the new Airport Way from Pitt Meadows.
Thanks Jhenifer for posting these maps. This is very helpful and more inviting for non-locals to join in the celebration.
If you can provide us more information on shuttle frequency and routes it will be great. Is one shuttle handling all lots on the South side?
Finally, here’s the info on the bus frequencies:
The full CMBC news release on extra bus service for the GEB celebration can be found at this link btw.
Just got back…. Wow! The weather was beautiful with an ocean breeze.
Going to the Transit friendly Collosus, the line went up the lot and down the driveway by 10:45. The first shuttle (non-articulated) arrived at 11:30am to many angry riders. It’s not just that they were non-articulated buses, but the volunteers told everyone to wait in the lot. When the buses finally came, the buses would not enter the lot. So those that came late were the first to be on the bus in the chaotic scramble. Total disorganization! Calling Translink throughout the hour long wait, there was only promises that the shuttles are coming. Then again shouldn’t they already be there? Many decided instead to walk the 3km to the bridge. It was like a scene from the Pemberton Festival.
As the bus approached the bridge site, it was like a scene from War of the Worlds. Forget Car-Free Sunday festivals in Vancouver. I think there was more people on the bridge celebration (car-free!) compared to all the Festivals in Vancouver combined. There was a lot of keeners there for this once in a lifetime event. News1130 reports shuttle suspensions as the crowd control right at the ribbon ceremony start.
Other than the shuttle, the only major problem was the North Stage. The size of the stage created a huge choke point, especially during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Having someone give labour didn’t help as 2 firetrucks came on scene through the congestion from the South-end to help at the North(?). There was suggestions to use the unblocked sidewalks to get around. But at 4 feet high, many could not safely climb over (especially for wheelchairs and strollers). The only stairs for the sidewalk crossing was at the bridge ends.
Other issues…. Ran out of water sales throughout the day. Lack of signage to Collosus West lot to have people move to the East lot. Lack of signage on where the bus was stopping.
I’m glad I went, but I probably had an easier time since I got there before it went super crazy. When I got back I had large meal and drinks at the Langley spaghetti factory across the street to relax.
Things that went right.
-having Shuttles for this popular event
-using News1130 for email alerts of congestion issues
-using Collosus as a park ‘n ride
-having portable washrooms throughout the bridge
-Jhenifer posting regular updates to our questions leading to to the event with maps and shuttle details.
I have to agree with the last post. I arrived at Collosus with two pre-schoolers and my parents. The first shuttle driver took pity on the bewildered pedestrians who had parked in the west side of the parking lot and could see absolutely no signs indicating where to go. Actually he was almost as lost was we were and had to keep reading printed directions to find his way to the bridge. We felt sorry for the hundreds in the east parking lot who were obviously given bad advice about where to wait.
It was strange that so few portable washrooms were located at the entrances where the food was being served. That created long lineups throughout the day. Up on the bridge itself there were so may toilets that lineups were rare.
The stage nightmare truly was. All the police were simply standing around looking like they didn’t know what to do while Ken tried repeatedly to tell people to move. With no physical presence to enforce some movement patterns and hundreds seemingly determined to stand in the narrow space beside the stage it was complete gridlock for over half an hour.
Finally we reached the west railing where a very helpful auxiliary police officer helped get my kids, bags, stroller and elderly parents up and over the railing.
We were glad to be away from the crowds during the official ceremonies and were on the almost empty north side when Langley FD and ambulances from the north side converged, but had to fight our way back past the stage to get home. I held my kids tightly and followed an extremely tall man who simply pushed his way through the crowd. My kids entertained the crowd by dancing to the country music while we waited for my parents to get through with the stroller.
I think the number of people surprised TransLink organizers, but not having some sort of designated path for getting past the main stage was foolish because it took up 5 full lanes leaving little more than the difficult to access sidewalks for movement. I think having the “backstage” area take up so much room added to the mess as did queuing performers beside the stage where they blocked people from getting through.
It was a beautiful day to walk the bridge and take in the scenery and atmosphere. Despite the problems people were well behaved and quick to assist lost children and those with minor injuries.
This whole event was not organized at all. they only had 14 – 16 buses out. NOt 30 as reported. They left the depots extremely late, Supervisors, T-Comm, Management, Security were all freaking out and had no control over the situation. And the excuse of someone telling me there was not enough Artics cause they were all on the 135 and the 160 was BS they were running all Nova buses and CNG coaches. (and to back that up i live in burnaby and saw it with my own 2 eyes and road on a CNG both ways on the 160) This is a huge wake up call when the Canada line opens as well as for the Olympics cause i can predict a nightmare. It was one today and its like this when a system shutdown occurs. All i know is many rules were not followed and not enforced. Hope this is a wake up call to CMBC and TransLink. I betted $10 this would happen yesterday and i was dead on right.
I can attest to the fact that there were at least TWO D60LF artics on the 160 line on Sunday: I passed one eastbound on Hastings & Gilmore, while another was loading at Coquitlam Station during my drive out to the Pitt Meadows Airport.
This is a like a typical fireworks night: you can’t throw enough buses out there to carry the numbers of people who show up, and expect them to be of any help when they have to drive on streets open to general traffic and to pedestrians: the buses just get stuck in all the mayhem.
If the streets could be closed to all cars and pedestrians, the buses could move very quickly and be more effective.
This sitaution was not unique to Translink… Similar problems happened when Richmond hosted the Tall ships event in Steveston like about 6 or 7 years ago…
Organizers were bracing for like 50,000 visitors a day, but got slammed with at least 5 times that amount!! Richmond came to a complete stop for 4 days!! Not enough planning, not enough buses, not enough anything!
AND we’re hosting the world in 2010???
Just want to say that the Olympic transportation plan seems to be pretty aggressive. The transportation folks have consulted with hosts of past Olympics on their transportation plans, and more recently went down to see how WMATA handled the Obama inauguration crowds. You can never tell exactly what will happen at an Olympics of course, but the Vancouver Olympic team seems as prepared as you can be!
Oh, and here’s the Olympic transportation plan btw.
Think the news1130 reports helped scare some people away. I had dumb good luck with my timing. Since I live about 20 minutes away I took a chance after listening to the reports, and arrived near 2:45 PM, and after circling around, parked near the NW corner of Colossus. Decided to walk to the bridge, and had no delay getting on. Healthy breeze on the bridge deck made for comfortable conditions, and there was lots of elbow room (except at the North Stage). Nice view despite the haze. Got back to the south end after 4 PM, and no line-up for an articulated bus, which delivered me to a 40-second walk to my car! So glad I went when I did.