With hundreds of thousands of people expected to converge on downtown Vancouver for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, plus road closures and very limited parking, the easiest, fastest and safest way to get around Vancouver during the Games will be public transportation.

But don’t worry: Vancouver’s public transportation is up to the task, with new lines and new routes, plus fast, effective rapid transit.

Canada Line
Vancouver’s rapid rail service is perfect for moving north-south, from downtown Vancouver to Richmond and YVR Airport. The Canada Line will get you straight from the airport to the heart of downtown Vancouver (Waterfront Station) in 25 minutes.

SkyTrain
The SkyTrain’s elevated rapid rail service moves you quickly from downtown Vancouver to east and southeast destinations (including Burnaby and New Westminster). Use the SkyTrain to get from downtown Vancouver to Chinatown, Science World (host of the Russian Sochi 2014 House), Commercial Drive, and Metropolis at Metrotown.

Buses
Metro Vancouver’s bus system is easy to use, even if you don’t know the city well. Use Translink’s online Trip Planner to find the fastest bus routes to your chosen destinations. (For residents, keep in mind that Translink is making schedule changes during the Olympics, so check the site for new routes.)

Free Bombardier Streetcar Olympic Line
Open just for the Olympics, from January 21 – March 21, 2010, this free streetcar will connect Granville Island (home to the Olympics’ French Quarter) to the Canada Line Olympic Village Station.

AquaBus
The charming AquaBus provides transport around Vancouver’s False Creek, and is the perfect, scenic way to travel between Granville Island and Yaletown (including David Lam Park, site of LiveCity Yaletown).

For information on traveling the Sea-to-Sky Corridor from Vancouver to Whistler, see the TravelSmart 2010 site.

For more information on getting around Vancouver, interactive maps and virtual tours, check out Tourism Vancouver’s Getting Around section.