When Anthony and I got tickets for the opening ceremonies to the 2010 Winter Olympics we were thrilled. The only problem we encountered was the early start of the audience participation practice and the anticipated waits at the security line ups. We managed to find a babysitter but since she was working until 3:30 we weren’t sure how on earth we were going to make it to the security line up in time since we had planned on walking. Then we hit on the perfect solution, we would ride our bikes. The only part that concerned us was where to park them during the ceremony.
We had heard Mayor Gregor Robertson say on the radio that there would be a bicycle valet near the venues, but we hadn’t really heard too much else about them. Anthony found out that there was some bike parking from the 2010 Olympic site but it didn’t link to the Bicycle Valet site so we weren’t sure how exactly it was going to work. It turns out that the bicycle valets are all over the place and have volunteers watching your bikes while you go off and do your thing. The big thing? THEY ARE FREE!
For the opening and closing ceremonies the bicycle parking was under the Cambie Street Bridge so we got to BC Place from our house in 15 minutes flat. It would have taken us about 30 minutes or 45 minutes depending on how much we were hoofing it to walk. The bike parking was not at all crowded and it kept our bikes dry. (I am not sure if all the bike parking is covered so if it is raining you might want to bring a cover for your seat. )
View Detailed Olympic Bicycle Valet parking locations in a larger map
For more information on the times Bicycle Valet is open during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, pleas check their website. They also have some good tips on how to use the bicycle valet to make things easier for both you and the volunteers.
How cool! Wish we lived closer because we would be ALL over that! xoxo
.-= Emily´s last blog ..Why Can’t It Be Like This All The Time =-.
That sounds really cool. I’ll be sure to tell my sister about it. It doesn’t work so well for me out here in the stix.
PS. I was thinking about you guys when I was watching the opening ceremony on TV. I thought you’d post your thoughts. I hope you enjoyed it. I would of loved to of seen it live.
.-= Marilyn @ A Lot of Loves´s last blog ..Battle of the Toy Stroller =-.
Glad to hear you found us and it worked out for you! I work for BEST, who run The Bicycle Valet! My friend Ashley told me you had blogged about us. Nice to see!
For those that live too far away to cycle all the way, don’t forget that taking your bike in the car or on a bus (Skytrain and Canada Line are out during the Olympics!) part way, then parking and riding the rest of the way can still help avoid congestion and it may be easier to find parking.
Glad you like the Bicycle Valet. Thanks for blogging about it!
.-= Steve´s last blog ..The Bicycle Valet at the OLYMPICS and PARALYMPICS! Feb 12-28, March 12-21 =-.
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That sounds really cool