City of Vancouver officials unveiled their new Olympic Streetcar Friday, the latest tool in its campaign to get drivers off the road during the upcoming 2010 Games.
The streetcar line will run everyday starting Jan. 21st for the duration of the Games between the Olympic Village, Canada Line Station and Granville Island.
The hope is people will see the sleek European technology and get onboard.
"We want people that live here as well as visitors to come on down, ride the streetcar, enjoy this mode of transportation and fall in love with it," Lesli Boldt of the City of Vancouver said.
But one streetcar line won't save the city from Olympic gridlock. Commuters have to be convinced to get out of their cars soon because time is running out.
Friday marked the second week of what Olympic organizers call the 2010 travel smart challenge, an effort to get thousands of commuters out of their cars to prevent Games gridlock.
A planned target of a five per cent in traffic reduction last week fell short by 50 per cent. This week isn't looking much better but city officials remain optimistic.
"We're really hoping that the message, the next Friday and the next Friday that more and more people will really take the opportunity to practice," city manger Penny Ballem said Tuesday.
Official results of this week's communication project will be made public Monday.
CTV British Columbia's Stephen Smart took to downtown streets during rush hour Friday but found few people embracing the idea.
"It's just not practical," said Kit Koon, who drove to work.
"Especially when they tell people, 'oh forget about your car and take the bus but you'll have to wait for an hour.' It just doesn't make sense."
But it's only going to get worse for drivers, as more road closures to take effect.
Starting today, Quebec Street is now blocked between 2nd and Terminal.
For more information on the Travel Smart 2010 public plan click here
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Stephen Smart
