1.1°C Cloudy 
So this is the new, temporary transportation reality: 135-odd buses running up and down the corridor, riders jumping en masse off one bus and onto another, riders directing drivers (some of them newbies) to turn her or turn there, etc.
It’s not utopia, but as promised, it’s certainly “life as unusual.” And it gives us all a clue as to what life could be like if we had more, and more frequent, regional transit service — a concept that is being considered by our elected officials at the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, an initiative that we believe should be stepped up post-Olympics.
Another part of the temporary picture: Lanyards dangling from the necks of logo-wear-bedecked volunteers and Games participants, hailing from Belarus, Switzerland, Vancouver and Virginia. It’s a welcome piece of evidence that something big is headed our way in oh, about a week. Whistlerites, of course, don’t need to be coached in the fine art of welcoming guests. It was, as the Whistler Blackcomb vehicles have been telling us for years, “Built for the Games.”
But back to transportation. There are, of course, winners and losers, and inconveniences, whenever you change up people’s routines to this degree. Some businesses will benefit from those changes, some will suffer. That’s the nature of the Olympic beast.
The final verdict on whether B.C. Transit and VANOC officials have succeeded in their Games-time transportation planning efforts has yet to be rendered. But so far, so good — with at least one exception.
That would be the one involving those holding tickets to events at Whistler Olympic Park (WOP) and staying in Squamish. Here’s the scoop: A couple of weeks ago, after some in Squamish complained about the necessity of having to ride a bus all the way to Whistler — going past the entrance to the Callaghan Valley — changing buses, and then riding back down Highway 99 and then nine kilometres to the venue, B.C. Transit and VANOC did the right thing and opted to have some buses drive directly from Squamish to WOP.
One problem, though: At it stands at the moment, those buses are available only to Squamish residents and guests attending events on the same day, but not to those from outside the corridor traveling on their own.
Those who, for whatever reason, opted to stay in hotels and homes in Squamish after looking at a map and noticing that it was almost as close to WOP as was Whistler are being penalized for that decision by being forced to spend between 2 ½ to three hours in transit each way.
Sure, they’re on holidays. But put yourself in their shoes. Suppose you’re a couple with three kids in tow, including a couple of toddlers. You watch other families — corridor residents — board a bus that will take 35 or 40 minutes to reach its destination. You and your group have to board a different bus that drives past the turnoff to your destination and goes at least 15 minutes out of your way in each direction (more if there are traffic woes), marshal the troops onto another bus that gets you there in time for your event.
What time would you have to get the family out of bed for a 10 a.m. event start? Knowing there are others who are getting there via the most direct route, would you be happy?
