2010 Winter Olympics Bring Change to Whistlers Day to Day Routine

Living amidst the excitement of the Olympic Winter Games is an almost unrivaled experience. A truly multi-cultural gathering of world-class athletes achieving their dreams with world-wide media attention must give you chills. But the disruption to everyday life might just give you a headache.

Giving A Little - New Rules & Operations for 2010

The 2010 Winter Olympics will bring some changes that jumble up familiar Whistlerite and Whistler Visitor routines. From parking restrictions and road closures, to security cordons and the extended line-ups at restaurants, residents and visitors will all have to adapt to their surroundings.

While more regulations and changes are bound to solidify as the planning continues, here are some modifications announced by 2010 organizers:

• Zero Public Parking – To endure the surge of vehicles flocking to Whistler during the Olympics, organizers have deemed to close off public parking all together. Grab your private spots now and treat them as gold!
• Limited Access – Access to venue sites will be restricted to people with tickets or special accreditation from Olympic organizers. Expect blockages and detours as you make your way through Whistler.
• Public Transportation Plans – With no public parking, the next best thing is to hop on transit. Special transit plans have been proposed, including an addition of up to 75 busses and 6 mini-busses to the regular Whistler transit regiment.
• Security – Getting around Whistler will also include the obstacle of heightened security. Though cordons will not be put up around public areas, security will likely affect road closures around venues.

Getting a Lot - An Olympic Legacy

Large developmental projects aimed to accommodate the 2010 Winter Olympics have already brought noticeable change to the Whistler area. The Sea to Sky Highway, proposals to solve Whistler's chronic housing shortage and even the Peak to Peak Gondola have all slightly hampered the familiar day-to-day schedule at Whistler.

However, these developments will all eventually pay off, for those who can wait through the temporary inconveniences. Residents and visitors will breeze through their drive to Whistler on the soon-to-be-completed highway. Come December 2008, anyone can transfer from Whistler to Blackcomb (and back) in the speedy convenience of the largest free-spanning gondola in North America. Even for the strongest critics, these developments will prove handy in the long-run.

The bottom line: Visiting Whistler in February of 2010 is for Olympic fanatics. If you don't fit this bill, there's many more normal (and much less expensive) times to visit. Visit just before or after the main event for more affordable (and available) accommodations, blockade-free Village strolls and the lingering buzz in the atmosphere.