the sydney 2000 olympic and paralympic games - Australian Sports ...

PART FOUR : NSW GOVERNMENT AGENCIES GAMES SUPPORT SERVICES
Venue Transport Managers co-ordinated transport services at each venue, working closely with
operational transport staff and SOCOG venue staff. This involved meeting the different needs of athletes,
team officials, technical officials, spectators, media personnel and workers. Special arrangements were
made to cater for taxis, hire cars, pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities.
With only Sydney 2000 accredited vehicles able to enter venues, ORTA managed the flows of vehicles in
surrounding areas. A residential parking scheme operated around every venue to prevent spectators
parking out local streets.
Games-time transport initiatives included:
• Dedicated bus routes for athletes.
• Special routes for buses carrying spectators to and from venues.
• Taxi and hire car ranks established as close as possible to venues.
• Secure storage facilities to facilitate cycling.
• Signposted walking routes for selected venues.
• Wheelchair accessible buses on all Olympic routes and an accessible shuttle bus service at SOP.
Spectators travelling to SOP used the CityRail network and designated Olympic bus services. Spectators
accessing Darling Harbour, the second largest competition venue, mainly used existing transport services
to the city. 10 other venues outside SOP, such as the Bondi Beach Volleyball Pavilion and the Sydney
International Regatta Centre (Penrith), required special transport services. There were more than 1 million
passenger trips to venues outside Darling Harbour and SOP requiring an average of more than 400 buses
a day and more than 800 on the busiest days. The venues used existing railways stations and bus
interchange facilities which were adapted for the Games while also continuing their normal roles.
ORTA developed a special roads and transport strategy for Sydney City in conjunction with other transport
agencies and key groups such as OCA, the City of Sydney and NSW Police. This plan allowed the
continuation of day to day city activities, such as deliveries, while making special provisions to facilitate the
unique demands of Games-time. The Olympics Live sites, large crowds and changed road conditions in
the city provided transport challenges including massive pedestrian flows, maintenance of daily transport
activities and the transportation of Olympic clients to and from more than 30 city hotels. Central Sydney
transport initiatives included:
• Reduced vehicle numbers in the city, including the removal of general on-street parking to improve
traffic flows, assist transport arrangements and pedestrian movements. Resident parking was
protected and special arrangements made for emergency vehicles and people with disabilities.
• A network of lane and road closures concentrated at Circular Quay, the Rocks and roads used by
Spectators accessing Darling Harbour.
• A free city bus loop linking key locations such as railway stations and the Olympic Live Sites.
Park and Ride Sites
A total of 32 Park and Ride sites were established to allow more people to access Games venues using
the Olympic Transport Network. Spectators drove to a designated Park and Ride location and then used
public transport for the remainder of their journey.
Super Friday was the biggest day for Park and Ride sites on the SOP bus routes, with approximately 5,700
vehicles. More cars used the sites for western venues, with more than 15,000 cars on the main
equestrian days.
Transport Mall
The Transport Mall was established at the Olympic and Paralympic Athletes' Villages to facilitate the
efficient and timely transportation of athletes to and from competition and training venues. Transport Mall
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