All news

January 31, 2011

Olympic transportation legacy lives on: Board of Trade survey

A survey by The Vancouver Board of Trade, sponsored by IBM Institute for Business Value, found nearly a third of respondents who adopted new transportation methods during the 2010 Winter Games have continued with their new behaviour.

The 2010 Winter Games Transportation Legacies Survey asked residents and business owners in the region about their transportation habits before, during and after the Games. Nearly 60 per cent of the respondents changed their transportation method during the Games. While more than half of them initially continued with their new transportation behaviour, that number eventually dropped to 44 per cent.

The results give an encouraging indication that the Games have left a positive transportation legacy in Vancouver. It also shows support for the Olympic transportation plan is continuing.

"What was a pleasant surprise was the percentage of people who stuck with it," said the chief economist at The Board of Trade. "That's a big percentage of people who changed their behaviour."

Nearly 750 responded to the self-selecting survey promoted to Board of Trade members and the public from July to September 2010. Seventy-five per cent of the respondents reported having a very good to excellent experience with the transportation measures taken during the Games. Surprisingly, 38 per cent of residents said they changed their behaviour to reduce traffic congestion in general, indicating the Games may have been a catalyst to try a new transportation method but interest was already there.

About half of the survey respondents live in Vancouver and they made up the bulk of those who, after changing their transportation behaviour, have continued with their new choices. Respondents from outside Vancouver listed the cancellation of transportation services and reduction of park and ride facilities as factors that caused them to go back to using their cars after the Games.

"The survey, sponsored by IBM in tandem with The Vancouver Board of Trade, clearly demonstrates that smarter transportation is a critical issue and that valuable lessons learned from the 2010 Winter Games Transportation Plan have changed behaviours," said Dr. Jim W. Cortada of IBM Institute for Business Value. "Rapid urbanization and increased population densities are emphasizing the importance of using technology to better manage transportation demand and supply."

The survey also asked what 2010 Winter Games transportation methods, if made a regular service, would encourage people to return to their Games transportation behaviour. Among Vancouver residents, they wanted to see the expanded transit services and cycling facilities, and pedestrian-only roads return. Those from outside of Vancouver listed additional park and ride facilities as their choices.

The chief economist said the study gives insight to how the Lower Mainland can further increase interest in reducing traffic congestion and shows what steps will likely encourage drivers to try alternative transportation methods.

"It shows a big event like this can change people's behaviour," the chief economist said. "You just have to give them the opportunity to try it."

-30-

For media interviews with IBM, please contact Joanne Fotin, 514-964-8558 or email fortin@ca.ibm.com.
 
•   Download the survey results: VBOT2010TransportLegaciesSurvey.pdf.

Category: Policy

Policy Home Policy Transportation 2011