Image: Dave
The 2010 Vancouver Celebration of Light Fireworks is for many the best of part of Summer as hundreds of thousands of people from all over the region are expected  to make their way to Vancouver and witness the dazzling spectacle. Of course, like every year, they almost didn’t happen, but as Vancity Buzz first reported they were miraculously saved at the last minute. Here is the complete schedule:

Enjoy your summer nights at the HSBC Celebration of Light Wednesday, July 21; Saturday, July 24; Wednesday, July 28; and Saturday, July 31 at 10 pm. Traffic restrictions will be in effect on these evening from 7:30 to 11:30 pm in the West End and from 6 to 11:30 pm in Kits Point. Vehicle access in the West End and Kits Point will be limited to residents who can prove residency through car registration or a resident permit parking decal. Emergency vehicles, buses, taxis and valid delivery trucks will also have access. All others will not be allowed vehicle access.

2010 Vancouver Celebration of Light Transit Changes (from Translink):

Buses will be re-routed away from the immediate area of the fireworks, so celebrants will need to walk several blocks to get to their vantage points:
· #5 Robson will go as far as Denman and Georgia
· #6 Davie will terminate at Davie and Thurlow
· C21 Beach will go as far as Beach and Hornby· C23 Davie will go as far as Davie and Thurlow
· #22 Knight/Macdonald will use Granville Street Bridge, 4th Ave., Burrard and Cornwall in both directions

The #22 line offers some fine alternate vantage points to the English Bay locations, such as Kitsilano Beach or Vanier Park.

Transit supervisors will be on-hand to decide if additional coaches will be needed to handle the crowds.

West Vancouver Blue Bus will provide additional buses from Dundarave and Park Royal.  Buses returning to West Vancouver will load east of the regular bus stop (nearer to Stanley Park) at Georgia and Denman.

SkyTrain will operate at “rush hour” service levels throughout the evening, with the last trains leaving Waterfront Station for King George at 1:15am, VCC-Clark at 12:31am and Lougheed at 1:11am. 

Extra trains will be available in case there are customers still inside the stations when the last scheduled trains leave – no one will be left behind.

BIKES ON SKYTRAIN  – Restrictions are in effect due to crowds.  Bicycles will be restricted westbound (to downtown) at the discretion of transit staff when trains are crowded. Cyclists should travel early, avoiding the peak inbound peak of 8 – 9:30pm. No bikes can board after 10 p.m. until crowds have cleared. 

Wheelchairs and strollers have priority boarding.  Cyclists should expect delays of up to 90 minutes.  Please limit bicycles to 2 per SkyTrain car, and be mindful of the safety and comfort of other passengers. 

SeaBus will have both vessels in operation throughout the evening: 15-minute service will run between Lonsdale Quay and Waterfront station until 12:15am on Wednesdays and 12:45am on Saturdays.

West Coast Express will run a special train on August 1 – Finale Night – only.  The train will leave Mission City Station at 7:00 pm and return from Waterfront at Midnight.