More 2010 Steet Closures Planned

CBC News, August 13, 2009

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/08/13/bc-olympic-ro...

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association says it has uncovered plans to close more Vancouver streets during the 2010 Winter Games in February than previously revealed by Olympic officials.

So far, the Integrated Security Unit, which is responsible for policing the Games, has refused to release its full plans for street closures during the Games, and that's creating uncertainty for businesses and residents according to civil liberties association lawyer Carmen Cheung.

"Only the ISU knows completely what the closures will be around the Games and the restrictions for home care workers, employees and residents inside security perimeters," said Cheung.
Maps based on FOI requests

The group used Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain applications by various officials to the City of Vancouver for street closures during the Olympics, including detailed information about parking and resident access, said Cheung.

The group then cross-referenced the information to draw up several maps of street closures it believes officials are planning around venues.

Cheung is calling on the ISU to release its full plans for road closures or confirm the closures marked on the association's maps.

"There are only six months until the Olympics, and residents and businesses still don't have access to adequate information to plan for closures of streets around their homes, offices and stores," she said.

The roads highlighted in blue on the maps will be subject to some form of closure or restricted access during some portion of the Olympic period, but neither the accuracy nor completeness of this information is guaranteed, said Cheung.