Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea is encouraging the community to leave their cars at home and take one of the many public transport options when visiting Vivid Sydney this year.
Mr O’Dea said the NSW Government was making it easier to visit the annual festival of light, music and ideas, with more than 3,500 extra public transport services helping people travel to and from festival precincts.
“Vivid Sydney kicks off on Friday 23 May, lighting up areas all over the city including Martin Place for the first time, as well as festival favourites Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Walsh Bay and North Sydney,” Mr O’Dea said.
“This year’s Vivid Sydney Light Walk boasts over 50 new light installations, and Darling Harbour will again be transformed with giant fountains, four major water screens, lasers, projections and pyrotechnics.
“There is no better way to travel to the city and enjoy this stunning event than via public transport. The NSW Government has ensured the most effective transport and traffic measures are in place to cater for the huge crowds making their way into the city,” he said.
Last year 800,000 visitors experienced Vivid Sydney. To make sure visitors can move around the city freely, there will be road closures in effect at various times, as well as special event clearways.
Mr O’Dea said, “Using public transport is easy and efficient and the NSW Government is helping people plan their trips with a one-stop shop, which can be accessed via the www.vividsydney.com website. This will include up-to-date information about trains, buses, ferries, taxis and light rail services that connect the Vivid Sydney Precincts across the city.”
The festival will run nightly, from 6pm, until Monday 9 June. Over the three weekends of the event, almost 3,200 extra bus services will run in addition to the regular timetable services to move 160,000 additional passengers, an extra 350 train services will run to move an extra 500,000 people, and 132 ferry services will also run over the weekends.
“I encourage everyone to take public transport to and from the event. Those with young families and strollers should consider visiting Vivid earlier in the week, when visitor numbers are expected to be smaller than during weekends,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
