Commuters who take public transit are more likely to report delays in getting to work or school than those who drive.

As the Winter Olympics head to the final days of competition, residents of the host cities are clearly paying attention to the event and are coping well with transportation issues, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of a representative sample of 500 adult Canadians who reside in Metro Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, including Whistler, also finds that more people believe the Winter Olympics will have a positive impact on the country, the host province and the main host city.

Legacy of the Games

The scepticism of the early days of February has given way to optimism as far as the legacy of the games is concerned.

Seven-in-ten respondents in Metro Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, including Whistler (70%, +4 since early February), believe that the Vancouver Winter Olympics will have a positive impact on Canada.

Three-in-four respondents believe the games will have a positive effect on British Columbia (74%, +10) and Vancouver (75%, +10).

Transportation

The proportion of respondents who have not been affected by street closures and bus re-routes (65%) has increased by nine points since early February. Only eight per cent of respondents say it is taking them a lot longer to get to work or school.

However, those who are relying on public transit during the Olympics are having a harder time than those who drive. Roughly two-in-five residents who take public transit say it is taking them a lot longer (15%) or a little bit longer (24%) to get to work or school. Conversely, only 18 per cent of those who drive are experiencing delays.

Pleasure and Pain

Overall, 56 per cent of respondents in Metro Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, including Whistler, claim to be excited about the Olympics and not inconvenienced in their day-to-day lives. This finding represents a six-point increase since an Angus Reid survey conducted early last week. A further 19 per cent of respondents (-3) are indifferent to the games and also not inconvenienced by them.

Only 14 per cent of respondents (-2) say they are excited about the Olympics but do see them as an inconvenience to their day-to-day lives. Finally, 11 per cent of respondents (unchanged) are indifferent to the Games and regard them as an inconvenience to their day-to-day lives.

Engagement

Almost half of respondents in Metro Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, including Whistler, are following the Vancouver Winter Olympics “very closely” (47%, +6), while 33 per cent (-5) are following the event “moderately closely”. The proportion of respondents who are following the games “not too closely” or “not closely at all” fell by three points (19%).

Feelings

Respondents continue to voice overwhelmingly positive feelings when assessing the Canadian athletes who are taking part in the Vancouver Winter Olympics: Proud to be Canadian (80%, +4), Enthusiasm (71%, +10), Joy (61%, +13) and Trust (26%, +11) are the words used the most.

There is also an increase in the proportion of respondents who hold positive feelings about the event itself. Proud to be Canadian (74%, +8), Enthusiasm (63%, +18) and Joy (48%, +15) garner the most mentions. Indifference (19%, -2) is fourth on the list.

Three of the top five words used by residents of the host cities to describe the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) are negative: Indifference (32%, -2), Disgust (27%, +1) and Anger (27%, +4). However, there is a marked increase in the proportion of mentions for Proud to be Canadian (28%, +9) and Enthusiasm (25%, +9).

CONTACT:

Hamish Marshall, Research Director, Public Affairs
+604 647 1987
hamish.marshall@angus-reid.com

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)