Commonwealth Games traffic fears prove unfounded as driving is the quickest way to the Gold Coast

FORGET public transport, if you want to get to the Gold Coast quickly for your Games event, driving is the clear winner. Our journalists tried out all modes of transport from Brisbane to Carrara, and even cycling technically proved faster than the train.

DRIVING from Brisbane to Carrara Stadium was more than 30 minutes quicker than catching public transport on Sunday in another sign that fears of traffic chaos were overstated.

The Courier-Mail put the modes of transport to the test on the first day of athletics at Carrara Stadium, which was ground zero of the opening ceremony transport debacle last week.

The drive from Bowen Hills was 90 minutes, while public transport took two hours and four minutes – one minute longer than a cyclist travelling at the same speed as the winner of the 2014 Commonwealth Games road race.

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A runner able to keep pace with the Commonwealth Games marathon record would have taken 4 hours and 7 minutes.

Former Olympic triathlete Courtney Atkinson drives to the Commonwealth Games on quiet roads. Picture: Tourism and Events Queensland

Getting to the stadium was a breeze as weekend traffic was light, parking at designated spots was easy, trains were on time and uncrowded and shuttle bus queues moved quickly.

But there were anomalies using the official online journey planner.

The suggested route from The Courier-Mail offices at Bowen Hills to a Park’n’Ride at Helensvale was estimated to take 1 hour and 59 minutes and ran through the Clem 7 tunnel, with a detour through outlying suburbs, before eventually getting onto the M1 south of Beenleigh.

Google Maps provided a much quicker 65km route, with no tolls, along the Inner City Bypass and onto the Pacific Motorway which took a slick 90 minutes.

Other addresses in Brisbane’s inner north all recommended extended journeys through the western and southern suburbs.

Transport and Main Roads said the journey planner did not exclude the M1 from potential journeys, sayin the route chosen was the best option for customers.

“The planner uses detailed modelling to compare transport modes and recommend the best option to customers,” a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said.

“Suggested travel times and routes will vary every day of the Games.”

The public transport trip was free with a Commonwealth Games ticket and estimated at nearly one-and-three-quarter hours.

Despite no major delays, the total trip took 2 hours and 4 minutes, arriving at 1.11pm but still with plenty of time to pass through security and get seated before events kicked off at 2pm.

Former Olympic triathlete Courtney Atkinson further busted the myth about traffic chaos on the Gold Coast, recording a leisurely journey from Brisbane to the beach.

Atkinson, who also works as an ambassador for Tourism and Events Queensland, made a video in response to fears predictions of traffic chaos were keeping visitors away from the Glitter Strip during the Games.

“If you’re a Brisbane local you’ll know full well the traffic you can get going down to the Gold Coast on the weekend at any time, so this is no different from normal, probably better than normal really, and there’s the added bonus of having this amazing event on once you get down here,” he said.

“There’s no reason not to come down right now.

“You can have a great run on the M1, you can still find a park in a place like Broadbeach and soak up everything that is going on down here.”

People ditch the shuttle buses and take the “easy” 20 minute walk to Carrara Stadium from Nerang train Station. Picture: Tali Eley

While the majority of commuters were happy with the transport options on offer, some elderly patrons such as retiree Jean Thiemeyer from Melbourne found the walk from the drop-off points to the stadium too much.

“It’s dreadful, the amount of walking is not compatible with senior citizens, it really is a very long walk,” she said.

Games chairman Peter Beattie said more than 61,500 people caught the train from Brisbane to the Gold Coast on Saturday “which is an extraordinary outcome for us”.

“We said use public transport, people are doing it, we love you for doing it so thank you very much,” he said.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said the GC2018 journey planner does not exclude the M1 from potential journeys.

“The planner uses detailed modelling to compare transport modes and recommend the best option to customers.

“Suggested travel times and routes will vary every day of the Games.”

Bowen Hills to Carrara Stadium 81km

Car and shuttle – 90 minutes

Cycling road race speed – 2 hours 3 minutes

Public transport – 2 hours 4 minutes

At CG Marathon record speed – 4 hours 7 minutes

Google Maps cycling – 4 hours 26 minutes

Google Maps walking – 16 hours 43 minutes

Originally published as Commonwealth Games traffic fears prove unfounded as driving is the quickest way to the Gold Coast