Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee is considering asking the public to leave their cars at home, work different hours or consider staying with friends or family downtown during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

VANOC CEO John Furlong spoke to the media Wednesday about possible ways to ease traffic when the games take place between Feb. 12 and 28.

VANOC CEO John Furlong says he's hopeful the public will accomodate necessary changes in traffic during the Winter Olympic games.
(CBC)

"Is it possible that we would ask people to work with us and leave their cars at home and to use public (transit)? Yes it is," he said.

Furlong said traffic on major roads around Olympic venues and in the downtown core will need to be kept under control and parking near the venues will need to be kept clear.

Furlong even spoke about asking people to stay with others who live downtown so as not to add to traffic.

Olympic organizers may also ask businesses to adjust or stagger their work hours, he said, noting that previous host cities have done the same thing.

"Maybe you might come to work at 5 a.m. and leave at 2 p.m. (or) come at 10 a.m. and leave at 7 p.m. — whatever it is that you can do that will make being in the city easier and more fun and enjoyable for everybody," Furlong said.

Charles Gaulthier, executive director of the Downtown Vancouver Business and Improvement Association, said asking businesses to stagger their work hours to help alleviate traffic would be a last resort.