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Transit Police warn you to be alert, put phone away heading to and from Celebration of Light

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – We are one day away from kicking off the Celebration of Light — the annual fireworks festival that lasts three nights at English Bay in Downtown Vancouver.

You are encouraged to take transit, but make sure you put your phone away.

One of the biggest concerns Transit Police have is a lot of people with their heads down, staring at their phones — perhaps playing Pokemon Go — while weaving through thousands of passengers.

“It’s probably best if you’re not playing Pokemon Go in the massive crowds that will be around,” says Anne Drennan with Transit Police.

She says someone will either get hurt or have their phone stolen because they’re so obsessed with the game. “You’re concentrating on your screen when you should be alert. There have been a number of reports of people banging into things, knocking other people over — that kind of thing.”

“When there are that many people around and you’re zoned out or in a trance, playing this game, pretty well anything can happen. You can injure yourself in some way, but you can also have your device stolen very easily in crowds like that,” she adds.

Drennan suggests you keep your electronics out of sight in a closed bag, especially when you’re sitting or standing near the train or bus doors.

If you’re travelling in a group, especially as a family with with young children, Drennan advises you agree on a meeting spot in case you get separated.

She adds there won’t be any random bag checks, but there is zero tolerance for open liquor — that could land you a $230 fine.

“If we have reasonable grounds to search a bag — in other words, we see you drinking liquor openly — we would check your bag to ensure there isn’t any more liquor in the bag. But there won’t be random or routine searches of bags.

You can use Transit Police’s has a mobile app (available for iPhone and Android) or text 87-77-77 to report problems on transit.

“You’re reporting it in real-time and it goes straight through to Transit Police dispatch,” says Drennan. “You can also follow our app for any updates that might help you or affect your ride.”

Extra transit service on Celebration of Light nights

There will be extra buses and trains running on the nights of the fireworks (July 23rd, July 27th, July 30th).

“Bus service… will be monitored. Extra buses will be sent out as needed. We’ll run additional trains beginning mid-afternoon and lasting well past the event. The last train on the Expo/Millenium Line will leave Waterfront for King George at 1:16 a.m. — that is your last opportunity to head out on Expo/Millenium. The last Canada Line train will leave Waterfront for Richmond-Brighouse at 1:15 a.m.,” says Drennan.

There will also be extra SeaBus service, with the last sailings at 1:22 a.m. each night of the fireworks.

The West Coast Express is also running a special train on July 30th only, leaving Mission City at 7 p.m. and departing Waterfront at midnight.

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