Commonwealth Games plan warns residents off roads and suggests using bicycles to ease traffic chaos An artist's impression of several Commonwealth Games venues. Transport planning has to factor in 1.5 million visitors to the Gold Coast for the 2018 event. GOLD Coasters will be urged to stay off the roads for almost a month, work from home and use bikes to get around the city when the 2018 Commonwealth Games rolls out. The extent of traffic chaos that will be created when an estimated 1.5 million people converge on the city for the event was revealed for the first time when the Games Transport Strategic Plan was released to Gold Coast City Council. The plan's focus period is from the opening ceremony, on April 4, to the closing ceremony, on April 15, but Gold Coast Games Corporation management have warned there will be pressure on the city's road network from March 30 until April 18. Councillors were told on Friday gridlock was likely unless Gold Coasters were discouraged from using their cars, particularly on the main roads in Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Robina, Carrara and Coomera which were part of the Games Route Network. There are already plans to launch an advertising campaign in the lead-up to the Games, similar to one that was rolled out for the London 2012 Olympics, warning people against using their vehicles and suggesting that they walk or cycle instead. The transport proposal also outlined plans by Games Corporation officers to work with businesses in the lead-up to the event and ensure staff could work from home or outside the city where possible. An aerial shot taken last week of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre under construction for the 2018 Games. The draft transport plan excluded ferries from the travel network. Those who do venture out will have to negotiate a series of road closures and changes, including the introduction of Games-only traffic lanes and new bus stops. The city's light rail system, due to be up and running next year, is part of the strategy and organisers are counting on extra buses and shuttle services to help with issues. There are also plans to put thousands of bike parking spaces in place for the Games. The idea has been copied from London, where about 18,000 bike parking spaces were created to encourage residents to use alternative transport during the Games. Gold Coast 2018 Games chairman Nigel Chamier said yesterday getting transport right was crucial to the success of the Games. But Mr Chamier refused to comment on the draft plan, saying it was yet to be endorsed by partners. Division 4 Councillor Margaret Grummitt has already questioned the plan's failure to include ferries as part of the transport network. "If we don't have ferries, Gold Coasters will all get into their tinnies and use them to get access to venues anyway," she said at the Commonwealth Games and Major Projects Committee Meeting on Friday. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate agreed that ferries could help and said he would be willing to talk to private operators about providing a service during the Games. Council has six weeks to comment on the transport plan before it goes back to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation.