Photo: Contributed - newswire.ca

Pan Am Games officials are stressing the importance of using anything but a car to get around the Toronto region as the multi-sport event gets underway.

Games spokesman Allen Vansen says drivers must change their behaviours in order to get around, as commutes are affected by new high occupancy lanes on surrounding highways.

He says one way to do that is to go to work early and leave late if not taking transit.

Andrew Posluns, with the Ministry of Transportation, says drivers are adjusting to the new lanes, but overall travel times along Toronto's highways are up to 12 minutes slower now.

He says the goal is to have a commute about seven minutes longer than usual through the duration of the Games, but says he has seen anecdotal evidence that commute times have improved over the past week.

Meanwhile, police say a security fence around Toronto's Pan Am Park, one of the main sporting venues, was breached by an impatient pedestrian trying to take a short cut.

Competition in some Pan Am sports began Tuesday, with the Games set to official kick off on Friday.