Add 150,000 cars, 100 extra buses, 200 extra police officers and a Friday night downpour and what do you have? A potential soggy mess for Cincinnati's “Red Hot Weekend.”

HOW TO GET, PARK DOWNTOWN

• PDF Map of parking areas and routes in and out of town

        The Reds game that was postponed Friday and is to be played at 12:05 p.m. today is expected to complicate the expected crush of traffic that will converge downtown for a host of festivities, including the Ohio State-University of Cincinnati football game, the AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati walk, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati - and the regularly scheduled Reds night game.

        Organizers' best advice?

        Leave early, plan ahead, take public transportation if possible and have a little patience. Remember that a portion of Fifth Street will be closed for Oktoberfest.

        Here are some tips for getting around downtown this weekend:

        Leave early and plan ahead. Officials say to expect delays and problems finding parking, adding that leaving even two hours ahead of time may not be enough. They advise mapping out alternate routes, and not committing to one road into town, especially because the following streets will be closed at some point during the weekend:

        • Fifth Street between Race and Broadway.

        • Vine Street between Fourth and Sixth.

        • Main Street between Fourth and Sixth.

        • Sycamore Street between Fourth and Sixth.

        Use public transportation. Metro is planning shuttles from the following locations:

        • Western Hills Plaza;

        • Forest Park park & ride (1160 Kemper Meadow Drive off Winton Road);

        • Raymond Walters College (9555 Plainfield Road);

        • Anderson Township park & ride (Beechmont Avenue behind the Municipal Building).

        The shuttle will be available 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Fare is $1.50 each way.

        On Saturday, Metro will also offer a shuttle from the University of Cincinnati to the Transit Center for the football game. Fare for the football shuttle is $3 round-trip and parking is free at UC.

        In addition, TANK will increase the frequency of its Southbank shuttle between Covington, Newport and downtown Cincinnati to every 15 minutes.

        Call or check ahead. ARTIMIS operates a 24-hour traffic update line, which can be reached by dialing 511. In addition, travelers can get more information at www.cincyusa.com, www.tankbus.org and www.sorta.com.

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