Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Vancouver's SkyTrain
Right
Taxi in front of the Opus Hotel, Vancouver
Getting Around Vancover & Victoria
Buses & SeaBus
Public transit
(Translink) bus routes
extend across Greater
Vancouver. Ask the driver
for a transfer so you can
switch to the SkyTrain or
SeaBus - catamarans that
cross the harbor in a short
12 minutes. The Victoria
Regional Transit System
operates a large network
of buses across Victoria.
d
Vancouver route
info: 604 953 3333
• www.translink.bc.ca
• Victoria route info: 250
382 6161
HandyDART
Both Victoria and Van-
couver operate a shared-
ride service for people
unable to use public tran-
sit. Pre-register at least
10 days ahead of your
trip.
d
HandyDART:
Vancouver, 604 430 2692,
Victoria: 250 727 9607
5 to 13 years, seniors
and students with proper
ID are eligible for conces-
sion fares. Children
under 4 years ride free in
Vancouver, under 6 in
Victoria, where family
savings are also available
using daypasses.
Taxis
Flagging a taxi on Van-
couver city streets is easy
- cabs are plentiful. In Vic-
toria, fewer taxis cruise
the streets, so it is best
to order a cab by phone.
Cycling
Cyclists must follow
the same rules of the road
as drivers. Bikes may not
be ridden on sidewalks,
and wearing a helmet is
mandatory. Bikes are
allowed on Vancouver's
SkyTrain and SeaBus in
non-peak hours. Buses in
both cities offer bike racks
on many routes.
Ferries
Ferries to Victoria and
the Gulf Islands depart
from Tsawwassen; those
to Nanaimo, the Sun-
shine Coast, and Bowen
Island leave from Horse-
shoe Bay. All ferries carry
bicycles for a fee. Car
reservations, also for a
fee, are advised for peak
periods.
d
Ferry info:
1 888 223 3779 in BC;
250 386 3431 outside BC
• www.bcferries.com
SkyTrain
Vancouver's SkyTrain
is an above-ground light
rapid transit system.
Tickets are also transfers.
They are good for 90 min-
utes, and valid for round
trips and connections to
buses and the SeaBus.
Driving
A good map is essen-
tial, especially in Vancou-
ver. Hwys 1 and 99 can be
very busy during rush
hour
(see p105)
. There are
no freeways by-passing
the city core. Speed limits
are posted. Right-hand
turns on red lights are
legal throughout BC
unless otherwise posted.
Transit Fares
Vancouver's TransLink
system has three fare
zones, but on weekdays
after 6:30pm and week-
ends, the system reverts
to one zone. Victoria's
transit system has two
fare zones. In both cities,
bus drivers do not sell
tickets or provide change.
If you don't have a ticket,
pay the exact cash fare
when boarding. Sheets
or books of 10 tickets
and day passes are
money-savers. These are
sold at SkyTrain stations
(Vancouver) and at many
convenience stores and
supermarkets. People
with disabilities, children
Walking
Walking is the best
way to explore downtown
Vancouver and Victoria.
Streets are fairly safe
(see
p105).
The south arm of
the False Creek seawalk
(see p71)
leads from
Vanier Park
(see p78)
past
several beaches to Span-
ish Banks, UBC
(see p85),
and beyond. In Victoria, a
walk on the promenade
along the Inner Harbour
offers excellent views of
historic buildings and the
harbor
(see p95)
.
Boat Tours
For boat tours of
Howe Sound and Victoria
Harbour, check with the
tourist information cen-
ters in Vancouver and
Victoria.
d
Touristinfo
Centre Vancouver: Plaza
Level, 200 Burrard St,
604 683 2000, www.
tourismvancouver.com
• Tourism Victoria: 812
Wharf St, 250 953-2033,
www.tourismvictoria.com
For Vancouver public transit information, call 604 953 3333. For
Victoria public transit information, call 250 382 6161
107
