Getting around - Navigating the Province

Vancouver is one of the easiest, most accessible cities to live in. Here are some key tips to help you plan how you get around.

 

• Public transport: Vancouver consistently ranks in the top 3 public transportation systems in North America with fantastic trains and buses. Buses/trolley buses are logical, high frequency and very convenient. The SkyTrain is an autonomous service with three main lines, trains come every 2-7 minutes and aren't too packed. There is a SeaBus ferry service connecting 

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• Driving: cars are cheap but can be a little challenging when first moving to the city. The Trans-Canada Highway acts as a rapid freeway providing East-West linkages and Highway 99 is the major North-South route. Vancouver itself has no inner city freeways and many major arteries including the Lion's Gate Bridge can become congested. 

  • Right turn on red: these turns are allowed ​even if the light is red (unless otherwise indicated)

  • Traffic light timings are quite brief throughout the city so be ready to go when the light turns green or you might be honked

  • Lanes in downtown are very narrow and not for the fainthearted

  • Traffic light locations: traffic lights are located only on the far side of intersections so be sure to stop in time and not cross the solid white line.

  • Red indicator/turn signals on cars: Canada aligns with the USA and cars have solid red indicators (turn signals/flickers) lights rather than mandatory amber lights, this can be a little hard to notice and dangerous when first driving.

  • Green flashing lights: There are unique 'flashing green' indicators in Vancouver which signify that the traffic light is pedestrian controlled. This means it will not change unless a pedestrian presses the button to cross. On some intersections there is a bizarre setup where flashing green traffic lights are only placed on one intersecting street while the other has a stop sign. If you happen to be at the stop sign you need to carefully check for pedestrians crossing opposite and beside you, look left and right for traffic... then if safe to cross drive through. An example of this is seen on streetview here.

  • Bike paths: watch out for bikes who often have their own separated lane and can be hard to notice

  • Rental car insurance: don't be stung by high fees through rental car agencies. Your government drivers license entitles you to $10 per day rental car insurance for any booking  in North America. There is a two day minimum but this comprehensive insurance is much better than the third parties you will be offered elsewhere. You can purchase this in advance through any travel agency.

• Walking: the entire metropolitan region is pedestrianised and making small journeys on foot feels comfortable and safe due to prolific countdown timers.

• Cycling: a cycling heaven with kilometers of dedicated lanes, be sure to lock your bike and helmets are mandatory. There is a prolific and affordable bike share network too.

• Car sharing: with prohibitive insurance costs car share platforms has blossomed in Vancouver and are highly recommended

  • Evo: a local company with high quality black  and fluorescent blue hybrid vehicles adorned with ski racks​. 41c per minute with a $35 membership fee, after reserving a car through the smart phone app you have 30 minutes to start driving (can unlock with your phone or with a membership card). As long as you are within the 'home zone' you can then leave it wherever you need to go and only get charged the time it took to drive point-to-point.

  • Modo: local cooperative for return trips with thousands of cars across BC. Many apartment buildings have designated Modo bays so you are likely to find them really useful for large weekly shops, going skiing or hiking or weekend trips. You will need to have credit card insurance, an identity check and a driving history reviewed prior to membership. There is a coop fee which can be a barrier for some people. Best if you are in BC for at least a year.

  • Zipcar & Car2Go: unfortunately recently left the BC market and are no longer in business

• Ride sharing: controversially introduced in the winter of 2019 Uber, Lyft and Kater now operate across most of the lower mainland, their services are not as competitive as elsewhere

• Taxi: heavily locally unionised and very long wait times, prices are competitive though!  

• Airport: SkyTrain, ride share, taxis, Evo all service the  main airport. YVR is fantastic with minimal walking/delays getting to the gate. Liquids > 100mls aren't allowed. There is a 'South Terminal' which requires a bus service so allow an extra 40 minutes. 

  • Air Canada: has a large presence at YVR with long haul direct routes to Europe, Australia, India and Asia.​ You can collect Star Alliance frequent flyer points (Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines etc) or register for for the local Aeroplan program where you can earn points whilst grocery shopping. Whilst tickets are cheap you have to pay for everything onboard. Monopolises the Canadian airspace.

  • WestJet: fantastic for travel amongst the western provinces, a smaller footprint than Air Canada but highly reliable. Has a separate frequent flyer program but does codeshare with Delta and Qantas.

  • Pacific Coastal Airlines: flies to smaller regional Airports within B.C. Beware that it departs from YVR South!

  • Air North: is surprisingly full-service and excellent for travel to the Yukon.

  • Injterjet: offers seasonal vacation flights to Central America and Europe, surprisingly affordable but tough if there's a cancellation.

  • Swoop: ultra low-cost airline mainly serving the Abbotsford airport.

  • Flair Air: very cheap bare-bones airline, looking for frills? There are none.

• Trains: 

  • Cascades train to Seattle: departs from the Pacific Station ​twice daily (roughly 0630 and 1730) and takes about 5 hours.

  • West Coast Express: is a commuter train all the way to Mission in the Fraser Valley, multiple morning and evening departures

  • Train to Toronto: VIA rail has long-distance rail across Canada starting with a service to Kamloops-Jasper-Edmonton

• Ferries: BC ferries is a huge company operating very comfortable car ferries across the coast, you need to review their website to understand everything. The ferry system has capacity for pedestrians (cannot be booked in advance) and vehicles. If you plan on taking your car you should book online and arrive at least an hour before departure where you will pay for your final ticket, the online booking fee (about $30) will only guarantee your spot in the queue if you arrive 60 minutes before, if you arrive late you wait with everyone else. A percentage of deck space is generally reserved for vehicles arriving at the terminal without reservations, sometimes there will be so many cars waiting in the holding lanes you may miss up to two or three sailings! Waiting more than 4 hours can be frustrating so if your plans can be finalised and ferry transport pre-booked it is highly recommended. The ferries operate from two main terminals far away from downtown Vancouver so budget 5 hours to Victoria using public transport (no joke) and 3 hours with private vehicle. There used to be a direct downtown 'V2V' service which closed in early 2020.

  •  Horseshoe Bay: travel to Nanaimo only on Vancouver Island (lands at a place called Departure Bay), you can get an express bus to this ferry terminal from downtown

  • Tsawwassen: travel to Victoria (Swartz Bay or Nanaimo (Duke Point) on Vancouver Island. You will need to get the SkyTrain to Bridgeport and then a 40 minute bus to the ferry terminal.

• Seaplane: the lower mainland is a seaplane paradise due to the sheltered harbours, low winds and flat water. There are terminals across the province and sometimes the cost-time value of a seaplane makes more sense than catching a ferry. You can finish work at 5pm, bring your small backpack and check in 20 minutes before your $90 flight and arrive in downtown Victoria for a 7pm dinner reservation! Harbour Air is the largest company, air sickness is rare but possible. 

• Bus to Whistler, Capilano and local mountains: multiple companies offer 1h40min options to Whistler for as little as $35. There is also a direct service from YVR. The Capilano suspension bridge has a free shuttle. Public transport is available to Grouse Mountain and amazingly you can use Evo to get there too. Cyprus mountain is best accessed by personal vehicle although there is a $25 round trip cash only shuttle. Mt Seymour  has a shuttle from the Rupert SkyTrain station.

• Flying to the USA: most check in closes 90 minutes before departure and make sure you leave enough time to clear security. In daylight hours (until 2000) there is a separate USA terminal at YVR where you will complete USA migration before boarding. This speeds up your arrival as you board on a domestic equivalent USA service.​

• Overland travel to the USA: generally doesn't take too long but always check google maps or the roadside border crossing signs for accurate timings. There are four crossings in the greater metropolitan region of Vancouver into Washington State (Peace Arch is the biggest) and one into the bizarre enclave Point Roberts (good for a visa run/park and walk across the border). If you do not hold a USA visa/PR you will need to use an i-94 form and pay the relevant fee (an annoying $6USD). There is a validity period for this document and more information can be found here. Some people keep the form in their passport if they know they will be returning in and out of the USA within the relevant time the i-94 is valid. If you do not have a trip planned back the USA I don't recommend this gamble as you can get a fine for not surrendering the form. Best to just hand it back to the Canadian border guards each time you leave the USA.

• Nexus pass: after being legally resident in Canada/USA and having citizenship or PR for 3 years you can apply for a nexus permit which gives speedy access through USA border. 

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