Transportation

TransLink

TransLink operates buses, the SkyTrain, the SeaBus, the West Coast Express, and HandyDART in the Vancouver area.

There are 3 SkyTrain lines:

• The Expo Line connects downtown Vancouver with Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey.
• The Millennium Line connects Vancouver with Burnaby and Coquitlam.
• The Canada Line connects downtown Vancouver to Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport.

Hundreds of bus routes connect the region. The SeaBus is a ferry (boat) that takes passengers across Vancouver Harbour. It connects downtown Vancouver and the North Shore.

Plan your trip by using TransLink’s online trip planning tool. 

West Coast Express

The West Coast Express is a commuter train between downtown Vancouver and Mission City. It runs Monday to Friday during morning and evening rush hours. It is operated by TransLink.

How to pay for TransLink’s services

You can pay for a TransLink ride with a credit card, debit card, Compass Ticket, or Compass Card. Compass Tickets and Compass Cards are payment cards for TransLink buses and SkyTrains. Find out where to buy Compass Cards and tickets. 

See a map of places to buy Compass Cards. Call TransLink to buy a Compass Card, or to add value to your card: Vancouver area: 604 398-2042

A single fare to travel on different TransLink services is valid for 90 minutes. You can transfer between buses, SkyTrains, or the SeaBus without paying again. The cost of your ticket depends on how many Fare Zones you travel through. Longer trips (more than 1 zone) cost more during busy hours (Monday to Friday before 6:30 pm).

Some travellers are eligible for Concession fares, which cost less:

• seniors 65 and older (valid photo ID required)
• youth 13 to 18 years (valid photo ID required)
• HandyCard holders

Children under age 12 travel free on all buses. Up to 4 children under 12 years old can ride free when they are with a passenger who has proof that they paid the fare. Learn more about TransLink fares. 

Customers who have problems seeing, hearing, standing, or walking can use TransLink. There are many services and features to help customers find their bus stop, and get on and off the bus in the Using public transportation as a person with a disability section below.

BC Transit

BC Transit provides bus service to more than 130 communities in B.C. outside the Vancouver area. Download a local bus map and schedule from the BC Transit website. You can also get print copies of the Rider’s Guide at your local government office or transit centre. To find your local transit centre, visit the BC Transit website.

How to pay for BC Transit’s services

It costs $2.50 for 1 ride on BC Transit, and $5 for a day pass. You can use the day pass to take as many bus rides as you like until it expires at 4 am the next day. Children under 12 travel for free.

BC Transit is starting to use Umo to collect fares in some communities. You can use the Umo plastic card or the mobile app to pay for your ride. Learn more about Umo at BC Transit. Find out if your community uses Umo. 

You can load your Umo card or mobile app with money to pay your transit fare. Tap the card or your phone on the card reader. The reader is at the front of the bus, beside the driver.

Get more information about using Umo, and find out where to buy and load money onto your Umo card. 

In communities that do not use Umo yet, you can pay your bus fare in cash or buy a bus ticket or pass. If you take the bus often, it is cheaper to buy a bus pass or tickets. You can buy these at grocery stores, drugstores, and convenience stores. You can find information about where to buy tickets and passes in your local Rider’s Guide or on BC Transit’s website. 

There is a lower price for full-time students (up to Grade 12) and seniors (65 years or older) in most communities. To pay a lower price, you may need to show ID, such as a student card or driver’s licence.

Some communities offer free transit for youth 18 and under, while all riders 12 and under get on the bus for free.

If you use bus tickets, 1 ticket gives you 1 bus ride. If you need to take more than 1 bus ride in the same day, you can buy a DayPASS. This lets you take as many buses as you want in 1 day. You can only use the DayPASS until the end of the day you purchased it—it is not a 24 hour pass.

In communities without a DayPASS, you can ask for a transfer if you need to change buses. A transfer is a ticket that lets you take another bus within 1 hour without paying again. After you pay your fare, tell the bus driver you need to transfer. The bus driver will give you a transfer ticket to show you already paid. Some communities don’t use transfers. Check on the BC Transit website or ask the bus driver.

If you pay cash, you need to pay the exact fare. The bus does not give change. If you get a monthly pass, you can ride as many times as you want for 1 month.

For more information about using bus tickets and passes, visit the BC Transit website and choose your community name. 

People who have trouble walking often use mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or scooters. You can bring mobility aids on all public transit buses. There is extra room at the front of the bus, near the door.

If you need help finding your stop, sit close to the front of the bus. You can ask the driver to tell you when you arrive at your stop.

In the Vancouver area, most TransLink buses have signs showing the next stop. Most also say the name of the stop out loud. All bus stops have braille signs. All SkyTrain cars announce the next stop.

Outside of the Vancouver area, BC Transit buses announce the next stop. In some communities, the buses have a recorded announcement for each stop. In some communities, the driver says the name of each stop.

There are special buses for people who can’t use the regular transit system. These buses pick you up at your home and take you to the address you are going to. The bus operators will help you get on and off the bus. You share the trip with other riders. To use this service, you must register first. You must call before to reserve your trip. You should try to reserve your ride a week before.

In the Vancouver area

HandyDART is TransLink’s service for people who cannot use the regular transit system without help. You must apply to use the HandyDART service. You should reserve your ride 1 week early.

HandyCard is TransLink’s photo ID card for people with helpers. HandyCard customers can bring a helper on any public transportation. This includes bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus. The helper does not have to pay. When getting on the SkyTrain, HandyCard pass holders and their helpers can go through the gates together.

Outside the Vancouver area

handyDART is BC Transit's service for people who cannot use the regular transit system without help. Visit the BC Transit website to see if your community has a handyDART service. Find your communities’ name and click on Rider Information. Look for the handyDART link. 

You can bring a helper on the handyDART bus with you if:

• you are a registered handyDART customer with a handyPASS
• you are blind and have a pass from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Foundation

The helper does not have to pay. Tell the transit operator if the person is your helper. Many communities have programs to show people how to use mobility aids on buses. Call your local BC Transit office to make an appointment to learn how to use the aids.

handyPASS is BC Transit’s photo ID card for people with helpers. handyPASS customers can bring a helper on any public transportation. The helper does not have to pay. In some communities, handyPASS customers can get Taxi Saver tickets. These tickets give you a 50% discount on your taxi fare.

Taxis can be fast and easy, but they can be expensive. You can order a taxi by telephone. Some companies also have a website or a mobile app. At the end of your trip, the meter in the taxi shows how much to pay. In Canada, people usually give taxi drivers a tip (extra money). A tip is usually 10% to 20% of the fare.

Find a list of companies approved to provide taxi services in B.C.

Ride-hailing is like a taxi, but the driver uses their own vehicle. Customers cannot call a ride-hailing driver by telephone or find them on the street. You can only call them through a mobile app. Ride-hailing drivers can only accept payment through the app. The fee is set when the ride is confirmed.

Find a list of companies approved to provide ride-hail services in British Columbia. 

Find more information about ride-hailing in B.C.

Carsharing is a way to use cars if you don’t own one. Some communities in B.C. have carshare companies and co-ops. You join as a member and pay to borrow a car when you need one. You can reserve a vehicle over the phone, online, or through an app. Carshare fees vary. You can pay by the minute, by the hour, or by the day. Sometimes you have to return the car to the same place you got it. Sometimes you can leave the car somewhere else. Joining a carshare can be cheaper than renting a car. It depends on how often you rent or borrow a car, and how far you drive.

A carpool is sharing a ride with people on your route. Some people join a carpool with work colleagues so they can travel back and forth to work together. Some people use carpooling to travel to other cities. Carpooling lets people share driving duties and travel costs, such as gas or car insurance. Learn more about carpooling in B.C.

Buses travel between towns and cities throughout British Columbia. There are several bus companies travelling between Vancouver, Vancouver International Airport, and Victoria. You can take buses across B.C. and to other provinces. Find information about chartered buses in B.C.

BC Bus North travels between Prince Rupert, Prince George, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, and Valemount.

You can travel to most cities in B.C. by airplane. Search online for flights, routes, times, and fares.

See a list of airports in B.C.. 

Coastal ferries connect the Vancouver area with Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Sunshine Coast. Every year, BC Ferries carries more than 8 million vehicles and 21 million people. Find ferry routes, schedules, and fees on the BC Ferries website.

To take a ferry from the Vancouver area, you will have to travel to Tsawwassen or Horseshoe Bay.

There are ferries between the following communities:

• Vancouver, Victoria, and the Southern Gulf Islands
• Vancouver and Nanaimo
• Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast
• Vancouver Island and the Northern Gulf Islands
• Vancouver Island, Prince Rupert, the Central B.C. Coast, and Haida Gwaii

Many ferries make several stops in a single trip, and you may have to change ferries along the way. It can be confusing to plan your trip. For help before you travel, call BC Ferries customer service. You can also go to the website and ask BC Ferries to call you at a specific time. 

BC Ferries travel tips

• BC Ferries are very full during holidays and in the summer. It is a good idea to reserve your ferry before you travel. If you are travelling with a vehicle during busy times and you do not have a reservation, you will have to wait for a sailing where there is room for you. You may have to wait at the terminal for many hours before you can get on a ferry.
• Ferries have limited space for vehicles. If you don’t need to bring your vehicle, you can walk onto the ferry. Foot passengers (people traveling without vehicles) do not need to reserve a space or wait in line for a ferry with space.
• If you have a reservation, arrive 45- 60 minutes before your sailing. Find the check-in time for the terminal you’re travelling from. 
• On the day of your sailing, check the Current Conditions on the BC Ferries website. This is important if you don’t have a reservation. Current Conditions will let you know if the ferry is on schedule and how much space is available 
• You can save money by traveling at less busy times like early morning or late at night. BC Ferries offers Saver fares on select routes and sailings. Find out how much your trip will cost and compare prices.
• If you are traveling for a medical appointment, you may qualify for a free ferry ride to get to your appointment. This is called the Medical Assured Loading and the BC Government Travel Assistance Program. You must be eligible for the program and bring a letter from your medical practitioner saying you need this service for medical reasons. Learn more about eligibility and how to use this program. 

Inland Ferries

The B.C. government operates free ferries on some lakes in the B.C. interior. Learn about the routes, schedules, and contact numbers on the Inland Ferries website. 

Many people in B.C. ride bicycles to work or school, to go shopping, or just for fun. Cycling is a safe, healthy, and less expensive way to travel. It is also better for the environment. Many people also ride e-bikes—bicycles with an electric motor.

The B.C. Motor Vehicle Act has laws and regulations about riding bicycles and e-bikes. Cyclists must follow many of the same traffic rules as a motor vehicle driver. You do not need a licence to ride a bicycle in B.C. You must be 14 years of age to ride a “light” e-bike (less than 500 watts), and 16 years to ride a standard e-bike.

The laws below are for both e-bikes and bicycles. If you do not follow these laws, you may get a ticket and have to pay a fine:

• You must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle in British Columbia. In certain conditions, a helmet is not required. For example, you do not need to wear a helmet if it interferes with religious practices.
• In most places, it is illegal to ride a bicycle or e-bike on a sidewalk. You must ride on the road. When you ride on the road, stay on the right-hand side.
• Some roads in B.C. have special lanes for bicycles. Painted lines and pictures tell you where to ride. There may be a low curb or posts to separate bicycle lanes from motor vehicles (cars and trucks). If there is something blocking the bicycle lane, you can ride on the road.
• You must stop at stop signs.
• You must obey traffic lights.
• When riding a bicycle in the dark, you must use lights. Use a bright white light on the front of your bike and a red light on the back.
• Most cities and towns require bicycles to have a bell. Ring the bell to warn people before you pass them.
• You must use hand signals to let people around you know before you turn, slow down, or stop.
• It is illegal for 2 people to ride on 1 bicycle, unless the bicycle is built specifically for 2 people. Adults can carry small children on a bicycle or e-bike if the child is in a special bicycle seat.

Some community organizations and bicycle shops teach courses in how to ride safely and fix your bicycle. Learn more about cycling rules in B.C.

The British Columbia Cycling Coalition publishes Bike Sense, a free book about bicycle safety. 

Some cities in British Columbia provide bicycles that you can rent for a few minutes or a few hours. This is called a public bike share. You must register with the company before you can take a shared bicycle. There is usually a fee to register, and there may also be a fee each time you take a shared bicycle. Bike shares are meant for short trips in the city—from the SkyTrain to your office, or from the bus stop to home, for example.

Every shared bicycle has a helmet. You can use the shared helmet or bring your own. It is illegal to ride a bicycle without a helmet in B.C.

Pedestrians (people who are walking) should always obey street signs and traffic signals. Only cross streets at a crosswalk. Crosswalks are marked by a sign, or by lines painted on the road. Some crosswalks have special lights. You can press a button on the light pole to turn them on. Flashing lights will let drivers know that you are crossing the street. Look around before crossing to make sure all vehicles have come to a complete stop. 

While cars must stop at crosswalks to let people cross, you should always be careful. Watch for drivers turning left or right through the crosswalk. Drivers may not be paying attention to the crosswalk. If it’s difficult to see (for example, when it’s dark or raining), drivers may not see pedestrians on the crosswalk.

Learn more about pedestrian safety.