Take Transit in Vancouver!
While some cities' Public Transit systems can be confusing in their vastness and complexity (take for example the Manhattan Transport Authority), and others can be lacklustre or sorely lacking at best (Los Angeles comes to mind)...Vancouver actually has a rather good and efficient way of moving people around the city.
The Skytrain cuts a swath across the region with stops dotted throughout the Lower Mainland (read Greater Vancouver Area), while buses both expediated and "scenic"/slow fill in the gaps between.
More information is available upon the Regional Transportation Authority's website: http://www.translink.bc.ca/
Some helpful hints:
- For a greater amount of trips invest in a daypass or faresaver booklet, as a regular adult ticket can cost anywhere from $2.25-$4.50 CDN. depending upon the number of zones that one travels within.
- Transit employees (navy blue sweaters), Skytrain employees (royal blue jackets), and Transit Constables (navy blue jackets) can usually be located at most Skytrain stations.
- It is advisable not to buy used fare tickets from vendors.
- Trip scheduling is especially important if taking buses, as the timetable is followed, and if you miss a bus you might be in for a long wait.
- Keep your transfer on your person as it is good for 90 minutes of travel.
