VANCOUVERTIE LANGUAGE CONVERSIONS for Australians:
001) Shopping buggy...what I call a “granny trolley”. If you say “trolley” Vancouverites think you mean some kind of transport?
002) Weed whacker...Whipper snipper (for gardening)
003) Condo...Apartment/Unit
The transit buses Downtown and surrounding areas are very frequent-its rare to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus. Its a great way to get around the city.
You need the correct change to catch the transit system buses and trains.
Change is dropped into the machine on the bus.
Or you need a pre-purchased ticket.
Fare Dealer signs at Drug Stores (London Drug, Shoppers Drug Mart) and Seven Eleven stores indicate where you can purchase monthly travel passes and books of 10 fare bus tickets.
You buy either a Zone 1 or Zone 2 book of 10 tickets for most of Vancouver-cheaper and more convenient than buying with change.
It took me a week before I realised each ticket is valid for 90 minutes travel as often as you need it, so getting to a few places in the city is very cheap. You must validate your ticket in the machine each time you use it.
The transit buses have 2 racks only on the outside of the bus at the front, but they are easy to use. Great access for wheelchairs, prams and shopping “buggys”.
CYCLING IN THE CITY OF VANCOUVER
Cycling is encouraged in the city with plenty of dedicated cycle lanes. Much safer to bike ride than in Sydney. Employers work hard to encourage theri staff to cycle to work and many work places and apartment (Condo) blocks provide bike storage. The city is pretty flat, too, like most areas of Perth.
The cycle way following the seawall around the city and around Stanley Park is a great exercise route.
Imperative that you have bike locks-theft unfortunately is common.
If you prefer to hire bikes as you need them, English Bay (Denman and Davie Streets), Yaletown (near the Marina)and Coal Harbour (just before Canada Place) have plenty or bike rental shops at reasonable rates per hour.
I found the one's in Denman Street pretty cheap. The one at the bottom of Davie Street near Denman had good quality bikes and is close to Stanley Park, but was a bit pricier.
If you are cycling the seawall around Stanley park remember that the cycle traffic flows one way and there is a separate pedestrian path and cycle path.
FERRY'S ACROSS FALSECREEK
The Aquabus Ferry from Hornby Street or Yaletown to Granville Island is a quick and easy 5 minute trip to do.
You purchase tickets on the ferry. The ferrys are small but suitable for bikes.
If you are staying in Vancouver a while it is more economical to buy a book of 20- each trip is then only $2.10 instead of $3.25.
If you are travelling on the ferry each day to get to work then a $50 monthly pass is great value and you can use it as often as you like.
There are 2 ferry companies and they are competitive. Some docks are shared by both companies, some are not. Make sure you have the right Ferry company for the pass or ticket you are holding.
WORKING & LIVING IN VANCOUVER for more than 2 months?
Highly recommend buying a car and then selling when you leave. We bought bikes, which are great, especially over the summer.
However Vancouver is a very wet city and I think by the time it cools off we will wish we had a car.
Also there is so much to see close to Vancouver-just 30 minutes by car. By the time you hire a car most weekend its expensive and also inconvenient. Much nicer to just hop in the car when you feel like an outing, or to do the household shopping.
CAR RENTALS
Rates vary from day to day-all depending on demand. A $50 rate one day can become $75 on a busy weekend, or during the summer holidays. And there is no loyalty for return custom.
Best tip is to have all the websites handy and shop around for the date you want it.
Basic Insurance still attracts a damage fee-can be $500- $3000. We paid extra to remove the damage waiver, for peace of mind.
CABS IN VANCOUVER
Compared to Sydney I think cab fares are pretty cheap. Its quicker and almost as cheap to get a taxi to pick up your rental car, than it would be for two of you to get the bus-especially on a Sunday.
Some car hire companies will be open on a Sunday or public holiday, so check before you book.
