Vancouver has a fantastic public transportation system managed by Translink, it counts with transportation services for daily use that are very convenient and efficient.

What are the types of transportation that Vancouver offers?

Vancouver has different types of transportation methods that people can use depending on the place within the city where they are going to live. Some of the types of transportation that Vancouver offers are:

  • Buses
  • SkyTrain
  • SeaBus Ferry

Any of the services above have a simple payment method to use, which is with a registered Compass Card that you can tap at the beginning of the ride and go to any place in the city, or you can pay using other methods, such as compass tickets or day passes which can be used for specific amounts of time.

The transportation system has day and night schedules running from about 5-6 AM to around 1 AM every day. Weekends and holidays might have different hours. They also have different prices that vary depending on the person and the zones of travelling within the city. This makes it very easy for students to get to school, with many options to choose from depending on preference.

Other ways of transportation can be e-bikes, cars, and cabs, however, the prices of any of those might depend on many other factors and might be more expensive. If you are worried about how managing yourself within the city, you can also rely on Google Maps to help you out with directions, addresses, transportation, and routes that you can take.

Vancouver has different types of transportation methods that people can use

How does the transit system work in Vancouver?

Transporting throughout the city is simple after you get the hang of it. But the transit system might be complicated to understand for a newcomer.

TransLink divided Vancouver into three fare zones for SkyTrain and SeaBus. In the case of buses, they are charged at a 1-zone rate regardless of the distance or location. Zones are in effect only during peak hours from the start of service until 6:30 PM (Monday to Friday). Any cash fares (tickets) are valid for 90 minutes and allow you to change from different modes of transportation while being active. Nonetheless, cash fares only work for buses; in case the person is trying to transfer to a SkyTrain or SeaBus it will not work.

When we are talking about the fares, is important to understand the prices to pay and also the payment methods that TransLink uses.

The price for tickets is the following:
  • One Zone: $3.05 Adults / $2.45 Compass Card / $2.00 Concession
  • Two Zone: $4.35 Adults / $3.35 Compass Card / $3.00 Concession
  • Three Zone: $5.90 Adults / $4.60 Compass Card / $4.05 Concession
The ways to pay are the following:
  • Cash only in buses (coins, not bills)
  • Compass tickets (one use only) can be purchased at vending machines on designated stations with cash or credit/debit card
  • Compass card: can be used with a stored value which works by recharging the card with the amount you want online or in the TransLink machines, or you can use it by paying the monthly pass which would let you use your card unlimited times.
  • Contactless credit card payment
  • Apple, Google or Samsung Pay
  • Day Passes which work for an entire day in any type of transportation

Vancouver has different types of transportation methods that people can use

If you are interested in buying the compass card, you can do so in any of the vending machines at SeaBus, SkyTrain and West Coast Express stations. The compass card has a cost of $6 dollars and then you can charge it any amount you want. After you have your compass card you can start recharging it online. In case you lost the card or get stolen, if it is registered on the website then you can report it and get the balance that you got transferred to a new one or refunded to your bank account.

If you want more information about the transit system, please go to the Translink website. Also, if you have any questions about how to commute to Acsenda, please contact us.