Buses, Skytrains, SeaBuses... these are some of the options you have for using the Vancouver Transit system. It's often a more efficient and convenient way to travel around the city, especially if you're visiting during the busy summer season.

In the fall of 2009, the Canada Line (the new rapid transit/express train line to Richmond & the Vancouver International Airport) should also be open to the public, if construction work is completed on schedule.

To get around quickly & avoid parking hassles in Vancouver, use the efficient transit system. Buses run quite frequently, especially on the main downtown routes and to the West End.

Vancouver Transit Fare Structure

Metro Vancouver is divided into 3 transit zones. If you are travelling on a weekday, your ticket price depends on the number of zone boundaries you need to cross.

Planning on making several trips & transit connections during your stay? It will be more cost effective to buy a book of FareSaver tickets or a DayPass. You won't need to worry about having the exact change required to board a bus. So there are other benefits, besides the cost savings!

FareSaver Tickets are books of 10 transit tickets sold at a slightly lower cost (see the table below). They are sold at authorized FareDealer stores, like 7-Eleven convenience stores, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada Safeway supermarkets, some London Drugs stores (not the one on the corner of Granville and West Georgia Streets).

Helpful colour Transit Guides ($1.95 each) are also available from FareDealers for your trip planning.

Ticket Validity

Your ticket will only be valid for transit connections up to 90 minutes after activation. The tickets are time-stamped in the ticket machines on buses, or the vending machines.

With the DayPass, your ticket is good for the whole day & for travel across all three zones.There are no zone restrictions on weekends.

Make sure you validate your FareSaver & DayPass tickets before entering a Fare Paid Zone.

Although the Vancouver transit system works more on an honour system for the trains and some buses, spot checks are done regularly at various stations for fare evasion, so make sure you have valid proof of fare payment at all times, in the fare paid zones.

The concession fares are for ages 5-13 inclusive, and seniors over 65.

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