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Translink
Category: Hotels & Travel Transportation Public Transportation Public Transportation [Edit]
4720 KingswayBurnaby, BC V5H 4N2
Neighbourhood: Metrotown
(604) 453-4500
3 reviews for Translink
3 reviews in English
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Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
11/17/2008 1 photo
It could be my terrible experiences with Halifax public transit or the fact that I live on five incredibly good bus routes, but I'm generally a pretty big fan of Translink. Sure, it's not cheap but nor is running a car.
I've ridden at least four or five buses per day over the last 2.5 years and I could count on one hand the number of bad experiences I've had. Mostly, it's when the driver is so visibly angry that it makes everyone on the bus intensely uncomfortable, or when the driver lets a less-than-lucid person onto the bus who then proceeds to collapse in the aisle.
Overall, Translink drivers are friendly, buses are approximately punctual, and rarely does a bus just not show up. Yep, Translink could be a whole lot better, but it sure could be far worse. -
Review from Albert W.
8/13/2008
Once upon a time, our hero lived in a land where it was feasible to take public transit everywhere and owning a car was a choice. Translink has done a fair job of developing the bus and SkyTrain system in the GVRD to support the public needs of a shifting population to fast-growing suburbs like Surrey. Major universities, schools, and attractions are fairly well served by TransLink, but smaller neighborhood routes sometimes require a 30 minute wait between buses. Overall, it's a decent system that has been boggled down by public consultations and challenged by the need to build infrastructure to make the 2010 Olympics feasible.
However, change over the years has turned the system into a hub-and-spoke model; where direct routes once existed, now it takes a bus to a hub or a SkyTrain station and perhaps two transfers before getting to our hero's intended destination.
PROS:
- An integrated system of buses, ferries, and rapid transit.
- Transit that's friendly to handicapped persons.
- Most buses are equipped with bicycle racks.
- Cheap UPass program for post-secondary students.
- Ever-expanding SkyTrain system.
CONS:
- Exhaust fumes from using cheap diesel fuel gave union workers respiratory problems.
- A lot of fare skippers due to lack of turnstiles and 3-door boarding on the 98 and 99 lines at major stops.
- Frequent fare hikes. -
Review from Robin W.
BC
11/13/2008
Ok I think I will be more than fair in saying translink, is for the the most part, reliable. The skytrain comes quite often, and the buses come really frequently during peak times, and every 15mins until about 9pm when they come every 30mins. And if you happen to be in a small neighbourhood its every 30 as well. I have had more than my fair share of run ins with this service, once the entire skytrain system shut down and I was one of the lucky ones that were stuck at a station, others were stuck in the middle of the tracks for over an hour. Not a fun time. The buses are early or late, and rarely on time, and there are times when they just dont show up. The skytrain itself runs fairly smoothly, and not literally because its definitely a bumpy ride closer to main and stadium. The transit people are becoming seen more frequently as security and such, and more than once I have seen police patrolling the areas. Security is still questionable because you are supposed to be able to push the yellow strip and someone will be there within minutes, this isnt true I have witnessed it, it took a long time, I think 4 stops? It was a while ago. And if you ever have to listen to an announcement, I hope you are good at understanding garbled crackly voices, because the speaker system is terrible. The rates, dont get me started, they are horrendous. They have a day pass, tickets(1,2,3 zone or consession-for students in highschool and under or the elderly, this gets you all zones.), or monthly pass(same as tickets) to buy from the store or you can buy other types of passes from schools or discounted passes from work. To buy a one zone monthly is 72 bucks, and that gets you around any one zone. You can only buy it the last week of the previous month or the first....ill say 2 weeks of the month you want it for. Tickets for one zone are 19 bucks for 10, and are good for any one zone as well, if you need to travel a second zone you can buy an add fare for 1.25 or use another ticket if you dont have cash, it sucks but it works. These get used up really fast so if you travel a lot the monthly is worth it for sure. The upside is, they dont expire so until you punch one in the machine, you can keep the same tickets for a year, then once validated, its good for 90 mins. The day pass is I think 9 bucks and you can go wherever you want for the one day. I really wish they had a week pass option, it would be a really good deal for those who are visiting, or are out for a special event such as the olympics???
If you are visiting or, like me need to know how to get somewhere off your normal route, the website is actually really good. They offer bus schedules as well as a trip planner where you can enter point a and point b and it will tell you all the places inbetween. When you search you can search by the time you want to leave, arrive, number of transfers used, etc.
http://www.translink.b...
I would also like to say, to the driver(male, dark hair, beard, really friendly) of the 130 Metrotown usually around 730-8am on thurs and fridays YOU ROCK! You totally make my morning. I usually chill out, and listen to the radio on my way to work but if you happen to be the driver, I dont even bother because you always are very conciderate, if someone is running for the bus you will wait for them, you say hello, good morning, make witty comments, and give me the news and weather forecast for the day, week, and weekend(depending on what day it is) completely makes my morning! Thank you! To the (female, dark hair) driver of the 123 New West Stn night shift you are awesome as well, always friendly and upbeat, always giving us a hard time :-) The look of surprise on your next victim makes my night. THANKS GUYS YOU GET A GOLD STAR! hehehe.
