How to get around Metro Vancouver during the public transit strike

Uber smartphone app (Lutsenko_Oleksandr/Shutterstock) and Mobi Bike Share (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive).

Every day, on average, roughly one million boardings are recorded on TransLink’s public transit system across Metro Vancouver.

Out of these volumes, 62% use the buses, 26% use the combined SkyTrain Expo and Millennium lines, 10% use SkyTrain Canada Line, 1% use SeaBus, and a fraction of a percentage use West Coast Express.

After failed negotiations, it has been confirmed that all TransLink bus and SeaBus services will not operate starting this morning, and this suspension of service due to strike escalation is expected to continue for at least 48 hours — at least until Wednesday morning.

You might also like:

Although this is a dispute between 180 supervisors for the bus and SeaBus system, who are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 4500, the shutdown of services starting Monday could spread to SkyTrain and other public transit services due to labour solidarity.

On Sunday, CUPE 7000, the union representing SkyTrain’s workers on the Expo and Millennium lines, told their members to not cross the picket lines if the bus operations supervisors under CUPE 4500 are seen striking outside SkyTrain facilities, and instead urged the SkyTrain workers to join the strike.

SkyTrain service running for now

Currently, SkyTrain’s Expo Line, Millennium Line, and Canada Line are operational for Monday’s service, but this could quickly change later today, with the separate unions representing other public transit workers indicating they will not cross the picket lines of CUPE 4500 at SkyTrain stations and SkyTrain operations and maintenance facilities.

CUPE 7000, the separate union representing 1,000 workers on the Expo and Millennium lines, sent an internal memo to their members early Sunday asking them to not cross any CUPE 4500 picket lines at SkyTrain facilities. CUPE 7000 has indicated if CUPE 4500 takes such measures, the Expo and Millennium lines will also shut down, and CUPE 7000’s workers on the Expo and Millennium lines will also join the picket lines and earn strike pay.

Both the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) have indicated that their campuses in the region will remain open, but students and faculty should look for communications from their professors on whether alternate learning session arrangements will be made.

Here are some alternative options for getting around Metro Vancouver with significantly reduced/no public transit service levels:

West Vancouver Blue Bus

If the separately operated West Vancouver Blue Bus is operational and not impacted by labour solidarity, it could be an alternative for some bus and SeaBus trips. However, their bus routes could see more ridership or even overcrowding.

For instance, North Shore residents could potentially get across Burrard Inlet to reach downtown Vancouver by using the No. 250 (or No. 250A) Vancouver/Horseshoe Bay/Dundarave, No. 253 Vancouver/Park Royal/Caulfeild, or No. 254 Vancouver/Park Royal/British Properties. These routes cross the Lions Gate Bridge.

West Vancouver Blue Bus. (District of West Vancouver)

Passenger ferries in False Creek

Aquabus and False Creek Ferries are the two privately-operated, passenger-only ferry services within Vancouver’s inner harbour of False Creek — another way of reaching downtown Vancouver.

Their relatively frequent services running throughout the day could potentially replace/replicate some north-south bus trips across Burrard Bridge, Granville Bridge, and Cambie Bridge, as well as west-east bus trips along the length of False Creek as far west as the Vancouver Maritime Museum/Vanier Park and Sunset Beach and as far east as the Plaza of Nations and Olympic Village/Science World. Both services operate over half a dozen stops in the waterway.

False Creek Ferries. (Mr. Nikon/Shutterstock)

New Westminster passenger ferry

The City of New Westminster operates the Q to Q ferry — a passenger-only ferry service across the Fraser River between Quayside in downtown New Westminster and the Queensborough neighbourhood. This service could help replace some bus trips.

At this time of year, the service runs every 30 minutes from 7 am to 7:45 pm on weekdays, and from 10 am to just before 8 pm on weekends and holidays. Each sailing takes about five minutes from end to end. Fares each way are just $2.25 for adults and $1.25 for kids ages 13 to 18, seniors, and people with disabilities.

The ferry route for the Q to Q ferry service from downtown New Westminster to Queensborough. (City of New Westminster)

West Coast Express

So far, TransLink’s West Coast Express commuter rail service is operational, which means it could be an alternative for some types of trips. The West Coast Express operates on weekdays only, during the peak directions of westbound in the morning peak period and eastbound in the evening peak period, with five scheduled train departures during each of these two peak periods.

The commuter rail’s stations are Mission, Port Haney, Maple Meadows, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam Central, Moody Centre, and Waterfront.

The West Coast Express stations of Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam Central are also stations of SkyTrain Millennium Line. Park-and-ride facilities can also be found at most West Coast Express stations, including at Coquitlam Central and Moody Centre.

west coast express commuter rail coquitlam central station

West Coast Express commuter rail at Coquitlam Central Station. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)

Driving your own car; park-and-ride

Obviously, driving to your destination is another major alternative, especially if you already own a car.

A number of SkyTrain and West Coast Express stations have park-and-ride facilities, with parking rates ranging from free to up to $4.00 per day.

At some station locations, within walking distance, there are some public streets or other locations where cars can be legally parked for an extensive period in a day.

Alternatively, perhaps you could get dropped off by family or friends at a SkyTrain or West Coast Express station.

Carpooling

Consider carpooling apps such as Poparide, which is one of the most-used carpooling apps in the country. It is a safe and convenient platform to carpooling — like Airbnb but for sharing rides. The prices are generally affordable.

Also consider online communities where carpools are being organized, such as university student groups on Facebook.

Car share

Consider using Evo Car Share, which has a free-floating geographical “home zone” service area covering Vancouver, New Westminster, and North Vancouver City, and as of earlier this month, this home zone has been expanded to Burnaby’s western residential neighbourhoods of Burnaby Heights, Willington Heights, and Metrotown. Evo Car Share added 160 vehicles for its recent Burnaby expansion, growing its fleet size to 2,300 vehicles across Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria.

Expansion of the “home zone” of Evo Car Share into some Burnaby neighbourhoods, as of January 2024. (Evo Car Share)

Evo Car Share also has parking lots at UBC’s Point Grey campus, Vancouver International Airport, BCIT’s Burnaby campus, Park Royal shopping centre, Capilano University’s main North Vancouver campus, SFU Burnaby campus, and Surrey City Centre.

Modo Car Share is another option, although as a two-way, round-trip service, it offers less flexibility compared to a free-floating service. As of Summer 2023, it has grown to a fleet size of 1,000 vehicles, which are typically found in the parking lots of buildings.

One key car share marketplace difference since the Fall 2019 transit strike: Car2Go/Share Now’s exodus from Metro Vancouver in 2020 reduced Metro Vancouver’s free-floating car share capacity by 1,200 vehicles. But since then, Evo Car Share has stepped up by significantly boosting the size of its fleet, and has so far largely replaced the void in capacity left by Car2Go/Share Now.

But needless to say, expect a surge in demand for car share services due to the transit strike.

Evo Car Share (Margarita Young/Shutterstock)

Modo carshare (Modo)

Taxis, Uber, and Lyft

We are already seeing extraordinary demand for point-to-point transportation services, such as taxis, Uber, and Lyft.

There are numerous taxi companies across Metro Vancouver, including the City of Vancouver’s Yellow Cab, Vancouver Taxi, MacLure’s Cabs, and Black Top & Checker Cabs. There are roughly 2,000 taxi vehicles across Metro Vancouver, with roughly half situated within the City of Vancouver.

Then, there is ridehailing, dominated by Uber and Lyft. During the last major transit labour service disruptions in Fall 2019, both ridehailing options were not made available in Metro Vancouver yet (Uber and Lyft launched in late January 2020). This time around, if there are major service disruptions, both services could potentially help fill some of the gap. As of early 2022, over 11,500 vehicles across the Lower Mainland were registered to operate for ridehailing, and this number has likely grown significantly ever since.

But with higher demand, Uber and Lyft are already seeing surge pricing — higher prices, unlike flat-rate taxis.

Uber, Lyft, and Vancouver Taxi. (Daily Hive | Shutterstock)

Cycling and e-scooters

Get around with your privately-owned bike or a bike share service, like Mobi Bike Share within the City of Vancouver, which recently expanded its services to UBC.

Cycling could also be made to complete the “last mile” of your trip, such as to/from a SkyTrain station, West Coast Express station, or another transportation service. Some Metro Vancouver municipalities also have e-scooter share services.

vancouver bike share mobi by rogers shaw rebranding f

Rebranding of “Mobi by Shaw” into “Mobi by Rogers” in Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)

Perhaps you could even use another type of rolling device, such as a private e-scooter, which is legal to use in jurisdictions such as the City of Vancouver.

Foldable e-scooters are permitted onboard all TransLink vehicles, but not seated motorbike-type scooters.

TransLink permits bikes on SkyTrain, although the public transit authority notes passengers with bikes should be mindful of the periods when the trains are crowded.

Bikes are permitted on the Canada Line at all times. But on the Expo and Millennium lines, the devices are not allowed weekdays westbound between 7 am and 9 am, and eastbound between 4 pm and 6 pm. Bike trailers are banned, but two-wheeled electric or gas-powered scooters are okay.

Bike lockers and secured bike parking rooms can be found at select locations across the TransLink network.

With that said, some roads are still slick from last week’s heavy snowfall, and the forecast calls for heavy rainfall over the next few days. This presents less than ideal conditions for cycling/rolling.

Walking

If you’re not in a rush and the destination is within a walkable distance, and the weather isn’t atrocious, maybe give walking a try.

Stay home?

If you’re able to work from home, consider staying home — even if you’ve been staying home since last week’s heavy snowfall. However, this isn’t an option for many workers in the service industry, and frontline workers.

This is an edited and revised 2024 version of a guide originally written for the Fall 2019 transit strike disruptions.

You might also like: