Category Archives: Transit

The Games on a Dime – Day Two

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dime Okay, it’s not really a dime, but it’s a catchy title. Tickets to opening games can cost over a thousand dollars each and tickets to popular events such as hockey cost just as much. What economic slump? As I was commenting on the cost of Olympic tickets, a friend of mine told me there were plenty of free events. My quest has started. I’ll be attending as many free and inexpensive events as humanly possible over the next few weeks.

My journey actually started yesterday. I rode the Olympic Line from Granville Island to Cambie Station (Olympic Village Station on Canada Line). There was a steady stream of people wanting the same experience.

Today I had three destinations, House of Switzerland Canada 2010 located at Bridges Restaurant on Granville Island, LEONARDO DA VINCI: THE MECHANICS OF MAN at the Vancouver Art Gallery and check out some patriotic fashion at the A&N Boutique (Army and Navy) in New Westminster.

I’m considering this my beta trip. I plugged my Nikon into the A/V outlet last night to charge it. That’s how you charge an iTouch, not a camera. Read the directions. No photos on this trip.

The Army and Navy department store is a Vancouver landmark known for their designer shoe sale. They also have killer prices on patriotic fashions. More and more, I see red and white Canada jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters and scarves. Their sale starts on Wednesday the 10th with Canada hoodies and sweats starting at $9.99. Much easier on the wallet than the $40 to $75 in other stores. These are not investment pieces.

I arrived at House of Switzerland to discover it’s a restaurant with the Swiss Flag draped on the roof. There are no exhibits, but there is Swiss music, free chocolate, Swiss water and coffee and a charity auction. I wasn’t the only one who was confused, most folks arriving at the restaurant expected exhibits.

I had lunch at Granville Island. I often do this as it’s practically in my back yard and there is always a celebration. Lunch cost $9.20 for wonton soup. This seems quite high to me, although I couldn’t tell you how much it cost before today. Note to self:  Purchase fruit, a bun and meat from the vendors and “make” your lunch. Healthier too I suspect. Must ask Cari-Lee Stevens next time I see her.

I hopped the Olympic line and then the Canada Line to the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Da Vinci exhibit is not free until the 12th. Read the directions. Again, there was a lot of confusion about when it was free. I paid the $19 to see the exhibit without the crowds. I’m a Da Vinci groupee.

“Though human ingenuity may make various inventions which, by the help of various machines answering the same end, it will never devise any inventions more beautiful, nor more simple, nor more to the purpose than Nature does; because in her inventions nothing is wanting, and nothing is superfluous” Da Vinci

Da Vinci’s anatomical drawings are stunning. The fact that he drew them 500 years ago is almost beyond comprehension. I first saw Da Vinci’s original work in museums in Italy and I felt the same awe today as I did five years ago.

In every room there are large posters of with instructions to other illustrators. Several artists were sitting on the floor attempting to re-create the drawings.

My recommendation is this is a must-see. The exhibit is from Queen Elizabeth’s private collection and hasn’t been displayed publicly before.

My ticket also allowed me admittance to Visceral Bodies, an exhibit of contemporary artists exploring the human form. Interesting, but Da Vinci is a hard act to follow.

Olympic Line (from Granville Island to Cambie Station)

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078 The two streetcars are on loan from Belgium Transport Company spotlight Bombardier technology. The track runs from Granville Island to Cambie Station. Trips are free and run 18 hours a day.

Using the existing Downtown Historic Railway, these 100% low-floor modern streetcars will operate on the 1.8-km of upgraded rail infrastructure. The upgrade is the result of an $8.5 million investment by the City of Vancouver with a $500,000 contribution from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the administrator of Granville Island.

Even at 4PM on Sunday, we got on the next train. Everyone’s in a great mood and talkative. Lots of families are out and about and I haven’t seen that many people at the Olympic Village Canada Line station. The trip takes less than 5 minutes, but it’s worth the ride if you’re in the area. The ride is quiet and smooth. Maybe we should consider a streetcar from the Skytrain station on Clark to UBC.

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The trip takes less than 5 minutes, but it’s worth the ride if you’re in the area. The ride is quiet and smooth. Maybe we should consider a streetcar from the Skytrain station on Clark to UBC.

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Lots of folks out and about. This is the first time I’ve seen the Olympic Village Canada Line Station this busy.

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Translink’s Ask Me Campaign

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askme_001 Here’s yet another way to get around on transit during the next few weeks.

Translink has asked 20,000 Members of the Employer Pass Program to participate in their “Ask Me” campaign and so far 7,000 have responded yes.  These folks are being asked to wear red “Ask Me” buttons and to help transit riders with transit information.

They will supplement the Transit Hosts at all Skytrain and Canada Line stations. The Sky Train hosts and attendants have access to service in 150 languages through the Provincial Language Service.

The Translink Customer Information line will be manned 20 hours a day (604-953-3333). The number is displayed on most transit stops, but a good tip is to store it in your mobile phone’s directory now.  That number will provide automated “next bus” times.

If you’re a Vancouverite new to using transit or new to Vancouver, become familiar with Google Maps transit information and review the TravelSmart website before you leave home. Identify at least two routes you can use for your return trip. Going a few blocks out of your way may save you a long wait at popular stops or Skytrain stations.

Vancouver’s streets are filling………….with cameras and things

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I spent some time on Granville Street this morning, admiring the new (and unusual) art installations on the Pedestrian Mall.  There was plenty of room to walk and to observe, and several people were taking advantage of the chance to take photos….before the street was filled with Olympic guests.  I saw a volunteer in her Smurf-blue jacket, having her picture taken with a friend, and talked with a lady with a lovely European accent and a very impressive camera.  Turns out she lives here, just wanted to take her shots while it was still easy to do.

The only sad note was the fellow traveller whose wallet had “gone missing” from his pocket somewhere.  Stay Alert – we knew this could happen.

On the Canada Line, I saw several luggage-laden folks headed to the Airport – avoiding the rush, I suppose.  Photographer Scott is headed to Viet Nam for a month, blogging about his trip along the way; Nikki shares that she is staying here, and sometimes puts her photos on a blog.  Both of them had their cameras out and focused, as did a local News Celeb (could that be Ian Hanomansing – setting up a piece with a CBC cameraman in attendance?).  It was interesting to see them at work.  Note to self: watch tonight’s  CBC evening News!

Our streets are filling…..with cameras and things.  Stay alert, so those things don’t belong to you.

Major Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola brings staff from all over the world

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What a great ride!  I just shared the front car of the Canada Line with six of Coke’s representatives.  Splendid in their Santa-red jackets – that wonderful clear red that just happens to be my favourite colour – they were wonderful spokespeople for their company and its culture.  Indeed, it made me reflect that their company’s global employee roster probably outnumbers the population of several nations.

Together, they were a mini-United Nations, gathered from around the globe – two from Eastern Canada, one from Houston, Texas, two from Europe and another from Australia. They were marketing managers, product development supervisors, a truck driver, a product design specialist – an engaging assortment of interesting people, looking forward to their responsibilities over the next three weeks.

It was my pleasure to be the ambassador here, the one on her ‘home turf’ who could say “Welcome” and “Enjoy your stay”.  We are so lucky, I think, to have so many chances to make new acquaintances and share smiles along the way.  In the lottery of life, being born a Canadian has to rank high on the ‘winning ticket’ list.  In this case, it came with a fun experience……and my very first Olympic pin!   The “Red Birds” have landed; who knew that would happen today?

I talk to Smurfs – welcome the world to Vancouver!

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Well, it’s finally here!  After all the rhetoric, arguments, ups and downs, hypes and lows…..it’s here! We are going live in Vancouver, in February 2010, and the world is truly arriving on our doorsteps..

How do I know this for sure?  Well, I have this from the very best of sources.  You see, I talk to Smurfs! That is not my name for them; I am talking about the 25,000 volunteers who are now roaming our streets, riding our buses, taking our trains, and wearing their beautiful Olympic-colored suits, which one of them described to me as “making them look like Smurfs!”.  They are certainly a beautiful shade of not-quite-turquoise-blue, complete with those famous 5 intertwined rings, and they are outstanding as well as standing out in the crowd.

My newest passion in transit is to talk to a Smurf, and – so far, at least – that campaign has been successful.

I have met a banker on leave from his bank in Toronto, a teacher here from Calgary, and – just yesterday – an interesting fellow from the United States who, in his non-Smurf life, runs high-tech companies.  I know a few more of these generous souls personally – realtors, former Olympians, retirees – and they have several things in common.

They love people, they care a great deal, they share a true pride in their countries, and they want to be involved. They also deserve our smiles, our greetings and our grateful support for helping to get this remarkable job done!

Be a sport yourself, I’d say – find a Smurf and greet them today!  Just look for the folks in blue.

Survival Guide to Transit in Vancouver – 4 Kamikaze Tips

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j0443328 Lets face it .. we’re all going to be cranky if we have to wait two hours to board a Canada Line train or stand at a bus stop as we watch the full buses pass us by. A little preparation may help you to avoid the bottlenecks or at least cut the time you spend waiting. Don’t rely on their being Transit personnel providing information.

Kamikaze strategy is going to be required for you to cope with the transit gridlock.

  • 1st Kamikaze tip

Install the Translink iPhone app. This handy utility displays what transit options are available from your location as well as the schedules at your stop.

  • 2nd Kamikaze tip

Do your research before you leave. Use Google Maps to discover all the transit options available. The Canada Line may be lightning fast, but not if you’re delayed boarding. Check the bus schedules and routes. Have at least two alternative routes. Print out the map if you’re unfamiliar with the area you’ll be travelling to.

  • 3rd Kamikaze tip

Get away from the congested area. I learned this lesson in Italy. The guide book mentioned there may be “rotating strikes” in the Italian train service. We were stranded for half a day in a crowded hot station when a train finally arrived. It wasn’t going anywhere near our destination, but we used our rail pass to get Pisa, where we were able to get a train to our destination. It was the scenic route, but we arrived only an hour later than we’d planned. If the Canada Line stop is packed, consider taking the train one or two stops in the opposite direction to a less crowded stop. City bus stops are often two or three blocks apart, walk to one or two stops up the line. Consider taking a less travelled route to your destination.

  • 4th Kamikaze tip

Arrive early, take in the sites, have a leisurely lunch near your destination and then walk. Leave later, chill and let the crowds thin.

Breathe .. it is what it is ..

Bonnie Sainsbury a Social Media Strategist and Principal in Duet Media. She uses transit and car sharing to get around town.

Survival Guide to Transit – Vancouver 2010

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bus_maps During February and March 2010, Translink has re-routed bus service in downtown Vancouver. Here’s the site to watch for changes. The routing changes accommodate the security zones and road closures.

Breathe deeply, there will be tourists, officials, locals who never take transit, locals who are used to regular bus routes and commuters. Translink is projecting up to 2 hour waits for some routes.

Once on the bus or train, it make take two to three times as long as anticipated to get to your destination. As a transit veteran, using transit in Vancouver is an exercise in patience.

Here’s an opportunity to multi-task. I load my iPod with books, newspapers and podcasts. I find my free podcasts on iTunes; my books and magazines are purchased from Audible. iTunes also has magazines and books. I prefer Audible’s selection and prices.

For .mp3 brands other than Apple, refer to your owner manual. Before I purchased another .mp3 player, I’d check the compatibility chart at the Audible site.

If you’re travelling with children, be sure to have a snack, water and something to keep them amused.

Put identification on everything .. Translink has an efficient Lost and Found. I was able to retrieve an older .mp3 player within 2 days. Canadians are mostly honest.

And don’t forget to breathe.

Bonnie Sainsbury a Social Media Strategist and Principal in Duet Media. She doesn’t own a private automobile, she used transit and car-coops to get around the city.

Train YOUR Perspective

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These days, with all the changes in street traffic and lane allocations for our upcoming Olympic guests, I have been enjoying the variety of people-watching opportunities on the Canada Line.

Sunday, on a train headed south to Richmond, I was in the front car.  The very front seats (with a great big window) were occupied by a family of four: two engaging young children and their parents.

The little boy was very observant, sharing his impressions of what he saw, first in the tunnel and then out in the clear as we bridged the river and had a view.

As the train ran south along Number 3 Road, his father added the observation that – having driven this route many times- it was odd to see it from this higher level,  from which many of his landmarks did not appear, or were not visible in their usual way. His perspective had shifted and with it, his sense of where he was, too.

Isn’t it interesting how often in life we change our positions, usually without realizing how that has changed our view?

How have you trained your perspective?  How has it trained you to respond?  What does it take for each of us to really change our view?  Have you trained your perspective, or has it just trained you?

Survival Guide to Transportation – Vancouver winter of 2010

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j0443328 A car is your worst choice the closer you get to an Olympic event, or the Vancouver downtown core. Find out road closures from the Venue Are Road Closures site from the City of Vancouver. Most closures start on the 15th of January 2010.

Bicycling in Vancouver in the winter wouldn’t be my choice of transportation, but for those hearty souls, Getting Around Vancouver by bicycle.

Public transit is going to be the method of transportation during the first three months of 2010.  Translink operates the public transit, which includes 3 skytrain routes, buses, a ferry between North Vancouver and Vancouver. The Westcoast Express train service connects the outer suburbs with downtown Vancouver. Two private ferry companies (False Creek Ferries and Aquabus)  service the area from Kits point up to the Olympic Village.

An article in the Vancouver Sun suggests waits of 2 hours could be possible at popular skytrain stations.

Check Survival Guide to Transit in Vancouver for tips to access transit information before you leave.

Bonnie Sainsbury a Social Media Strategist and Principal in Duet Media. She doesn’t own a private automobile, she used transit and car-coops to get around the city.