Getting around

Maps

UBC campus map (155KB PDF)
Map of Vancouver (140KB PDF)

Public transportation

Using public transportation in Vancouver

TransLink operates buses, trains, and ferries in Vancouver.

Vancouver is divided into three transit zones. UBC is in Zone 1. If you have not obtained your U-Pass, your fare ($2.50 to $5.00) will depend on when you travel and the number of zones you travel through.

You need exact coin fare or pre-paid tickets when you use transit. You can buy books of transit tickets at the Student Union Building and at many grocery and convenience stores.

To get to UBC there are several buses that you can take, including #4, #9, #17, #25, #41, #43, #44, #49, #84, #99 B-Line, #258, and #480. 

People with disabilities

TransLink's HandyDART service operates small buses for people who are physically unable to take regular transit. HandyDART buses pick up people at their homes and take them where they want to go. To make a reservation, call HandyDART at 604.430.2692.

U-Pass

The Universal Transportation Pass (U-Pass) program is mandatory for all students who are assessed AMS fees and for incoming exchange students. The U-Pass provides cardholders with:

  • Unlimited access to TransLink bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus services (all three zones)
  • Discounted West Coast Express Rail fares
  • Increased transit service and capacity on UBC routes
  • Discounts at participating merchants; and continued access to a variety of UBC TREK programs

The U-Pass fee is $23.75 per month and is automatically added to your student fees when you register for classes. For eligible AMS members registered in the Winter Session, U-Passes are valid from August 15 until April 30. If you are no longer taking courses in January, or are taking only Distance Education courses, your U-Pass card will be deactivated. For eligible AMS members registered in the Summer Session, U-Passes are valid from April 15 until August 31.

If you're a registered student who has a valid UBCcard, your U-Pass will be mailed to your current address in mid-August for the Winter Session and in mid-April for the Summer Session. U-Passes are mailed to Canadian addresses only; to update your address, visit the Student Service Centre. If you do not receive your U-Pass in the mail, you can pick it up in person at the UBC Carding Office, located in the Bookstore. You must be registered in your courses prior to receiving your U-Pass.

Lost U-Passes can be replaced for $20 at the Carding Office. Damaged or defective U-Passes will be replaced free of charge.

Driving & car insurance

Licensing

If you have a driver's licence from another country or Canadian province, and you are registered as a student attending one of the specified educational institutions in BC, your licence will allow you to drive in BC for as long as you are a student. Other new residents who plan to drive have 90 days after they move to British Columbia to get a BC driver's licence. If your driver's licence is in a language other than English or French, you must also carry a certified translation of it.

Applications for BC driver's licences are available at all Driver Service Centres. To locate the one nearest you, visit the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Driving tests can also be scheduled at Driver Service Centres or booked online.  When applying for a BC driver's licence, remember to bring your study permit and two pieces of photo identification with you.

Insurance

Your vehicle must be insured before you take it on the road. If your vehicle is insured in another Canadian province or in the United States, contact ICBC's Interjurisdictional Licensing/Financial Responsibility Office at 604.443.4624 or toll-free (BC only) at 1.800.665.4336 for more information. If your vehicle is insured outside of Canada or the United States, contact a local insurance broker; they are listed on the ICBC website.

Driving in Vancouver

Speed Limit
The speed limit on all Vancouver roads is 50 kilometres per hour (km/h), unless you see a sign for a different speed. The speed limit on lanes behind houses and buildings is 20 km/h. Park and school areas usually have a speed limit of 30 km/h. Vancouver police give out tickets with heavy fines for people who exceed speed limits.
Street Parking
Never block a fire hydrant, bus stop, sidewalk, crosswalk, road, alley, or driveway when you park. Parking meters are usually in effect from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, seven days a week. Always check the meter for parking restrictions to avoid getting a ticket. Don't park where you see a "Resident Parking Only" sign; the street parking is reserved for people who live on that block or in that area.
Pedestrians
People who are walking have the right of way on campus roads and city streets, and you need to watch out for them at all times. Most pedestrians cross the street at intersections or designated crosswalks and obey traffic signals. Please yield to pedestrians at all times.
Emergency Vehicles
When a police car, fire truck, or ambulance has its lights or siren on, you must get out of the way as quickly and safely as you can. Signal and move your car into the right-hand lane or to the roadside and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed you.

Cycling

The City of Vancouver has developed an extensive system of bikeways for cyclists. To obtain a map of Vancouver's bike routes, visit TREK, the Vancouver Public Library, a community centre, or a bicycle store.  Most modes of public transportation such as buses and SkyTrains permit bicycles.

Make sure your bike has front and rear lights and a rear reflector; even if you don't cycle at night, you will find these make it much easier for drivers to see you. And remember to buy a helmet – it's the law to wear one (unless you wear a turban).

The AMS Bike Co-op is a student-run organization that works to improve the UBC cycling environment. For only $15 and six hours of volunteer work, the AMS Bike Co-op will give you access to a fleet of bikes located throughout the UBC campus, for class-to-class travel: simply locate a purple and yellow bike and ride to where you want to go on campus. The AMS Bike Co-op also runs repair clinics, free of charge for members. Call 604.822.BIKE, email ubc.bikecoop@gmail.com or visit the AMS Bike Co-op's MySpace page for more information.

The AMS Bike Co-op also operates the Bike Kitchen, a fully equipped bike repair and retail shop with a summer rental program. For more information, drop by the Bike Hub on the north side of the SUB or call 604.827.7333.

Parking on campus

UBC has many parking options for commuting students. If you drive to campus, you can park at any one of several meters, parkades, or surface lots. Depending on the parking location, the rates will range from $1.50 per half-hour for hourly parking to $12.00 for full-day parking. After 5:00 pm and on weekends and holidays, all parking locations charge a flat rate of $5.00.

The FlexPass is an economical and flexible parking option available to all students. It allows for cost-savings over the daily parking fees. The FlexPass allows you to manage your parking account online. To purchase a FlexPass or to get more information related to parking or commuting to campus, call the Parking Office at 604.822.6786 or visit the UBC Parking & Access Control Services website.

If you own a car and you live in one of the on-campus residences managed by UBC Housing and Conferences, you must apply for parking. Parking spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Looking for a more economical and environmentally friendly mode of transport? Try cycling or carpooling to campus instead.

 

a place of mind, The Univeristy of British Columbia

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Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z1