Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Canadian Mind

Good lord, I just go up to the machines, stick in the 4.50 required to get me downtown from surrey

People who travel often enough usually elect to save some money by buying books of 10 tickets. Those tickets need to be validated when used. Regular commuters buy monthly passes to save even more, those don't require validation because they have the month printed right on them.

One of the poorly-kept secrets among transit users is that you can avoid paying the YVR surcharge when departing the airport by buying a book of tickets instead of paying cash for a single fare at the airport ticket machines. But it only makes sense if you expect to be able to use the other 9 tickets in the book.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

One of the poorly-kept secrets among transit users is that you can avoid paying the YVR surcharge when departing the airport by buying a book of tickets instead of paying cash for a single fare at the airport ticket machines. But it only makes sense if you expect to be able to use the other 9 tickets in the book.

I wouldn't call it a secret if the Canada Line explicitly tells you to save by buying a book-of-10 from the domestic 7-Eleven.

[DKaz]

Especially if you have a family of four or something. Either pay $35 to get everyone downtown one way... or $31.50 for a book of 2 zone Fare Saver tickets to get everyone downtown and back.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by deasine

I wouldn't call it a secret if the Canada Line explicitly tells you to save by buying a book-of-10 from the domestic 7-Eleven.

Is there a sign somewhere that advises people of that? I'm surprised if YVR posted anything, since it would cut into their revenue...

[dreambrother808]

How does using a faresaver card prevent you from having to pay the surcharge? Wouldn't you still have to do an Add Fare?

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

How does using a faresaver card prevent you from having to pay the surcharge? Wouldn't you still have to do an Add Fare?

No.

There is no add fare at the airport.

There is a $5 surcharge for using the TVM's on Sea Island.

Think of it like the surcharge you get when using an ATM in a bar.

So if you do not use the TVM, by using a faresaver, monthly pass, WCE ticket, U-Pass, or by having an already validated ticket you bought somewhere else, you do not pay $5.

EDIT:

Ooops, it looks like Translink does call it an AddFare, even though it works like a service fee.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Is there a sign somewhere that advises people of that? I'm surprised if YVR posted anything, since it would cut into their revenue...

YVR doesn't get a dime from it. And the sign is posted by ProTransBC.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by Canadian Mind

Good lord, I just go up to the machines, stick in the 4.50 required to get me downtown from surrey, it shit's out a ticket, and I'm on my way. I've never done this validating crap.

It's $5.00 now.

Buying a book of FareSaver tickets comes to $4.20 a ticket. Or you can buy a day pass for $9. So, for a dollar less than a 3 zone round trip you could make multiple trips

But if you like to overpay don't let me stop you, Tranlink could use all the help it could get. Which is why they encourage you to buy FareSavers at the airport, they make $31.50 upfront, which is a lot more than the YVR addfare.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by deasine

YVR doesn't get a dime from it. And the sign is posted by ProTransBC.

Interesting. I know that the justification for the surcharge is to recoup the construction costs of the airport segment, and I also know that YVR had to pony up a share of those costs. So I assumed that YVR was recovering its share via the surcharge. But you're right, according to the Buzzer Blog:

http://buzzer.translink.ca/index.php/201...re-coming-mon-jan-18-heres-how-it-works/

...the surcharge goes directly to Translink.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Interesting. I know that the justification for the surcharge is to recoup the construction costs of the airport segment, and I also know that YVR had to pony up a share of those costs. So I assumed that YVR was recovering its share via the surcharge. But you're right, according to the Buzzer Blog:

http://buzzer.translink.ca/index.php/201...re-coming-mon-jan-18-heres-how-it-works/

...the surcharge goes directly to Translink.

TransLink also indicates the options of purchasing FareSavers on the YVR AddFare page:
http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Canada-Line-YVR-AddFare.aspx

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by deasine

YVR doesn't get a dime from it. And the sign is posted by ProTransBC.

I've only seen the sign at the YVR station, but not in the terminals.

After the long trek to the SkyTrain station following a tedious flight, not many people would read the 'save with a fare card' sign, decide go back into the airport terminal pushing a cart full of luggage, head down into the 1st floor of the old terminal, find the store selling farecards, retrace their path back to the SkyTrain station, and wait for a train - just to save five bucks.

The larger the group of people travelling together, the less likely I would expect this to happen.

On the other hand, locals who know this YVR SkyTrain trick can purchase a book of Farecards just to have them around for these occasions.
I found an old $18 book last year with just two cards left & sent it to some family members who were flying in for Easter last year. While visiting, they bought their own Farecard book to run around town & then left the unused portion for me to use.

[SpongeG]

u can still use your return ticket from YVR if you have time on it -i've nipped out for starbucks and able to get back in time on the same ticket from downtown

i think most travellers don't care that much - its still one of the cheapest options to get downtown - and very cheap compared to other airports in the world

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Interesting. I know that the justification for the surcharge is to recoup the construction costs of the airport segment, and I also know that YVR had to pony up a share of those costs. So I assumed that YVR was recovering its share via the surcharge. But you're right, according to the Buzzer Blog:

http://buzzer.translink.ca/index.php/201...re-coming-mon-jan-18-heres-how-it-works/

...the surcharge goes directly to Translink.

I think its to recoup operating costs, rather than construction costs, on the airport segment.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I think its to recoup operating costs, rather than construction costs, on the airport segment.

Could be - it might act as an offset to the fact that airport employees can travel the Canada Line between stations on Sea Island for free.

[officedweller]

I was thinking that it was to offset the operating costs because of expected "light" ridership on that segment.

[Mac Write]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Could be - it might act as an offset to the fact that airport employees can travel the Canada Line between stations on Sea Island for free.

Actually anyone can go from Templeton to YVR for free. Templeton is going to be the new long term parking and drop-off location.

[SpikePhanta]

Just a little pet peeve of mine:
NonTransit vehicles using Granville st.
Especially the ones that complain about people jaywalking.

[SpongeG]

they need better signage on granville - i see ignorant drivers all the time driving down there

[DKaz]

Over half of them with Albeta, Manitoba, Ontario, American, etc. plates but I'm surprised that some BC plates on Granville Mall as well.

[jlousa]

I don't think the lack of signage is an issue, every cross st is pretty clear that you can't turn onto Granville as are the lanes that lead onto Granville. Think a couple of beat cops walking the strip could make a killing for the city writing tickets.