OT: Vancouver suggestions needed.

[pampam]

We are going to Vancouver (Port Moody) for 2 weeks and staying with friends. We don't drive, and have a wheelchair. Is the public transit wc accessable? Is there public transit in Port Moody? I know our friends will take us places, but I don't want to impose on them too much. What is the transit service called. Perhaps I could look it up on line, if I knew what it was called. Is Vancouver wheelchair friendly? Any suggestions for what to do or see? We've been to Whistler, Bushart Gardens, and the park on a previous trip about 5 years ago, but we had a rental car and driver then. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Rachael Q]

Hi Pampam,

Transit is wheelchair accessible. The website is www.translink.bc.ca They also have a helpline you can call if you can't find the info you are looking for, or are not near a computer.

There are 4 parts - buses, skytrain, seabus and Westcoast Express. Most buses, but not all are wheelchair friendly, I believe they are marked on the schedule with a wheelchair symbol.

There are a few skytrain stations without elevators - Granville is the one I can think of straight away. Seabus only operates from waterfront to Lonsdale - I am not 100% certain if it's accessible or not.

Westcoast express is, however it only operates during peak hours. There are 5 trains that go downtown in the morning, and 5 trains that come back out in the afternoon/evening. Port Moody is one of the stops.

Rachael