Parkbus
Parkbus is an express bus service to BC Provincial Parks currently operating in the warm summer months. Current destinations include Garibaldi, Joffre lakes, Cypress, Golden Ears, Squamish Chief, and Alice Lake. Seniors pricing is available. Parkbus BC is a program of BEST. Click here for more information about destinations and pricing in BC (scroll down).
BC ferries
BC Ferries is a great get-away option. Take local buses (TransLink) to/from BC Ferries Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen terminals, and Swartz Bay, Duke Point, Departure Bay.
Click here for detailed information on routes and departure times. For crossing times and distances look near the top of each schedule page immediately under port names.
Ferry cost depends on the route you take. BC Resident Assistance Program (documentation required) enables BC Seniors 65+ to travel for FREE on most BC Ferries sailing Monday through Thursday, except on holidays. This applies to passenger fares only. Note: The northern routes have a different special discount available for B.C. seniors. Click here for more information on fares.
Reserve by Phone: 1-888-BC-FERRY (1-888-223-3779) Mon.-Fri. 7a.m. - 10p.m.; Weekends 7a.m. - 7p.m. Email: customerservice@bcferries.com
Carpooling/Ridesharing
Sharing a ride with someone else is a great way to get around, be social and share the costs. Many people already informally rideshare by getting a ride with their friends, and there are also formal ridesharing services available. Note that services like Uber or Lyft are not ride-sharing, they are ride-hailing. Ridesharing is also known as carpooling.
The Ridesharing Network is a non-profit intiative that matches drivers with passengers through an online system. Popular routes include Vancouver to Nelson and Castlegar. Drivers and passengers are rated. Click here for rides offered and wanted from Metro Vancouver.
Pop-a-Ride is a rideshare matching service between cities in Canada where you can post or find a ride. Popular routes in BC include Vancouver to and from Squamish, Whistler, and the Fraser Valley. Drivers and passengers are rated. Click here for more information.
Long Distance Bus and Train Companies
BusBud is an online bus search service that makes it easy to figure out which bus company goes to most of the destinations in BC. They are up to date with the new companies since the end of Greyhound’s runs (but includes Greyhound to Seattle area). Click here for the BusBud website. Be sure to select ‘senior’ under ‘passenger’ when searching to get seniors pricing.
Amtrak- Amtrak is a private train service that runs from Vancouver’s Pacific Central station to Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Eugene and Salem. Click here for more information on routes from Vancouver. Click here for more information on seniors discounts or Phone: 1-800-872-7245, TTY 1-800-523-6590
ViaRail is a private train service that runs from Vancouver’s Pacific Central station to destinations across Canada, as far as Toronto. Click here for more information on seniors discounts. Click here for more information on routes from Vancouver or Phone: 1 888 842-7245) or TTY 1 800 268-9503.