Toronto Transportation Tips by grandmaR

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: We flew from BWI to Toronto on Sunday June 6, 1999 in the afternoon on this little plane. (DASH-8). I noted that the other side of the plane was in French. (Ville de...) I thought it was funny that the plane was called "The City of Harrisburg" because I associate Harrisburg with Pennsylvania.

They took us by shuttle into the airport where I suddenly remembered that I'd left my coat on the plane. This set a precident for the whole trip as I later left my bag and my camera on various buses. I got everything back. The Air Canada personnel helped me get my coat, and the bus drivers were also very helpful.

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Website: http://www.aircanada.ca/index.html

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: When we went by the airport in the tour boat, she told us that there were buoys off the end of the runway where boats were prohibited from going. That's because the space over the water is included in the runway. (The plane is supposed to be off the ground but not very far off, so it might run into a boat superstructure or mast.) There were huge fines for venturing into the space that is buoyed off.

This is not Pearson International Airport - I don't know the name of it. I suppose it is just for little commuter planes.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: I was told by our agency travel people to take the shuttle bus in from the airport. I have a receipt from Pacific Western which is confusing, because Toronto isn't on the Pacific OR the west and it's hard to find the website using those search words.

Their website, which I found it said:

"Airport Express: DOWNTOWN SERVICE

"Each day, thousands of visitors arriving at Toronto's take advantage of Pacific Western's Airport Express to downtown Toronto. It departs every 20 minutes to accommodate all schedules and offers travelers a destination choice of a number of major downtown hotels."

I paid $21.50 Canadian for the trip from the airport to the hotel and the same for the return trip to the airport.

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Website: http://www.torontoairportexpress.com/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: I did not actually take a taxi while I was in Toronto - I used the subway, the buses, the tour boat, my feet and the airport shuttle, but not a taxi. The Convention Center had people to help with transportation, and I think they would call a cab for you like a doorman.

Some taxi companies are:

Able Atlantic Taxi (416) 298-1111

Beck Taxi (416) 751-5555
The orange and green of Beck Taxi has been a familiar sight in Toronto for over thirty years.

CO-OP Cabs http://www.co-opcabs.com/
(416) 504-COOP - (416) 504-2667

Diamond Taxi (416) 366-6868 http://www.diamondtaxi.on.ca/

This is what Royal has to say about taxi fares:

Please be advised that the City of Toronto has amended the meter rates for taxis effective September 2nd, 2003. The new rates are as follows:

Meter drop $2.75

For each 0.190 km or part thereof is 0.25 cents

For waiting time, while under engagement, for each 31 seconds.

Minimum parcel delivery is $10.00

For the first 0.235 km or part thereof $2.50
For each additional 0.235 km or part thereof .25
For waiting time, while under engagement, for each 38 seconds .25
For each additional passenger in excess of four .20

BAGGAGE:

Hand baggage if loaded and unloaded by driver- per bag .10
Briefcases and parcels of comparable size if loaded or unloaded by passenger - to a limit of four per passenger No charge
Bags and cartons containing groceries - if loaded and unloaded by driver - per bag or carton .10
Maximum charge for baggage - per passenger .30
Wheelchairs, including loading and unloading by driver No charge
Charges for trunks and other items not covered by this tariff shall be agreed upon before commencement of the trip

CHILDREN, IN THE CHARGE OF AN ADULT:

Eight years of age and under Free
Over eight years and under twelve years of age Half fare
Over twelve years of age Full fare

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Phone: (416) 777-9222
Website: http://www.royaltaxi.ca/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bicycle
Getting TO/AROUND: I would not think that a bicycle would be a very viable form of transportation for Toronto. First of all there's a lot of snow and ice and the seasons when biking is even possible is very short.

But apparently, some people do ride bikes downtown -

Te (epicult) says that although it is dangerous, he can pass 3 or 4 trolleys in a 20 minute ride because the traffic is terrible.

I know this is a bike rack because it says "Lock bicycle to.." and then a word I can't read. On the other side it says "City of Toronto"

I found that downtown, I could use the subway, or the convention buses and walk to almost everywhere.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Toronto has subways, street cars, buses and light rail. I don't know what the difference is between the street cars and the light rail. We used to have trolley cars (street cars) in Baltimore, but we've erased them from the city fabric and substituted smelly buses instead.

I rode the subway, and I think that I also rode the street cars which I think also go underground in some places. You can get buy a pass that allows you to transfer from the subway to the street car or v.v.

Te (epicult) says:

"The street car (or 'red rocket' as it is know in TO) is quite slow and expensive in comparison to most cities (2.25). The subway is quite good but covers a very limited area."

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Phone: 416-393-4636
Website: http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: I used the hotel buses from the Convention Center a lot to get around. Not only to go back to my own hotel, but also to go down to the waterfront (some people were in hotels like the Westin).

I got a ticket on the subway for $2 each way to go to and from Eaton Centre.

I also got back to the hotel from the Queen's Quay area and from the CN tower on the subway, although one of those times, I also had to take a trolley car to get to the subway.

A ticket for $2.25 gets you anywhere and entitles you to a transfer to the StreetCar (tram) or bus.

Check the hours of operation (last train is usually around 1:40am). So you might have to take a cab if your carriage turns into a pumpkin.

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Phone: 416-393-4636
Website: http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: There is regular ferry service out to the islands. I didn't take one because I didn't have time.

The Toronto Ferry Dock is located at the foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay, just West of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel.

Direction by TTC

From union station take the 509 Harbourfront or the 510 Spadina streetcar south to the Bay and Queen's Quay Stop.
Alternately, take the Bay Bus #6 southbound from the corner of Front and Bay to the Bay and Queen's Quay stop.

The entrance to the ferry docks is on the south side of the street, just east of the Westin Harbour Castle hotel.

Walk / Drive

Main entrance at foot of Bay St on Queens Quay. Enter through park and enter via walkway between Harbour Castle Westin Hotel and Harbour Castle condominiums. Parking is available 1 block north at Lakeshore and Bay, 1 block west on Queens Quay between Bay and York Sts, 1 block east opposite Toronto Star building adjacent to Captain Johns restaurant.


Fares (Include Return - you pay only leaving the city)
Adults $6.00
Students and Seniors $3.50
(under 19 with Student Card and over 65)
Juniors (under 14) $2.50
Children (under 2) Free

The trip takes about 15 minutes. You can go to one island and get off and walk to another island and then go back on another ferry - or you can just make the round trip without getting off.

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Website: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/to_islands/ferry.htm

'Mode': TO
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: I took this picture trying to get the ferry to the Island airport in it. Also visible is the Gardner freeway at rush hour, several marinas and the airport. I can't find anything about this ferry on the internet, just the ferrys to the islands. But I watched it plying back and forth for as long as the restaurant was on this side.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: This photo contrasts two ways of getting around in Toronto. I took the picture of the subway entrance near my hotel - that's the mass transit way of getting around in Toronto. There's also apparently an underground parking garage here. I didn't have to park a car of course because my agency never ran to a rental car when I was at a convention or taking a course.

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