Inside Vancouver

Vancouver by Trolley – Stop 9 Sutton Place

by Inside Vancouver in Town on April 1, 2011

I luckily chose one of the sunny days to be a tourist this week and hopped off the Trolley at Stop #9, the Sutton Place, to explore what the bustling corner of Burrard and Robson had to offer.

As it happened to be just before noon, I happily stopped for lunch at the now infamous Japa Dog Hot Dog Stand, on the corner of Smithe and Burrard, in front of the Sutton Place Hotel. Japa Dog offers a wide range of selection from your normal hot dog to delicious bratwurst plus combinations, and has quite the local following. As there is often a line down the street for this stand, I expected to be waiting quite some time but must have just missed the lunch crowd. Continue reading:
Vancouver by Trolley – Stop 9 Sutton Place

Vancouver by Trolley – Stop 8 Wall Centre

by Inside Vancouver in Town on March 25, 2011

It’s been a beautiful start to Spring here in vancouver and I was excited to be a tourist in the heart of downtown today. I hopped off the Trolley at stop #8, the Wall Centre, and crossed the street to what I think of as Vancouver’s one-stop-shop hotel. The Century Plaza is home to an award-winning spa, a popular comedy club and a versatile restaurant. Beyond simply being home to these facilities, each of them goes a step above to bring a quality product to visitors and guests. Continue reading:
Vancouver by Trolley – Stop 8 Wall Centre

Vancouver by Trolley – Stop 6 Quality Inn

by Inside Vancouver in Town on March 14, 2011

On a drizzly Sunday afternoon I hopped off the Trolley at Stop #6, the Quality Inn. I started my venture at the Yale Hotel, a local favorite for nightly jazz and blues with a strong Vancouver history. The Yale was originally a CPR bunkhouse back in the 1880s and continued throughout the decades as a popular community meeting place. Today it not only houses live music nightly (please note this establishment is 19+), billiards tables and multiple TVs for sports, but is home to a recording studio as well.

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Vancouver by Trolley – Stop 6 Quality Inn

Transportation Fair at New Creekside Community Centre, Olympic Village. Sat. Oct. 16, 2010

by Jean in Green City on October 14, 2010

Creekside Community Centre, Olympic Village and Park area. Vancouver, BC 2010. Photo by J. Chong

Creekside Community Centre, Olympic Village and plaza area. Vancouver, BC 2010. Photo by J. Chong

Get information and your travel questions answered about TransLink bus and light rail, as well as learn how to combine your trips with cycling. This Saturday Oct. 16, 2010 10:00 am to 3:00 pm drop by at the new Creekside Community Centre in Vancouver’s Olympic Village. There will be a transportation fair hosted by TransLink for the public. Click here for other fair dates and locations in Surrey and Coquitlam.

Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) will also be there to answer questions on bike routes throughout Metro Vancouver and how you can combine cycling with public transit. There will be bus with bike rack for you to try it out. TransLink has indicated after viewing their poll results that they will respond to the public’s need for video on how to use the racks.

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Transportation Fair at New Creekside Community Centre, Olympic Village. Sat. Oct. 16, 2010

Deep Cove- Getting There by Bike and Other Multi-Modal Options for Sights and Food

by Jean in Outside on September 24, 2010

Deep Cove, B.C. Kayak centre also offers rentals for experienced day kayakers. Photo by J. Chong

Deep Cove, B.C. An idyllic oasis still in the city. Kayak centre also offers rentals for experienced day kayakers. Photo by J. Chong

For a few hours of cycling, there are several beautiful, enjoyable trip options from downtown Vancouver to Deep Cove. You will be rewarded with mountain and coastal views as well as opportunities for great food stops, getting off the bike for some walking and in good weather, fabulous photo shoots.

The best time to cycle this route is to start off earlier in the morning on weekends, when car traffic is lighter at some major intersections in North Vancouver area.

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Deep Cove- Getting There by Bike and Other Multi-Modal Options for Sights and Food

Putting Bikes on Bus Racks – Answer TransLink’s Poll

by Jean in Green City on September 17, 2010

Unloading a bike at B.C. Ferry terminal bus stop.

Unloading a bike from TransLink bus rack. Photo by J. Chong

Multi-modal travel or blending cycling, walking and public transit is a viable, active way to enjoy a day trip or vacation on a lower budget.

TransLink is polling people on whether or not if you have actually put a bike on their bus racks. It is an informal poll which they occasionally do on topics related to public transit via their public weekly e-newsletter, Buzzer Blog. Please click on this link for just 1 question for you to answer from TransLink, our public transit authority. Newbie cyclists are more than welcome to answer their poll since your feedback is especially important also.

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Putting Bikes on Bus Racks – Answer TransLink’s Poll

Go Multi-Modal –Combine Cycling with Other Transportation Options. Part II: From Metro Vancouver To Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Whistler and the U.S.

by Jean in Green City on August 29, 2010

Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver. Photo by J. Chong

Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver. B.C. Ferry in background. Photo by J. Chong

Revised Aug. 29/10, with better map link on bike trail from Swartz Bay B.C. Ferry dock to Victoria on Vancouver Island.

This article continues from my earlier article on how to combine bike trips with other forms of transportation within Metro Vancouver. Once we know a few tips on what is possible, then we can travel further afield with our bike to other destinations outside of Metro Vancouver.

To Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, Inside Passage
Horseshoe Bay B.C. Ferry Terminal: Cyclists can cycle to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, on the north shore to catch a B.C. Ferry. Just make sure you have done some cycling on several long hills for practice. Or you can throw your bike onto a bus rack and take TransLink #250 or #257 bus to Horseshoe Bay. Do plan for an earlier bus since there maybe other cyclists waiting in line.

Continue reading:
Go Multi-Modal –Combine Cycling with Other Transportation Options. Part II: From Metro Vancouver To Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Whistler and the U.S.