Pros and Cons of using a Car in Vancouver
 

We are a moderately active 70 year old couple planning to visit Vancouver for four days and Victoria for an overnight in Mid-July. We are considering staying in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver.

Will it be necessary or more sensible for us to rent a car for our visit to Vancouver?

On our 'short list' is the Museum of Anthropology, Stanley Park, Granville Island, a pass through Robson Street, Chinatown, Gastown and probably to one of the suspension bridges in North Vancouver. We might want to return to Kitsilano each day before going out in the evening and would probably be frustrated if it routinely took us more that an hour to get back there each day.

In Kitsilano, there will be no fee for parking. We are comfortable with both public transit and driving in cities, but would like some educated advice as to whether our destinations are will be significantly more accessible one way or the other.

If we do rent a car in Vancouver, will it make sense to take it Victoria or just rent a car in Victoria to to get out and see some of Vancouver Island.

When we come back from Victoria, we will be taking the VIA train to Jasper.
Many thanks for your advice.

You definitely can see all you want to on public transit - start with this website http://www.translink.ca/

You don't need a car in Victoria - you can get the bus to Victoria

http://bcpassport.com/public-transportation/vancouver-
ferries/

Victoria has plenty to see without a car

http://www.tourismvictoria.com/

There is some good reading material for you!!

The only two places I'd prefer to have a car for is Stanley Park and one of the suspension bridges. I usually park downtown for access to everything else. The main thing I'd say about Vancouver is that it is walkable but doesn't feel all that compact, so it rather depends on your stamina and whether you prefer a car over buses. You don't need a car at all for Victoria!

I agree with marvellousmouse that a lot depends on your stamina. We like to stay near Robson and Denham without a car. From there no need to venture too far afield for restaurants, beaches are nearby, Granville island ferry a walkable distance. public transit for the Anthropology museum.. There is a bus that does the circuit of Stanley park. We are also in our 70s, but the last time we were there we were 7 years younger! We will see how we make out when we return in August this year.

I don't know about Kitsilano accommodation, but when I booked a couple of weeks ago a few places I looked at were already full, so I wouldn't leave it too long.

Sounds like a great holiday.

I think you'll be fine without a car in Vancouver - there is a free shuttle bus to the Capilano Suspension Bridge:

http://www.capbridge.com/visit/shuttle-service/

I think staying in downtown or the West End would be more convenient than Kitsilano - if you do decide to stay there try to be as close as possible to the Burrard Street bridge.

I'd certainly recommend a car, unless the price is a big barrier. I used to be in Vancouver for a lot of weekends, sometimes with and sometimes without a car, depending on how much work I had to do.
Without a car you'll find yourself standing on street corners more than you want.
My routine for Vancouver Island started from Vancouver with a drive along the shoreline road from the Lions Gates Bridge to Horseshoe Bay, and then a beautiful drive down Vancouver Island to Victoria.
And when I was finished in Victoria, I drove out to a different ferry port, which resulted in different views from the ship.

The traffic in Vancouver is horrendous now. On a lot of the streets its gridlock all day and the summer months are the worst. The public transportation is much improved. If you get a day pass it is good on Skytrain, the buses and the Sea Bus. I don't recommend staying in Kitsilano either - you have to fight with the bicyclers on the Burrard Street bridge now which would be the closest bridge to get to and from downtown. (I guess I am prejudiced as someone rear ended me when a biker pulled in front of me and I had to slam on the brakes) I agree with Elizabeth the West End, downtown or even into Burnaby - as long as you are close to a Skytrain station. Check the Translink website I posted to see the locations.

<I>"The traffic in Vancouver is horrendous now. On a lot of the streets its gridlock all day and the summer months are the worst. </I>"

This complete nonsense-I drive for a living/live in Kitsilano and have seen <u>No</u> <u>Such</u> <u>Thing</u>.

In fact during summer the city empties out and traffic is at its lightest.

Transit here is cheap & ubiquitous and the places you want to visit all mainstream.

If you want to see how locals live, work & travel take the bus with the rest of us.

I prefer transit, biking, and walking, but I don't really consider the traffic "horrendous", especially when going from place to place. The only times I've really hated the traffic is when I'm just trying to get through downtown to Stanley Park- and that's never been an all day thing, just when I choose to leave later in the day. Well, and when I'm trying to make a right hand turn and there is a seemingly endless stream of pedestrians crossing. I've had to wait a few lights before, so don't drive in the right lane on the main drags in the afternoon/evening, because. Vancouver lights/road design doesn't seem very efficient at times.

The transit is good, but most people I've met seem to have cars, and the carless ones have been the hard core carless commuter types if they aren't students...

Thanks so much to everyone!
This was my first post to the forum and I am delighted!

We are going to pass on the car.