Getting around

Canada Line

The SkyTrain line runs from the airport and from Richmond-Brighouse north into downtown Vancouver. About twenty-five minutes to the centre. Trains are frequent and the whole line is automated, which means no timetable to consult during the day.

There's a surcharge on trips originating at the airport station. Travelling the other way, into the airport, there isn't — which occasionally confuses people comparing two identical journeys.

Buses

They cover the island properly, including Steveston, and they're the only public option for the south end. Frequency drops in the evening. Use a tap card or a contactless bank card; cash on buses needs exact change.

Cycling

The flattest cycling in the Lower Mainland. The dyke trail runs around much of the island — gravel in places, entirely flat, exposed to wind off the strait. Rentals are available in Steveston in the warmer months.

Driving and parking

Easy by regional standards. Malls have free parking in quantity. Steveston is the one place where parking is a nuisance on weekends. The island is crossed by a few main roads and the tunnel south is the one genuine bottleneck at rush hour.

From the airport