Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide 1
Welcome to Prince George Transit This guide will connect you with everything you need to know about riding the bus, and gives you the tools and education you need to ride the bus with confidence. Keep this guide for reference, and take it with you in case you have questions along the way. You can fill in your personal and emergency contact information in the front in case you lose it. We look forward to connecting you to your community. Welcome Aboard! 2 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
Contents Chapter 1 Getting started... 4 Chapter 2 On the road... 16 Chapter 3 Safety and Travel Tips... 24 Resources... 28 This handbook belongs to: NAME ADDRESS HOME PHONE NUMBER CELL PHONE In the event of an emergency, please contact: NAME PHONE NUMBER 3
Chapter 1: Getting Started 4 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
Your first trip As you start planning your trip on transit, ask yourself: Where do I want to go (addresses, landmarks)? When do I want to travel? (day, time) You can plan your trip in many ways: Our Website: bctransit.com/prince-george has a trip planner tool you can use to see which bus to take. This travel training guide will show you how to navigate the trip planner. Rider s Guide: The guide has a list of routes, schedules, and all the important information you need to plan your trip. You can grab a copy at any of our outlets. This travel training guide will show you how to read the schedules in the Rider s Guide Phone: Call our friendly customer service staff on the transit info line: 250-563-0011 on Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 4:30pm. They ll be happy to help you. TIP: Use the Trip Plan Worksheet on page 8, (and under the resources section at the back of this guide) while you re speaking to our customer service to record your trip information. 5
Contact Information Transit Information: 250-563-0011 Lost and Found Prince George Transit 250-569-0011 1041 Great Street Prince George, BC V2N 2K8 Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Twitter alerts: @TransitPG handydart (Carefree Society) 250-562-1394 2832 Queensway St Prince George, BC V2L 4M5 Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm (Closed 12-1pm) If you have suggestions or comments, contact the City of Prince George at 1100 Patricia Blvd Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 250-561-7600 servicecentre@princegeorge.ca Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm 6 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
BEFORE YOU CALL Fill in the answers to these questions: My starting address is: [exact address] I need to travel to: [the exact address of your destination] I need to be at my destination by: [time] On: [date] If you have a mobility aid: I need a bus that will accommodate my: [type and size of aid] When you have answers to these questions, you re ready to call us. See page 6 for our phone numbers. Share the answers on this page and use the Trip Plan Worksheet on the next page to record your trip information. Don t forget to also plan your return trip (see page 9 and the extra trip plan worksheets in the resources section). 7
TRIP PLAN WORKSHEET What bus route(s) should I use? Where is my bus stop? What time does the bus arrive at my stop? Do I need to transfer to another bus? YES NO If YES: What is my next bus route? Where is my next bus stop? What time will my second bus arrive? What time does my bus arrive at my destination? Where do I get off the bus? What is the total cost of the trip? Where is the closest location to my address to buy a fare product*? TIP: arrive at bus stop 10 minutes prior to posted arrival/departure time of bus. * See Page 18 8 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
RETURN TRIP WORKSHEET What bus route(s) should I use? Where is my bus stop? What time does the bus arrive at my stop? Do I need to transfer to another bus? YES NO If YES: What is my next bus route? Where is my next bus stop? What time will my second bus arrive? What time does my bus arrive at my destination? Where do I get off the bus? What is the total cost of the return trip? TIP: arrive at bus stop 10 minutes prior to posted arrival/departure time of bus. 9
Planning Future Trips Online at bctransit.com/prince-george Our website has maps, schedules, and a trip planning tool. We also post rider alerts, transit news, and general information. 1 2 3 4 5 1. All route schedules and system maps 2. Give us your feedback (compliments, suggestions, complaints, concerns) 3. Plan your trip 4. See for rider and trip alerts (bus detours, service changes) 5. Find out what s new with us 10 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
Trip Planner The trip planner is a simple way to plan your trip online in a few steps, and is the most updated and recommended tool online to use. Here s a sample trip plan: (steps on the following page) 11
To get that information, follow these steps: 1. Using the Trip Planning tool, enter the address of your starting point and the address of your Destination. 2. Specify when you would like to take your trip. Use: Leave Now to show the next possible departure Arrival Time to choose what time you d like to get to your destination Departure Time to choose what time you ll be leaving your starting point. 3. Click Plan My Trip 4. The trip planner will give you route options to choose between (e.g. shortest travel time, least walking, fewest transfers). 5. When you select one of the suggested routes, a map and step by step directions will be generated. The detailed directions will let you know where the stops are - and provide you with any information on transfers. 12 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
RIDER S GUIDES Our Rider s Guides have route schedules and maps, and can be found at any of our transit outlets, or at City Hall. You can also download them from our website, on the right hand bar under the schedules and maps tab. How to read the Rider s Guide 1 2 3 55 Victoria Downtown to Spruceland, Foothills and Pine Centre Monday to Friday A C C D D H G A 7th Ave and Dominion Ar. Spruceland Exchange Lv. Spruceland Exchange Ar. 15th and Foothills Lv. 15th and Foothills Pine Centre Lansdowne Turnaround 7th Ave and Dominion 7:13 7:24 7:24 7:30 7:40 7:51 7:32 7:42 7:51 8:02 8:04 8:10 8:20 8:31 7:52 8:02 8:11 8:22 8:24 8:30 8:40 8:51 8:32 8:42 8:51 9:02 9:04 9:10 9:20 9:31 1. Route name and Direction of travel Use the Route Name and Direction of Travel to find the best route to your destination. 2. Timing Points The top row of the schedule shows you the location of all the major stops (also known as timing points) on your route. Each route has multiple timing points, and times are approximate. Find the timing point closest to your stop to know what time to expect the bus at that location. The letter above your timing point also shows you the location of the timing point on the map in your Rider s Guide. For example, Pine Centre exchange is point H on the map on the page [XX]. Along the route there will be other bus stops where you can board or exit the bus. To find these, use the schedule finder on our website, or call the transit info line to find out. 3. Notes If a symbol or small letters appear on the schedule, this means there is a special note for the stop. Special notes are displayed at the bottom of the schedule. Additional transit service is provided while school is in session 13
.. Spruceland Exchange 5th Ave. 55 Victoria/5th Ave. Ahbau Pine Centre Downtown Downtown Heritage UNBC UNBC South North 8th Ave. 17 18 88 55 5 1 91 1 89 96 97 W. Central Hwy. 97 N A G H D C Timing Point Locations 7th and Dominion Lansdowne Turnaround Pine Centre 15th and Foothills Spruceland Exchange D T abo r 15th Ave. 18th Ave. Exhibition Grounds CN Centre Ospika Ahbau Spruceland Exchange 22nd Ave. C W Centra l College of New Caledonia 5th Ave. 8th Ave. 10th Ave. Prince George Sec. School H Pine Massey Centre Mall Pine Centre Exchange Alward Place Alward t W ainwrigh Phoenix Hospital Pearson Victoria 2nd Ave. 4th Ave. 7th Victoria Medical 17th Ave. Family Y 20th Ave. Hwy. 97 Duchess Park Sec. Sch. Victoria Milburn Diefenbaker VIA/CN Rail Station A Patricia Dominion Westwood Dr. Massey North Downtown Spruceland 89 46 5 47 Uplands South Ospika Pine Centre Exchange 55 88 Hwy. 97 W estwoo d Ferry John McInnis Sec. Sch. Peden Hill Elem. Sch. H w y 1 6 Superstore Costco G Upland Lansdowne Ferry N N 14 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
ACCESSIBILITY All of our buses are fully accessible: they have low floors, can kneel to allow passengers easier boarding and exiting, and have ramps that can be lowered for wheelchair or scooter access. If you re unable to use the city bus without assistance, you can register for handydart, which provides door-to-door service for people with permanent or temporary disabilities. To use handydart, you must register with the Carefree Society. You can contact them directly at 250-562-1394. IMPORTANT TIP: Although our buses are accessible, some stops and your final destination may not be. Please plan accordingly. See page 22 on how to board our buses with mobility aids. 15
Chapter 2: On the road 16 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
How to buy and use fares Fares For current fare prices, check the back of the riders guide or the fares section of our website. To ride the bus, you must have a ticket, pass, exact cash fare, or a valid transfer. Insert your ticket into the fare box as you board, and ask for a transfer (valid only 1 way) if you know you need to take another bus to complete your trip. Swipe your monthly pass or semester pass, swipe the pass on the farebox when you board each bus on your trip. Show the driver your BC Bus Pass, UPASS or DayPASS as you board each bus on your trip. Put you cash fare in the farebox. You must have exact change. Ask for a transfer if you will be taking more than one bus to complete your trip. Show your transfer to the driver as you board. Transfers allow you to use more than one bus to complete a trip without having to pay for the second bus. They are only valid for travel in one direction and cannot be used for return trips. 17
Where to buy fares You can buy tickets, monthly passes, semester passes, and day passes at the outlets below: OUTLET PRINCE GEORGE CITY HALL HART DRUGS (HART CENTRE) KG CONRNER STORE THIRD AVENUE EVERGREEN PHARMACY ADDRESS 1100 Patricia Boulevard 6707 Dagg Road 3605 15th Avenue 1467 3rd Avenue PHARMASAVE, DOWNTOWN 1305 7th Avenue #101 PHARMASAVE, TABOR REID S PRESCRIPTIONS 227-100 Tabor Boulevard South 1669 Victoria Street SAVE ON FOODS, PARKWOOD 1600 15th Avenue #100 SHOPPERS DRUGMART, COLLEGE HEIGHTS SHOPPERS DRUGMART, PINE CENTRE SHOPPERS DRUGMART, HART SHOPPERS DRUGMART, SPRUCELAND SAVE ON FOODS, SPRUCELAND UNBC BOOKSTORE 5240 Domano Boulevard 3055 Massey Drive 6760 Madill Road 693 Central Street West 555 Central St West 3333 University Way To be sure if an outlet has the fare product you need, you may need to call them first. The Service Centre at City Hall always stocks all of the fare products available. 18 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
How to recognize our buses: Transit in Prince George is served by two main types of buses: Our fixed-routes have both the full sized buses and community buses shown below: Although smaller than our other conventional buses, the community bus is still fully accessible and has bike racks which only operate during daylight hours. Our handydart system has specialized vehicles for riders with permanent or temporary disabilities. They look like the community bus, but will say handydart on their destination signs. How to recognize bus stops, route numbers, and names Bus stops 19
1. Stop ID 2. Schedule at this stop 3. Buses available at this stop 4. Transit info line 250-563-0011 and website 5. Indicates that the stop is fully accessible All bus stops are marked by signs. Some stops will also have a bus bench, a shelter, or both. The sign shows where the bus will stop. If you re seated or in the shelter, be sure to move out to the bus stop sign before the bus arrives. This helps the driver know you re waiting. The Stop ID can be used to find the schedule at a particular stop on our trip planning website. Some stops, typically timing points, have schedules printed in frames. To see the next scheduled times of the next 4 buses to arrive at your stop, text your Stop ID 5 number (found at the top of the bus stop sign) to 11111. After texting, you will receive a message back with the next 4 buses to arrive at your stop along with their estimated arrival times. TIP: Plan to be at your bus stop about 10 minutes before your bus is due to arrive. 1 4 3 2 20 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
Route Numbers and names When a bus approaches your stop, look at the area above the windshield or on the side of the bus for the route name and number. Always check the sign to make sure you re boarding the right bus. If you re not sure, you can check with the driver before you board. How to get on/off the bus and signal for a stop How to get on the bus If you are travelling with a mobility aid, please see the next section. Have your fare ready (see page 17 for how to buy and use fares). If you re seated or in the shelter, be sure to move out to the bus stop sign before the bus arrives. Help your bus driver when waiting at the stop by waving as the bus approaches. Verify the route name and number before you get on. Let other passengers get off the bus first. Pay your fare and get a transfer if needed (monthly passes, BC Bus Passes, Daypasses, Semester Passes and UPASS don t require transfers). Tell the driver your destination if you need help identifying your stop. If you don t have a mobility aid, take a seat or hold on to the railing if standing. Priority seating is located near the front of the bus. 21
How to get on the bus with your mobility aid Have your fare ready (see page 17 for how to buy and use fares). If you re seated or in the shelter, be sure to move out to the bus stop sign before the bus arrives. Help your bus driver when waiting at the stop by waving as the bus approaches. Verify the route name and number before you get on. Get the driver s attention so they can lower the ramp for you. Your bus driver will let other passengers board or exit before lowering the ramp. If you re using a walker or have trouble with the height of the bus, you can ask the driver to kneel the bus when you board and exit. This will lower the bus without deploying the ramp. Position yourself about 1.5 metres (5 feet) away from the front door of the bus. This will allow space for the door to open and the ramp to be lowered. Do not overload your mobility aid with parcels. Ask your driver for assistance if you have difficulty presenting your fare (note that the driver is not allowed to access your pockets, purse or backpack to obtain the fare). Advise your driver of your destination. Secure your wheelchair or scooter. Remember to apply your brakes before the bus is in motion. Position yourself in the wheelchair area and your driver will assist you in securing your mobility aid. If you have an attendant with you, please identify him/her to your driver. 22 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
How to signal for a stop When your bus is about a block (or about 150 metres away) before your stop, press the stop button or pull the stop cord above the window to let the driver know you need to exit. A bell will ring and a light above the driver at the front of the bus will turn on to signal that a stop has been requested. If you re unable to use the button or pull the cord to signal for a stop, let the driver know when you board and tell them where you need to exit. They ll make the stop for you. How to get off the bus Please remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop. If you have a mobility aid, the driver will lower the ramp and let you know when you can get off the bus safely. Be sure to take all of your belongings with you when you exit the bus. 23
Chapter 3: Safety Tips 24 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
Safety Tips A safe and relaxing ride The bus should be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Here are a few tips to make the ride comfortable and safe: Make yourself visible at the bus stop: At night, wear lighter shades of clothing Step out of the shelter when the bus approaches. In rural areas, wave to the approaching driver Stand back from the curb until the bus arrives Don t jaywalk to catch your bus. Use crosswalks where available and be mindful of traffic around you Have your pass, ticket, transfer, or exact change already in hand Sit as close to the driver as possible, they are always available to help Stay seated while the bus is moving the driver may have to stop suddenly Make sure you re secured properly if you have a mobility aid Always carry your personal and emergency contact information with you. This guide or the Rider s Guide are also handy for information. What to do if you miss the bus If you miss the bus, try calling the bus info line at 250-563-0011 to find out when the next bus is coming. If you will be travelling after business hours often (see page 6), make sure to have a Rider s Guide handy for reference on the schedule. You can also use the trip planning website to check the schedule on your mobile device. 25
In case of an emergency Always carry your trip plan and additional contact information with you. You can record your information in this handbook for easy reference. If you become lost or need assistance during your trip, you may find this information helpful. Mobile devices Travel with your mobile device if you have one. It can be useful for looking up information, calling the transit info line, or anyone else during your trip. TIP: Program your emergency numbers and the number of the Transit Info Line into your mobile device for fast and easy access. Emergency Cash Carrying some emergency money can be useful if you lose your transit tickets or pass. Travel Tips Request-a-stop Request-a-stop service is available after 7:00pm on all buses. Customers who feel that their personal safety is at risk can ask their driver to stop between regular bus stops. Ask your transit driver at least one stop ahead of where you wish to exit. You will be let off at a safe location closest to your request. In order to meet your request, the driver must be able to stop safely. For added safety and security, you can ask to exit by the front doors. Please note: you can call the transit info line for details or any time restrictions 26 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
Priority Seating Although the bus serves on a first-to-board basis, priority seating is considered to be the front accessible area of the bus. Priority seating meets the needs of all transit customers, and is especially vital to: Customers who use scooters, wheelchairs, pediatric strollers or other mobility aids Customers with a disability or mobility issue Customers with baby strollers These seats are identified accordingly by decals Lost and Found All articles found on the bus are held in a Lost and Found (see page 6). Please visit the transit website or call the transit info line for information on how to locate your lost items. Asking a bus driver for help Bus drivers are happy to help and are a great source of information to clarify any of your questions as you board the bus. 27
Resources 28 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
TRIP PLAN WORKSHEET What bus route(s) should I use? Where is my bus stop? What time does the bus arrive at my stop? Do I need to transfer to another bus? YES NO If YES: What is my next bus route? Where is my next bus stop? What time will my second bus arrive? What time does my bus arrive at my destination? Where do I get off the bus? What is the total cost of the trip? Where is the closest location to my address to buy a fare product*? TIP: arrive at bus stop 10 minutes prior to posted arrival/departure time of bus. * See Page 18 29
RETURN TRIP PLAN WORKSHEET What bus route(s) should I use? Where is my bus stop? What time does the bus arrive at my stop? Do I need to transfer to another bus? YES NO If YES: What is my next bus route? Where is my next bus stop? What time will my second bus arrive? What time does my bus arrive at my destination? Where do I get off the bus? What is the total cost of the return trip? TIP: arrive at bus stop 10 minutes prior to posted arrival/departure time of bus. 30 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide
NOTES: 31
Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide Contact Information Transit Information: 250-563-0011 Lost and Found Prince George Transit 250-569-0011 1041 Great Street Prince George, BC V2N 2K8 Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Twitter alerts: @TransitPG handydart (Carefree Society) 250-562-1394 2832 Queensway St Prince George, BC V2L 4M5 Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm (Closed 12-1pm) If you have suggestions or comments, contact the City of Prince George at 1100 Patricia Blvd Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 250-561-7600 servicecentre@princegeorge.ca Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm 32 Prince George Transit Travel Training Guide