Welcome to TransLink Staff Picks! Here on The Buzzer we’re always trying to give our readers ideas for destinations and daytrips to take while using the Metro Vancouver transit system. We figured the best people to give recommendations for our readers would be employees from across the TransLink enterprise! In this series you can expect recommendations from bus operators, SkyTrain attendants, corporate employees and everyone else involved in keeping you moving.

Stefanus

Where do you work?

I work as an Analyst at Coast Mountain Bus Company’s headquarter in Gateway, Surrey.

What’s your favourite mode of transit?

SeaBus and SkyTrain. I can’t pick between the two—they’re both great ways to get around Metro Vancouver.

How long have you been using transit?

I have been using public transit for 10 years (nine years in Vancouver and one year in Toronto). The U-Pass Program was instrumental in making me a regular public transit user. I have never owned a car and have relied solely on public transit since I moved to Vancouver. I am a strong believer in our reliable public transit system here in the Lower Mainland.

Which transit routes do you like to take?

To commute to work, I take the Expo Line all the way from Downtown Vancouver to Surrey. In my spare time, I like to take the #50 bus to Granville Island, the #250 bus to West Vancouver to Dundarave or Ambleside, or any bus that goes to UBC to visit my alma mater. I also take the SeaBus to North Vancouver occasionally.

What’s your recommendation for where to go on transit for fun?

• UBC is more than just a university; it has lots of fun things to do. The southern part of the Campus (accessible via the #25, #33, #49, and #R4 buses) is home to the UBC Botanical Garden and the really cool treetop canopy walkway called the Greenheart Treewalk. Meanwhile, Nitobe Memorial Garden—one of the most beautiful gardens in Vancouver—and the impressive Museum of Anthropology are situated in the northern part of the Campus (accessible via all of aforementioned buses, plus the #84 bus, the #99 B-Line, and the #4 and #14 trolley buses).
• The North Shore Spirit Trail, particularly the section that is within the City of North Vancouver proper, offers stunning views of Downtown Vancouver. It’s easily accessible from the SeaBus terminal in Lonsdale Quay.

If you’re a TransLink employee and you’d like to get involved, send us an email at socialmedia@translink.ca.