Navigate your Public Transit Ride

By Madison De Silva

March, 2023




Using public transportation can be daunting to first-timers. To help ease the stress we have created short guides for the YRT bus system, Toronto’s subway system, Toronto's streetcar system and the Go Bus.


How to use and navigate the YRT bus:

The YRT bus is a great option for commuting in the York Region area!

  1. Go to Google and search “bus from (the location where you want the bus to pick you up) to (the location where you want the bus to drop you off). You will then be presented with route options. In our example, we stated we would like to commute from Upper Canada Mall to Unionville.


  2. Below the map, you will see route options. Select the one you would like to take.


  3. Some routes will only involve you taking one bus with no transfers, others may involve more transfers. The route we are taking in our example involves transfers. If you do not know the locations of the transfers on the route, copy and paste the transfer stop you are trying to get to into your maps!

    4. How to use the Subway:

    Using the subway can be confusing, but it is a lot less stressful than you may think. This is how to navigate a subway map.

    1. First, look at the subway map. Locate which station you are at. Then locate the station you would like to go to.


    2. Look at the lit-up signs at the subway station that state towards what station the subway is going. Look back at the map and see if the station you would like to go to is in the same direction as the station the subway is going to. Go to the end of this article for practice scenarios.

    3. Each coloured line is a different subway route. Where the lines intersect is where you have the opportunity to go from one route to another. Transferring may get a little confusing but luckily, these routes are very busy and there are many people to ask questions to.

      4. How to use the Street Car:

      Once in the city, the easiest way to get from place to place is to use a streetcar.

      1. The first step in doing this is to find a streetcar stop. These can be found on most main streets and are usually directly before the street light. To know you are in the right place, you will often see a little sign saying TTC stop.

      2. For easy navigation, it's important to understand that the Toronto streetcar system uses a grid system which means streetcars run East-West or North-South. Be warned that some streetcars run off route.

      3. The streetcar will announce each stop and there is also a map on the streetcar you can use to navigate.


      4. When you want to get off at the announced stop, press the red stop requested button.

        5. How to use the GO bus:

        Using the GO bus to travel long distances is extremely simple and is my personal favourite for first-time public transport users.

        1. Visit the Go Transit website. and enter your closest bus terminal and the terminal you would like to go to.

        2. Next click on details/E-tickets to view the bus number. Make note of the departure time and get there well in advance so you have time to locate the correct bus.

          3. Although you now know how to navigate public transit the task may still seem nerve-racking, and that is OK! It will take a few commutes until you are familiar and fully comfortable with taking public transit, everyone has to start somewhere. Until you are very comfortable on your commute make sure you give yourself more than enough time to make mistakes and don't be afraid to ask questions.



          Subway Practice

          Use the subway map provided below to answer the following questions:



          Easy

          Q: You are at Yorkdale and would like to go to Rosedale. One subway goes North towards the Vaughan Metropolitan Cantre and the other goes South towards Union station. Which direction do you go?

          A: You would go South towards Union Station.


          Q: You are at Broadview and would like to go to High Park. One subway goes West to Bloor Yonge station and the other goes East to Kennedy station. Which direction do you go?

          A: You would go West towards Bloor-Yonge station.



          Medium

          Q: You are at Bessarion and would you like to go to Union Station. One subway goes West to Sheppard Yonge and the other goes East to Don Mills. Which direction would you go?

          A: You would go West to Sheppard Yonge.


          Bonus Q: You are now at Sheppard Yonge. One subway goes North to Finch and the other goes South to Union Station. Which direction would you go?

          A: You would go South to Union Station


          Q: You are at Royal York and would like to go to Downsview Park. One subway goes West to Kipling and the other goes East to St George. Which direction would you go?

          A: You would go East to St George.


          Bonus Q: You are now at St George station. One subway goes south to Union and the other goes North to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Which direction would you go?

          A: North to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre



          Hard

          Q: You are at Scarborough Centre and would like to go to Leslie. Which directions would you go and which transfer stations would you stop at?

          A: West to Kennedy. Transfer at Kennedy. West to Bloor Yonge. Transfer at Bloor Yonge. North to Sheppard Yonge. Transfer at Sheppard Yonge. East to Don Mills. Get off at Leslie


          Q: You were going from Laurence to Victoria Park but missed your transfer stop at Bloor Yonge Station. You are now on the subway about to stop at Dundas Station. What are your options?

          A: You can get off at Dundas and take a subway back to Bloor Yonge Station or you can stay on the subway until St George Station and transfer to the correct subway from there.