Commuting

Thinking about how to commute to campus? Check out our tips and tricks below.

Public Transit

The city of Vancouver has an integrated transit system of buses and trains. Graduate students automatically receive a monthly transit pass (U-Pass) as part of their student fees. To use the transit pass, students must:

  1. Purchase a Compass Card which can be ordered online here or at Sky-train stations.

  2. Register the Compass Card and link it to your UBC account here.

  3. Load your U-Pass online before the start of every month.

Once activated, use your U-Pass any day for any trip on Vancouver transit! Be aware that peak times around UBC and major routes can be extremely busy and can have long lines.

Cycling

Cycling is a popular activity and commuting method in Vancouver. While there is plenty of outdoor bike parking at UBC's Vancouver Campus, bike theft is a major issue. EOAS offers indoor bike storage allocated through a lottery draw prior to the start of each semester. The building manager coordinates the lottery and can answer questions about accessing indoor bike storage.

When locking bikes outside on campus, we strongly encourage you to invest in a sturdy U-lock (not cable) and remove any valuable accessories (e.g., bike computers, expensive bike lights). Don't forget to dress for the Vancouver weather and wear a helmet!

Driving

UBC's Vancouver campus is accessible by private vehicle. Parking is available in several locations on campus, for either day rates or by permit (see UBCs parking website).

Current rates for graduate students living off-campus are $400.80/term or $1072.20/year (see full rate details here). Permits are subject to availability.

EVO - Car Sharing

EVO is Vancouver's main car sharing service.

EVO works through membership ($35 registration fee) that allows members to access their fleet of cars through an app. Members pay $0.45/minute, $16.99/hour, or $99.99/day (+$1 trip fee) to use the vehicles depending on the length of trip (click here to view rates and other fees on the EVO website). A valid driver's license is required for EVO membership and can take several days to be validated upon registration.

UBC Vancouver campus has designed EVO parking spots where members can end their trips. The location of these parking spots can be seen in the EVO app, more details about parking at UBC can be found here.