Have you heard about the RapidBus? It’s a faster and more frequent bus service introduced by TransLink on select routes. And we know it can be faster than driving your car along the same route at times! Don’t just take our word for it, we checked this while planning our route.
The RapidBus has more similarities to the SkyTrain than to a regular bus. Fewer, further apart stops and with a frequency of just 6 minutes, the articulated buses aren’t just more reliable but also more comfortable as they have more room.
We hopped on to the R5 from Burrard SkyTrain station. If you leave the station by the elevator, you need to turn left (head North) and go to the start of the bus line.
Burrard Station. Elevator entrance.
While aboard the RapidBus, you can sit and admire the Downtown high-rises as you zoom through different neighborhoods of Vancouver and Burnaby. We bet before you notice, you will find yourself at Gilmore Avenue (Burnaby). In our other video route from Gilmore to Brentwood we cover the southern stretch between these two avenues. That part of the Gilmore Ave has a more industrial look-and-feel to it and you see future developments happening around the SkyTrain station. The northern stretch, is a more town-like neighborhood where buildings are not very tall.
East Hastings is a buzzing colorful street filled with local restaurants with flavors from all around the world, salons, spas, and other local retailers making it the perfect neighborhood walking route.
Although there is quite a bit of traffic, this neighborhood is a crosswalk for several bus routes, sidewalk lighting, benches, garbage cans making this one of the perfect walkable neighborhood. Walking along this street by yourself is quite entertaining and is also very comfortable to do with the whole family. Full marks for walkability!
Going north on Willingdon Avenue there is Confederation Park which is home to many recreational opportunities.
If you are unfamiliar with the Confederation Park area, you must check it out. It houses the McGill Branch of Burnaby’s Public Library, a seniors centre, a pool and fitness center, a soccer field, a lacrosse box, a new playground, an elementary school, a water park, tennis courts, a lawn bowling green, a skate park, an off-leash dog park and convenient public washrooms. The park is well endowed with tables, benches and tall trees! Talk about facilities in a neighborhood.
The Burnaby Central Railway is temporarily closed, and for our return trip we chose the bus stop in front of the North Burnaby Neighbourhood House.
You will see in our walking tour video below that the route is mostly flat and accessible. We hardly think you’d follow our route and are sure to spend a lot more time taking the beauty of this wonderful neighborhood in.
Happy Walking!
This blog post is written by BEST’s Isabel Garcia. #walkability
