Vancouver buses are the connective tissue of Metro Vancouver’s transit system — TransLink operates 235 bus lines across the region, complementing the SkyTrain and SeaBus to reach virtually every neighborhood, including the ones rail doesn’t serve. For visitors, buses are how you reach Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, Wreck Beach, Pacific Spirit Park, and Kitsilano Beach. The 99 B-Line is one of North America’s busiest bus routes, ferrying 60,000+ passengers daily between Commercial-Broadway and UBC.
This guide covers everything visitors need: the routes that matter, how to use the system, fares, apps, the difference between regular buses, B-Line, NightBus, and Community Shuttles, plus tips that locals know — like which apps actually work and how to avoid showing up to a stop that’s just been cancelled.
Table of Contents
Vancouver Buses: The Quick Visitor Overview
TransLink runs 235 bus routes spanning Metro Vancouver from West Vancouver across to Maple Ridge, north up Indian Arm, and south through Richmond and Surrey to White Rock. Buses are operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company on behalf of TransLink. The fleet mixes diesel, hybrid, electric trolley (downtown and East Van), and battery-electric coaches.
- 235 bus lines across Metro Vancouver
- Frequency: 5-10 minutes peak on major corridors; 15-30 minutes on lesser routes
- Hours: ~5 AM to ~1 AM regular service; NightBus 1:30-3:30 AM on key routes
- One fare covers SkyTrain + bus + SeaBus transfers within 90 minutes
- Pay: Tap Compass Card, contactless credit/debit card, or buy single-trip ticket at stations
Types of Buses (Regular, B-Line, NightBus, Shuttle)
Regular buses: Three-digit route numbers (e.g., 240, 25). Standard 40-foot or 60-foot articulated coaches. Stop at every signed bus stop along the route.
B-Line: “Bus rapid transit” service — limited stops, articulated coaches, and dedicated lanes/queue jumps where possible. Currently four routes: 99 B-Line (Commercial-Broadway to UBC), R1 King George Boulevard (Surrey), R2 Marine Drive (North Shore), R3 Langley/Surrey, and R4 41st Avenue (UBC to Joyce-Collingwood). Faster than regular buses on the same corridor.
NightBus: Routes prefixed with “N” (e.g., N9, N20). Operate 1:30-3:30 AM after regular SkyTrain and bus service ends. Limited to major corridors connecting downtown to outlying neighborhoods.
Community Shuttles: Smaller buses (24-passenger) running on lower-demand routes in residential areas. Typically prefixed “C” (e.g., C12). Useful for reaching specific neighborhoods on the North Shore and in the Tri-Cities.
HandyDART: Door-to-door accessible service for those unable to use regular transit. Pre-registration required; not for casual tourist use.
Fares & How to Pay
Buses use the same fare system as SkyTrain and SeaBus. The good news: bus rides are always one-zone, regardless of how many zones the bus crosses. Buses bypass the zone system entirely.
Bus fares (2026):
- Compass stored value / contactless tap: C$2.70 (rising to C$2.85 July 1, 2026)
- Cash fare: C$3.35 (rising to C$3.50)
- DayPass: C$11.95 (rising to C$12.55)
- Concession (5-13, seniors 65+, persons with disabilities): C$2.20
- Children under 5: free
How to pay:
- Tap Compass Card or contactless credit/debit at the front-door reader as you board
- Cash fare goes in the fare box (exact change; drivers don’t make change)
- Tap-out is NOT required on buses (unlike SkyTrain/SeaBus)
- If transferring to SkyTrain, your tap-in on the bus already started the 90-minute window
Fare evasion: Inspectors do random checks. Failing to tap or pay results in a C$173 ticket. Don’t risk it.
The Bus Routes Tourists Use Most
The 10 routes most likely to matter to visitors:
99 B-Line (Commercial-Broadway ↔ UBC): The single busiest route. Take it for Museum of Anthropology, Beaty Biodiversity, UBC Botanical Garden, Kits Beach (10-min walk from connecting buses). Every 3-5 minutes peak.
5 Robson: Downtown spine running east-west along Robson Street. Useful for moving across downtown without SkyTrain.
22 Knight (Downtown ↔ Knight Street): Connects Granville Street to Mount Pleasant, Knight Street, and the Sunset neighborhood.
240 (15th Street, North Vancouver): SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay → 240 → North Shore destinations including Lynn Canyon (transfer to 228), Capilano Suspension Bridge area.
236 (Lonsdale Quay ↔ Grouse Mountain): Direct to Grouse Mountain SkyRide base. Take this after SeaBus across Burrard Inlet for the classic North Shore ski/sightseeing trip.
250 (Downtown ↔ Horseshoe Bay): Connects downtown to Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal — useful for Bowen Island day trips.
2 Macdonald: Downtown to Kitsilano via Burrard Bridge. The bus to take to Kits Beach, Vancouver Maritime Museum, HR MacMillan Space Centre.
4/4UBC: Downtown to UBC via 4th Avenue (parallels 99 B-Line at lower frequency).
14 Hastings/UBC: Connects East Vancouver, downtown, and UBC via Hastings Street.
20 Victoria: Downtown to Commercial Drive — useful for evening East Van dining trips.
The 99 B-Line: Most Important Route for Visitors
The 99 B-Line deserves its own section because it’s both the busiest single route in Canada and the most useful tourist route in Vancouver.
Route: Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain station → Broadway corridor → 10th Avenue → UBC bus loop. About 12 km of dedicated transit corridor.
Stops: Limited (about 18 stops vs. 60+ for the local 9 bus on the same corridor). Major stops include Commercial-Broadway, Main-Broadway, Broadway-City Hall, Granville-Broadway, Macdonald-Broadway, MacDonald-10th, Alma-10th, UBC.
Frequency: Every 3-5 minutes peak; 5-7 minutes mid-day; 8-10 minutes late evening.
Travel time: 35-45 minutes Commercial-Broadway to UBC (vs. 60+ for the local 9 bus).
Why visitors care: Direct access to UBC’s Museum of Anthropology, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Pacific Spirit Park, and Wreck Beach. Also the gateway to South Granville and Kitsilano corridors.
Future: The Broadway Subway extension (opening 2027-2028) will replace much of the 99 B-Line’s downtown segment. The B-Line will continue serving the western section to UBC.
Reaching North Shore Attractions by Bus
Vancouver’s North Shore (North and West Vancouver) holds some of the city’s top attractions. Buses are essential for getting around once you cross Burrard Inlet.
The basic North Shore workflow:
- SkyTrain to Waterfront Station
- SeaBus across to Lonsdale Quay (12 minutes, included in your fare)
- Transfer to bus at Lonsdale Quay
Routes from Lonsdale Quay:
- 240 to 15th Street, then transfer to 228 East: Lynn Canyon Park (free Capilano alternative)
- 236 Grouse Mountain: Direct to Grouse skyride base; ski mountain or grizzly habitat trail
- 246 to Highland Boulevard: Gateway to Mount Seymour
- R2 Marine Drive (RapidBus): Connects North Vancouver to West Vancouver including Park Royal
- 250 Horseshoe Bay (from downtown): Skip SeaBus and take direct bus from downtown to Horseshoe Bay for Bowen Island ferry
For Capilano Suspension Bridge: Easiest is the FREE Capilano shuttle from Canada Place near Waterfront Station — runs every 30 minutes spring through fall. By transit: 236 from Lonsdale Quay or 246 from downtown via Lions Gate Bridge to the Capilano stop.
Best Apps for Vancouver Bus Travel
The right apps make Vancouver buses dramatically easier to use.
Google Maps: Surprisingly the best for tourists. Real-time bus tracking, walking-to-stop directions, transfer recommendations, fare estimates. Works offline if you cache the area first.
Transit (transitapp.com): Local favorite. Real-time arrivals, route maps, alerts on delays/cancellations. Free with optional premium features.
TransLink Trip Planner: Official planner at translink.ca. Useful for accessibility-specific routing and HandyDART information.
Citymapper: European/global app that works well in Vancouver. Strong for figuring out which bus stop to use when multiple buses serve similar destinations.
Compass Mobile: TransLink’s official app. Tap your card, see balance, reload, view trip history. Doesn’t include trip planning.
Best combination: Google Maps for routing + Transit app for live-tracking the specific bus you’re trying to catch.
Reading Stop Signs & Real-Time Info
Vancouver bus stops have standardized signage with the route numbers served, the schedule, and the stop ID number.
Stop ID numbers: 5-digit codes (e.g., 50116) found on every stop sign. Text the stop ID to 33333 (“33TXT”) to get a return text with the next 4-5 buses approaching.
Real-time on apps: Live bus locations are available through Google Maps and Transit. Be aware that small delays (1-3 minutes) are normal.
Cancellations: Driver shortages occasionally cancel runs. The Transit app shows cancellations clearly; Google Maps sometimes lags 2-3 minutes behind.
Detours: Construction or events can re-route buses. Stop signs may show temporary detour notices, but apps are more reliable for real-time info.
NightBus: After SkyTrain Hours
When the SkyTrain stops running (~1 AM), NightBus picks up.
Hours: 1:30 AM to 3:30 AM, with frequencies of 30-60 minutes. Service resumes at ~5 AM with regular routes.
Key NightBus routes from downtown:
- N9 Coquitlam: Downtown to Coquitlam Centre via Broadway
- N10 New Westminster: Downtown to New West/Cariboo Loop
- N17 UBC/Downtown: Downtown to UBC via 4th Avenue
- N20 Victoria: Downtown to East Van via Commercial Drive
- N24 Lynn Valley: Downtown to North Vancouver
- N35 Surrey: Downtown to Surrey via Cambie
Fares: Same as regular service. Compass Card and contactless tap work normally.
Limitations: Routes terminate at major hubs, not residential streets. From the hub, you’ll need a 5-15 minute walk to most addresses.
Accessibility & Strollers
Vancouver buses are designed for accessibility.
Wheelchair access: All conventional buses are low-floor with ramps that deploy at the front door. Buses have two designated wheelchair tie-down spaces.
Strollers: Welcome on all buses. Designated stroller area near the front. During peak hours, drivers may ask you to fold strollers if the bus is full.
Service animals: Allowed without restriction. Pets in carriers also permitted.
Tactile paving: All major stops have tactile pavement strips for visually impaired riders.
Audio announcements: Buses announce upcoming stops via speaker. The TransLink “Translink Trip Planner” app and 33TXT support visually impaired riders with stop-by-stop trip details.
Etiquette & Tips
Quick rules to ride like a local.
- Board at the front, exit at the back on most buses (B-Lines and articulated coaches allow boarding at all doors with valid Compass tap)
- Pull the cord (yellow strip along windows or red push-buttons) to request a stop — call out 1-2 stops ahead
- Yield priority seats to seniors, pregnant passengers, persons with disabilities
- Move to the back when boarding to allow more passengers to enter
- Skytrain transfers are tighter than rail transfers — leave 5-7 minutes between bus arrivals at SkyTrain stations
- No food and drink officially; water bottles tolerated
- Don’t block aisles with luggage; tuck under seats or hold close
- Thank the driver as you exit — it’s a Vancouver tradition (a wave or “thanks!” works)
Vancouver Bus FAQs
Are Vancouver buses safe?
Yes. Standard urban precautions apply but Vancouver buses are well-lit, on-camera, and patrolled by transit police.
How much does a bus ride cost in Vancouver?
C$2.70 with Compass Card or contactless tap; C$3.35 cash. Buses are always one-zone fare.
Can I use a bus to get to Capilano Suspension Bridge?
Yes. Take the free shuttle from Canada Place (spring-fall), or via SeaBus + 236 from Lonsdale Quay year-round.
Do Vancouver buses run all night?
NightBus operates 1:30-3:30 AM on key corridors after regular service ends.
What’s the difference between B-Line and regular bus?
B-Line buses make limited stops and use dedicated lanes for faster travel on busy corridors.
Can I bring a bike on Vancouver buses?
Yes — front-mounted racks hold 2 bikes per bus on most routes.
Related reading: Pair this with our Compass Card guide, SkyTrain guide, and transportation pillar.
Related Vancouver guides
- Vancouver SeaBus
- Vancouver on Foot
- Biking in Vancouver
- Aquabus & False Creek Ferries Guide
- Taxi & Rideshare in Vancouver
- Driving in Vancouver
