Public transportation
Toronto’s well-developed mass transit system is managed by two companies. The main connections in the city center are operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC; Tel: (416) 393 46 36. Internet: www.ttc.ca), including the subway, the express train as well as the trams and buses.
The two subway lines in Toronto operate Mon-Sat from 6 a.m. to 1.30 a.m. and Sun from 9 a.m. to 1.30 a.m. The branches of the U-shaped Yonge University Spadina subway line extend from Union Station in the south to Finch and Downsview in the north.
The Bloor-Danforth underground line connects Etobicoke in the west to Scarborough in the east, where the Scarborough Rapid Transit line forms the eastern extension of the line.
The Shepherd Line, running from east to west, runs from Sheppard-Yonge to Don Mills in the east.
Streetcars ( trams) and buses operate throughout the city center of 5:00 to 1:30, and complemented by night connections. The change between subways, buses and trams are well coordinated so that changing between these modes of transport is not a problem. A day ticket is valid for the whole family on Sundays and public holidays.
The rail connections from Union Station to the suburbs in the east and west are operated by GO Transit (Tel: (416) 869 32 00. Internet: www.gotransit.com); The GO buses used in the Toronto area are also under the management of this company.
Tickets and day tickets are available from train stations, bus stations, transfer ticket offices and in the Go buses from the driver. The fare depends on the length of the route. There are also tens cards and day and group passes.
Taxis
In the city center, taxis can be waved in at almost any time, they are also available at taxi stands or can be ordered by phone. Most taxis belong to one of the city’s major taxi companies:
Diamond Taxi (Tel: (416) 366 68 68),
Royal Taxi (Tel: (416) 777 92 22 or
Co-op Cabs (Tel: (416) 504 26 67).
More taxi companies can be found at www.toronto.servpro.ca/listcompht/31543/Taxicabs.html.
The fee increases according to the travel time and distance. It is customary to tip taxi drivers 10-15% of the fare.
Driving in the city
At peak times (7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), traffic is at its highest, especially on the major highways leading into and out of the city, which can drastically extend the journey to the airport.
With a few exceptions, Toronto is laid out according to a rectangular pattern, e.g. B. The Don Valley Parkway meanders along the gorge to the east of the city center.
The city’s main thoroughfare, Yonge Street, divides the city center into eastern and western parts. The intersection with Bloor Street is the main and most central in the city.
Although there are many places to park on the side of the road, it is very difficult to find a parking space there. That is why many drivers use the private car parks and parking lots, even if this alternative is a little more expensive. In the evening, a lump sum is requested (on weekends this is higher than usual near night clubs). Some 24-hour car parks in the city center are managed by Canpark (tel: (416) 482 22 03).
Car rental
The main North American and some local car rental companies can be found all over Toronto. The following companies with very central branches accept reservations from abroad:
Budget (Tel: (905) 673 33 22. Internet: www.budget.com);
Discount, (Tel: (416) 921 12 12. Internet: www.discountcar.com);
Hertz, Union Station, (Tel: (416) 364 20 80. Internet: www.hertz.com);
National, Union Station (Tel: (416) 364 41 91. Internet: www.nationalcar.com) and
Thrifty, 5095 Yonge Street (Tel: (416) 512 17 00. Internet: www.thrifty.com).
The rental fee is usually higher on weekends than on weekdays. To rent a car you have to be at least 23 years old and pay with a credit card. The national driving license is sufficient for American and European visitors. Visitors from other countries often also need an international driver’s license.
Bicycle rental
Bicycles can be rented in Toronto from Cyclepath (Tel: (416) 487 17 17. Internet: www.twowheeltravel.ca) and from Wheel Excitement (Tel: (416) 260 90 00), directly south of the SkyDome. Wheel Excitement also rents inline skates. Further distributors can be seen at www.toronto.worldweb.com/Rentals/Bicycles/.
Information on cycling in the city is available from the Toronto Cycling Committee (Internet: www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling) and the Toronto Bicycling Network (Internet: www.tbn.on.ca). In winter, cycling is not recommended due to the sensitive cold and the often icy roads.
