JamesRR

Hello all, I hope youre well.

Ive decided to move to Edmonton but will be without my own car.

Are any of you in this situation, travelling to/from work and also in town using the LRT and/or bus system?

What are your experiences and recommendations for getting around Edmonton for work and pleasure please?

Also especially during the colder periods?

Many thanks in advance for your help and time.

James

jericho

I spent 3 years in Edmonton, and used public transport to get to/from work sometimes.

My advice? Get a car.

JamesRR

Thank you Jericho.

A car will of course be the best bet but during at least your first year of using public transport, would you say it was a very bad system and caused my hassle than good or was it just enough for you to get to and from work?

Id be happy with the latter, but any advice on areas to live? My budget is set at 600 bucks pcm for a room share so this will determine where I can stay.

johntheScot

i spent last winter in Saskatoon without a car, luckily it was one of the mildest winters they have had but waiting for a bus in -40 with the wind chill is not much fun. You don't want to be outside for more than 10 min at a time the cold is unreal its not like a day skiing where you stick a hat and gloves on and you are fine.

My advice would be get somewhere less that a 10-15 min walk from your work this is far better than standing still at a bus stop or go out and invest in some serious winter gear cos you will need it.

Aviator

So long as you don't want to leave Edmonton probalby would work. To my mind, living in Canada without a vehicle would be much like being a prisoner.

jericho

Sorry to sound negative, but I would seriously have a re-think if I was in your shoes. Why would you uproot yourself and move to a new country, where you know no one, with all the cost and stress that is entailed, to live in an area where you cannot afford a car and can only afford a room share?
It seems like a lot of effort for absolutely no reward.

People, generally speaking, wouldnt chose to live in Edmonton. They put up with it because the money is good (usually). It doesnt sound like you're gonna be earning much at all, and life in Canada aint no fun when you're poor. It definitely aint no fun when it's -40 outside and there's snow on the ground from December through to May/June.

To answer your question re public transport, in Edmonton it's really a commuter system ie/ to get people to and from downtown Edmonton. Getting anywhere else is a ball ache, and time consuming.
It's incomparable to the public transport you might be used to in the UK, and is definitely not designed or intended to be a replacement for owning a car.

Nikki Ian

I would say to make sure you live close to work, Transit is cheap during work rush hrs, (time limit on ticket) however if you live too far away you may well need to take 2-3 busses,

Yes you can live and get around without a car, i know many who do, but they also make good use of freinds to go any distance.

you can pick up and run a car quite trip if you are only loking to travel in and around town, but once you go out of town in winter better make sure its a good working car.

crazydaving

How does it work over there, Edmontonians? Public transport seems OK, and I'll have to go for it to get to downtown. Everyone says "use a car" - but parking costs about $200/month! Compared to an $80 bus pass...?? Anyone got tips about parking around Jasper Ave......?

Former Lancastrian

Dont leave any valuables in your car There again depending on the type of car you might just return and find it has been borrowed by a local towing company or a gang of joyriders who dont have driving licences so therefore cannot go into a dealership and take a test drive.

crazydaving

Thanks for that I was also wondering what the parking situation is like; I've heard from relatives that its pretty bad and they advised to get the bus. But like it was said above, the prospect of wondering around at a bus stop in -40c windchill...

cheeky_monkey

Who told you it costs $200/month to park downtown in Edmonton

Former Lancastrian

Many immigrants or temporary residents cannot comprehend what a minus 40C wind chill is until they physically experience it. They arrive here and dress like they would at home for a winter day. Having experienced this myself and the macho attitude of I dont need a hat or gloves as its sunny out and it cant be that cold well you soon freaking learn that lesson.
Im now at that stage where the fashion sense and image has gone completely out of the window. If its minus 40C outside Im dressing for it regardless of how much of a dork I might look like.
Hat, toque or head cover is a must. Even 7-11 clerks are used to people entering their stores wearing balaclavas and not scared or thinking they are about to be held up.
Multiple layers of clothing or a snow goose type parka, gloves, mitts or anything to cover your hands. Winter boots no stylish Calvin Klein shoes.
Sure you might look like the Michelin man but who gives a rats ass as long as you are warm.
It does suck though when waiting at the bus stop and the bus never arrives as its broken down because of the cold
Obviously the Vancouverites or BC people will say Im exagerrating or themselves cannot comprehend what minus 40C is

crazydaving

I either imagined it or glanced over something on the Parkopedia site

Former Lancastrian

Like he said maybe this link and it has their rates basically from $130 to over $200. He wants Jasper Ave are.

http://en.parkopedia.ca/parking/edmonton/

cheeky_monkey

far better rates if you ask around or neg a deal with other parking lots they are ten a penny in the downtown