General Comments:
Vancouver drivers, as a rule, are courteous and mild-mannered. They stop for pedestrians, and they don't often run yellow lights. Their most annoying characteristic is that they will happily drive slowly in the left hand lane on four lane highways. The "slower traffic keep right" concept seems unknown.
Seatbelts are mandatory for both drivers and passengers in British Columbia. Headlights should be on at all times, day and night. If you purchase a car in BC, the headlights go on when you start the car.
Canada is metrically oriented; therefore, driving distance is measured in kilometers, not miles.
No large highways, expressways or freeways go either through or around Vancouver, so if you're only passing through, you'll do it on surface streets.
Some traffic lights, instead of being steadily green, blink green. Blinking green traffic lights don't turn red unless a pedestrian presses the walk button to stop traffic in order to cross the street. On streets with blinking green lights, the cross street has no traffic light at all, only a stop sign. Vehicles cross when the opportunity presents itself.
Metric Equivalents
Canadian highway signs are posted in kilometres per hour.
30 mph = 50 km/h
50 mph = 80 km/h
62 mph =100 km/hr
1 kilometre = 5/8 or .621 miles
1 mile = 1 2/3 or 1.6 kilometres.
Gasoline:
Gasoline is sold in litres: 1 US gallon = 3.78 litres. You can buy it at stations in up to four grades: 87, 89, 92 and 94 octane.
Most gas stations are self-serve; you can pay for gas, in most places, at the pump with a credit or debit card or inside after you've pumped.
Gas prices usually don't vary much from station to station so there's no point driving around town looking for cheap gas.
That being said, gas prices fluctuate, and it isn't uncommon for the price of gas to go up or down several cents a litre from one day to the next.
Gas is almost always cheaper in outlying areas than it is in Vancouver. If you're driving to Vancouver, it's a good idea to fill up before you arrive.
Parking:
Parking is not difficult in Vancouver because there are more than 350 above and below ground parking facilities. However, they are hard to spot since they are often located under or behind buildings. To find a parking facility, look for parking signs. The two biggest parking companies, with the sign that signals their location, are listed below.
Impark Locator
EasyPark Locator
Prices in parkades range from $1 an hour to $3 per half hour depending on the location. The Pacific Centre Parkade, at Howe and Robson is $1 per half hour for the first two hours and $1.50 for every half hour after that.
What's annoying is that you often have to drive into the parking garage entrance before you can find out how much that particular lot charges. However, it's usually worth it to get a parking place in a parkade since it eliminates the hassle of searching around town for one.
The other annoyance is that parking places in underground facilities are often remarkably narrow.
If you park in a parkade that has express terminals, take your ticket with you and pay for your parking at an express terminal before you return to your vehicle. Paying at the Express terminal saves time and money.
If you park on the street, avoid parking within 6 meters, about 19 feet of the corner, and don't park near fire hydrants even if there are no signs or red curbs to warn you away.
You can stop for up to five minutes in a No Parking zone to load or unload passengers or goods. However, you can be ticketed even for stopping in a No Stopping Anytime zone even if you don't leave your vehicle.
If you run into problems while parking in a parking structure or lot, there is usually a contact number close by that you can call to solve the problem.
Parking Meters: There are more than 6000 parking meters in Vancouver. Here's some useful information about them.- Read the information printed on the meter before inserting money for rates and restrictions.
- Parking Meters are in effect from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day of the year. On some streets, parking isn't allowed, even in metered spaces, during rush hour.
- Most meters allow two hour parking, and some allow three.
- Between 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., vehicles can't be left in the same parking space for longer than the maximum number of allowable hours.
- Parking meter rates vary from $0.75 per hour to $2.50 per hour depending on the area.
- Motorists are not allowed to park in a metered space if the meter is out of order.
Useful Contact Information:- To report a malfunctioning parking meter: 604-871-6226
- If you get a ticket: 604-257-8732 or 604-873-7642
- or send email to bylaw_fines@city.vancouver.bc.ca
- If your vehicle gets towed (perish the thought!) call:
604-871-6444
- You can Pay Parking Tickets by following the instructions you'll find on the city's Parking Page.