Transportation in Vancouver and Getting to UBC

The University of British Columbia

The ICSC15 conference venue and primary accommodations are located at The University of British Columbia (UBC). Only 30 minutes from the heart of downtown Vancouver, UBC holds an international reputation for excellence in advanced research and learning. With over 37,000 undergraduate and 10,000 graduate students, UBC is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top schools, and holds strongly in Top 40 lists the world over.

The spectacular campus is a ‘must-see’ for any visitor to the city — where snow-capped mountains meet ocean and breathtaking vistas greet you around every corner. UBC offers some of the best venues and attractions in Vancouver, including the Museum of Anthropology, Nitobe Memorial Garden, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and many forested trails in the 763 hectare Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Click here to view more information about attractions at UBC.

Taxis and Limos

Taxis to UBC take approximately 30 minutes. Taxis are queued outside the domestic and international arrival gates, and are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. If you are arriving from an international destination or the U.S.A., the taxi departure bay is outside the building on the same level. The approximate fare to UBC is between $30.00-$40.00 CAD, and can be paid by credit card or cash. All taxis that pick up passengers from the airport are fully licensed. Aerocar Service offers flat rate limo service from the airport, at $45 from YVR to UBC.

  • Black Top Cabs, Phone: 604-731-1111
  • Yellow Cab Co. Ltd., Phone: 604-681-1111
  • Vancouver Taxi, Phone: 604-871-1111
  • MacLure’s Cabs, Phone: 604-831-1111
  • Aerocar Service, Phone: 604-298-000

Car Rental

There are a number of car rental companies that are located in the YVR airport parkade and in downtown Vancouver. Most companies offer free shuttle service from hotels to their pick-up and drop-off locations. Driving arrangements can be made in advance via the web. The following are a few of the car rental companies located in Vancouver:

Public Transit and the Canada Line Skytrain

Translink provides bus and rapid rail transit (“Skytrain”) throughout Vancouver. For detailed route, schedule, and trip planning information for transit throughout Vancouver, visit www.translink.bc.ca.

The above-ground monorail rapid rail, called the Canada Line Skytrain, travels from the airport into the city of Vancouver. All Skytrains leaving the airport head towards “Waterfront” Station.

UbcVenue001Once in Vancouver, you would need to transfer to a west-bound public bus to the UBC campus. The final stop is UBC’s North Bus Loop, across the street from the Walter Gage Residence, where the conference registration and accommodation check-in centre is located. The same ticket is used for both the Skytrain and the local bus.

The Canada Line Skytrain runs every seven minutes from YVR-Airport station during peak hours and every 15 minutes during off-peak hours. Total travel time from the airport to UBC is approximately 50 minutes. Remember to keep your validated ticket for inspection purposes and to use as a transfer ticket. Tickets are valid for 90 minutes.

Information on where to purchase tickets and directions on how to get to the Canada Line Skytrain from the arrivals terminals can be found at http://www.yvr.ca/en/getting-to-from-yvr/public-transportation.aspx. Information on current bus fares, schedules, and transit planning can be found at www.translink.bc.ca. After getting off the #99 Bus at its final stop at UBC (North Bus Loop), walk north across the street to the Gage Towers front desk check-in area. The address is:

Gage Towers at UBC
5959 Student Union Boulevard
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver

UbcVenue002 UbcVenue003

 

Car Parking at UBC

Limited parking is available for guests staying in on-campus accommodation. Visitor parking for those staying off-campus is available at various parkades around campus. Information regarding rates and where to park can be found at “Visitor Parking” http://www.parking.ubc.ca/visitor.html