TRAINS + BUSES: GO TRANSIT

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1 Transportation Part of living on your own is knowing how to get around on your own that means learning how to navigate local transit systems how to book bus and train tickets and what to look for when buying your own car. Once you get the hang of getting around, you are well on your way to independence. 4 A BUS can be a relatively cheap and easy way to get around once you know how to read the schedules. Check your local public transit system for what services are offered in your area READING A BUS SCHEDULE 1. Along the top is where you will find out what days the bus runs (in this case, Monday to Friday), as well as the direction it is going in. The chart on the left is the one you would need if you are coming from Waterloo and going towards Cambridge. The chart on the right is the one you would check if you were starting in Cambridge and heading into Waterloo. 2.Here is the list of stops you can get on. This also gives you the order of the stops this bus takes. (To see the exact route a bus takes check the bus map which should be found somewhere near the bus schedule). 3. To see what times the bus arrives at a particular stop (in this case, Cambridge Centre heading towards Cambridge) read down the column underneath the stop name. In this case, the earliest time the bus arrives at this stop is 6:00 am. 4. Read the schedule horizontally to find out how long the bus takes to get from one stop to another. For example, it takes 24 minutes to get from Uptown Waterloo to Fairview. OTHER TIPS Arrive 10 minutes before the bus departs Have your fare money ready (it s best to have exact change) Respect the other riders (ie. No foul language, littering etc.) Stay safe be careful to wait for the bus in a well lit, well populated area especially at night. Ask the bus driver for help if you have a question about the route or fares.

2 Transportation If you want to venture beyond your hometown (maybe spend a day in Toronto) either a BUS or a TRAIN might be the right option. You have a few choices, VIA Rail (a train system), Greyhound or Coach bus, and GO Transit (both trains and buses). TRAINS: VIA RAIL VIA RAIL is a train system that operates throughout Canada. To book a ticket and check routes, you can check out their website: or call their toll-free number: * You will need a credit card to book a ticket online or by phone.* Or you can go to your local VIA Rail station to buy a ticket in person. (Check the website for station locations). TRAINS + BUSES: GO TRANSIT GO Transit is a public transportation system of both trains and buses that service the majority of regions in Ontario. Depending on where you want to go, you may have to take both a train and a bus (or one or the other). For more information, you can check their website: or you can call them BUS: GREYHOUND Greyhound is a bus company that operates throughout Canada. You can purchase tickets online at: or you can buy them at your local Greyhound bus station. * You will need a credit card to buy a ticket online.* BUS: COACH Coach Canada is a bus company that travels within the country and makes trips into the States. (Check the website to view what areas it goes to). You can buy tickets online at *You will need a credit card to buy a ticket online.* TRAIN AND BUS VOCAB Bus/Train Schedule: a list of when a bus or train runs and the times it reaches certain stops. Bus/Train Map: a map of the route taken by a specific train or bus. Fare: the money you have to pay to ride either a bus or train. One way: you only need a ticket to get to your destination, you don t need one to get back. So if you are moving to Toronto you would only need a one-way ticket because you don t need to come back to your home town. Round trip: you need a ticket to get to your destination and to get back. So if you are visiting your friend in Ottawa for the day, you would need a round trip ticket because you intend to return home.

3 Transportation BUYING A CAR Probably the most exciting part of being old enough to drive is the possibility of owning your own car. But before you get carried away with the idea of having your own set of wheels here are a few things to consider before even stepping onto a car lot. CAN YOU AFFORD A CAR? Financing a car can be difficult especially for a teen with little or no credit history. You should be able to pay 20% of the price right away and have a (realistic) plan to pay off the entire car loan in 4 years (48 months). Anything more than this, and you run the risk of getting into some serious financial trouble. If you don t have any credit history and can t get a car loan by yourself, think about asking a responsible adult to be your co-signor (ie. Someone who signs for the loan with you. If you can t make a payment it becomes the responsibility of your co-signor. However, if you both can t pay that payment then you are both in trouble). Once you ve paid for a car, that doesn t mean it will no longer cost you money. You have to pay for insurance, registration fees, license plates, maintenance (tires, oil etc), gas per year and any emergency payments in case you get in an accident or need major repairs done. WHAT KIND OF CAR WILL YOU BUY? New or used? A new car will cost you more initially but you will be covered by the dealer s warranty if you run into any problems. Used cars will be cheaper originally but you might end up paying for lots of pricey repairs. It s important to get a mechanic to look at any used car you are thinking of buying to make sure you won t have any problems with it. What sort of features do you want in a car? Do your research and find out what brands and models fit your needs. Be realistic when considering needed features always keep your budget in mind. SHOP AROUND Talk to people you trust about which car dealerships are trustworthy (especially when you are buying a used car). Do a thorough inspection of cars you might be buying, check the body, the mechanics, the tires, and under the car to make sure everything works well. Consider bringing someone who has experience with buying cars with you to make sure you buy a good car. Test drive the car. And don t just day dream about driving around town in this car pay attention to how it takes corners, how it drives up hills and on rough roads, and note any strange noises or bumping or sliding. Take your time. Don t be rushed into anything you can t return a car once you ve bought it so make sure that the one you buy is the one that is best for you. Be sure to do your homework and ask lots of questions.

4 Things To Do Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date:

5 Parking Lot Issues

6 Notes

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8 Community Resources LOCAL TRANSIT BELLEVILLE Belleville Bus Terminal 165 Pinnacle Street, Belleville QUINTE Quinte Access Office 97 Front Street, Trenton (613) VIA RAIL Belleville Station 220 Station Street, Belleville Trenton Junction Front Street, Trenton (only a train shelter tickets cannot be bought at this location)

9 Online Resources VIA RAIL GO TRANSIT GREYHOUND BUS COACH CANADA BUYING A CAR