How to Ride Transit in Alberta
Useful Resources
Calgary
———————————————————————————-Transit Website and Cell Phone App
- Calgary Transit website: http://www.calgarytransit.com/
- Calgary Transit App: https://www.calgarytransit.com/calgary-transit-app-0
- Calgary Transit Twitter for live updates: https://twitter.com/calgarytransit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Eprofile%3Acalgarytransit&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calgarytransit.com%2Fhome
How to Ride Transit: Planning your Trip
- Plan your trip with the online planner: http://www.calgarytransit.com/plan-a-trip or by telephone at 403-262-1000
Accessible Riding Options
- Calgary Transit Accessible Buses and C-Trains: https://www.calgarytransit.com/accessible-transit
How to get passes for seniors, low income or other specialty passes.
- Regular Seniors’ Yearly Pass: https://www.calgarytransit.com/fares-passes/passes/senior-yearly-pass
- Low Income Pass: https://www.calgarytransit.com/fares-passes/passes/low-income-monthly-pass
- Low Income Seniors’ Pass: https://www.calgarytransit.com/fares-passes/passes/Low-Income-seniors-yearly-pass
* To get a low income pass you must apply for the Fair Entry Program here: https://www.calgary.ca/csps/cns/neighbourhood-services/programs-and-services-for-low-income-calgarians.html
- Post-Secondary Student U–Pass: https://www.calgarytransit.com/fares-passes/passes/upass
Safety and Security
- Calgary Transit Rider’s Guide on Safety and Security: https://www.calgarytransit.com/ridersguide#safety_and_security
Newcomer Resources
- Calgary Transit Rider’s Guide: https://www.calgarytransit.com/ridersguide
- Local YouTuber’s video of riding the Calgary C-Train: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0G9BpP3N7g
Edmonton
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Transit Website and Cell Phone App
- Website: https://www.edmonton.ca/edmonton-transit-system-ets.aspx
- App: https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/transit.aspx
- Twitter for live updates: https://twitter.com/takeETSalert
How to Ride Transit: Planning your Trip
- Online Trip Planner: http://etstripplanner.edmonton.ca/PlanYourTrip.aspx
- Fares: https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/fares-passes.aspx
How to get passes for seniors, low income or other specialty passes.
- Youth Fares: https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/youth-fares.aspx
- Senior Fares: https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/senior-fares.aspx
- Student U-passes: https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/universal-transit-pass-upass.aspx
- Homeless Passes: https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/access-pass.aspx
Accessible Riding Options
- Edmonton Disabled Adult Transit Service (DATS) : https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/disabled-adult-transit-service.aspx
Safety and Security
- Safety and Security on Edmonton Transit: https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/safety-and-security.aspx
- Edmonton Transit: Respectful Workplace Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IW8KQKqJL8
Newcomer Resources
- Newcomers’ Guide (Section 5): https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/for_new_residents/newcomers-guide.aspx * Available in 7 additional languages: Spanish, French, Punjabi, Somali, Chinese, Arabic and Amharic.
Lethbridge
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Transit Website
- Lethbridge Transit Website: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Pages/default.aspx
How to Ride Lethbridge Transit: Planning your Trip
- Trip Planner: https://myride.lethbridge.ca/TripPlanner
- Text Notifications: Text the bus stop number to (587)-800-3326 and get the next bus time.
- Fares: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Pages/TicketsPasses.aspx
*This includes all specialized fares.
- Electronic Reloadable Breeze Card: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Pages/electronic-fare-card.aspx
Accessible Riding Options
- Website for “Access a Ride” website for people who are unable to use the regular public transit service with safety and dignity: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Pages/Becoming-a-Client.aspx
- How to become and “Access a Ride” client: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Pages/Becoming-a-Client.aspx
- Booking your “Access a Ride” bus: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Pages/AAR-Webbooking.aspx
Newcomer Resources
- Lethbridge Transit Guide: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Documents/TravelTrainingGuide.pdf
Red Deer
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Transit Website and App
- Red Deer Transit Website: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/transit/
- Red Deer Transit App: My Bus App: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/transit/mybus/
How to Ride Transit: Planning your Trip
- Routes and Schedules: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/transit/routes-and-schedules/
- My Ride Electronic Re-loadable pass: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/transit/myride-transit-fare-system/
- Fares: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/transit/fares-and-passes/
Accessible Riding Options
- The Red Deer Transit Action Bus offers transportation services to citizens of Red Deer who cannot use regular transportation with dignity because of a disability or physical need: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/transit/action-bus-paratransit-transportation/
- You must apply here to ride “Action Bus”: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/transit/action-bus-paratransit-transportation/applying-to-ride-the-action-bus/
How to get passes for seniors, low income or other specialty passes.
- Special Pass information: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/transit/fares-and-passes/special-passes-and-identification-cards/
Airdrie
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Transit Website and Information
- Transit Website: https://www.airdrie.ca/index.cfm?serviceID=58
- Airdrie to Calgary Routes: https://www.airdrie.ca/index.cfm?serviceID=54
- Local Routes: https://www.airdrie.ca/index.cfm?serviceID=57
Accessible Riding Options
- Access Airdrie: https://www.airdrie.ca/index.cfm?serviceID=52
*Access Airdrie application found on this page
- Access Airdrie Handbook: https://www.airdrie.ca/getDocument.cfm?ID=92
Okotoks
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Transit Website
- Transit Website: https://www.okotokstransit.ca/
*Buses are booked by request and do not follow a standard route or timetable.
- To book a bus please visit: https://www.okotokstransit.ca/fares-tickets
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (Fort McMurray and Area)
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Transit Website
- Transit website for RMWB: https://www.rmwb.ca/en/transit/transit.aspx
How to Ride Transit: Planning your Trip
- Routes and Schedules: https://www.rmwb.ca/en/transit/routes-and-schedules.aspx
- Fares and Passes: https://www.rmwb.ca/en/transit/fares-and-passes.aspx
Accessible Riding Options
- Special Mobility Assistance Required Transportation (SMART Bus) service is available by appointment for seniors over 65 and those with mobility issues that prevent or severely restrict their use of conventional bus service. You can find more information and register here: https://www.rmwb.ca/en/transit/specialized-transit.aspx#How-to-book-the-SMART-Bus
Teaching Resources
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- Janis’s ESL Transit Activities: http://www.issbc.org/janis-esl/subtopictransportation.html
- LinguaHouse: Transportation Lesson: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/transport
- All Things Topics: Transportation: https://www.allthingstopics.com/transportation.html
- Bogglesworld: Giving and Receiving Directions: https://bogglesworldesl.com/subway.htm
- Teach-This: Transportation and Directions: https://www.teach-this.com/functional-activities-worksheets/travel-transportation (Some free activities)
- ESL Library: Asking for Directions: https://esllibrary.com/courses/76/lessons/1720 (Paid subscription required)
- ESL Library: Transportation: https://esllibrary.com/courses/91/lessons/1822 (Paid subscription required)
- ESL Library: Taking the Bus: https://esllibrary.com/courses/76/lessons/1723 (Paid subscription required)
- ESL Discussions: Transportation: https://esldiscussions.com/t/transportation.html
- ESL Discussions: Trains: https://esldiscussions.com/t/trains.html
- Internet TESL Journal Conversation Questions: Transportation: http://iteslj.org/questions/transportation.html
- ESL Fast: Riding the Bus Conversation: https://www.eslfast.com/robot/topics/dailylife/dailylife18.htm
- ESL Fast: Taking the Bus Conversations: https://www.eslfast.com/robot/topics/transport/bus.htm
- Minnesota Literacy Council: Transportation: https://www.literacymn.org/sites/default/files/curriculum/beginning_transportation_week_2_of_2_1.pdf
- BBC Riding the Bus YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySh81TclVn4
- Transportation Phrasal Verbs YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySh81TclVn4
- Phrasal Verbs for Transit Practice: https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/phrasal-verbs-transport
Vocabulary List
- Transit- Something that carries people from one place to another, usually a bus or train.
- App-A useful application that you download onto your cell phone.
- Bus routes-The roads, or path, that a specific bus will drive
- Fare(s)- the money a passenger on public transportation has to pay.
- Prepaid pass- A pass you pay for in advance
- Bother– to worry or trouble someone
- Disability- a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.
- Handicapped– having a condition that makes it harder to function physically, mentally, or socially.
- Thrift store- A store that sells used things.
- Small talk- Easy conversations with strangers or acquaintances about the weather and other simple topics.
- Monthly pass- A pass that allows you to ride the bus for a month without buying individual tickets.
- Reduced- make smaller or cost less
- Low income- A person, or family, that earns below a certain amount of money, decided by the government, to live comfortably.
- Danger- the possibility of being harmed or injured.
- Transfer slip- A paper that allows you to change buses or trains within a certain amount of time without paying more money.
- LRT- Light Rail Train
- Transit Peace Officer- An officer that checks tickets on the LRT train, gives fines, as well as helps in emergency situations.
Knowledge Check
Results
#1. Where can you find information about transit in your city?
#2. How can you not pay on the bus?
#3. Where can you get help if you do not know your stop?
#4. Who are the seats at the front of the bus for?
#5. People in Alberta often make small talk on transit.
#6. There are no cheaper passes for seniors or low-income Albertans.
#7. Where can you not buy monthly passes?
#8. What should you do if there is an emergency on the bus?
#9. What is a transfer slip?
#10. Do all the cities in Alberta have LRT systems?
Acknowledgements and References
Acknowledgements of Actors: Rawd A., Joanie S., Jeramy H., Jill R., Tre D., Tsetan T., Jordan G., Kimberly I., Namgyal C., Yaz A., Arba M., Hernan M., Paloma N., Huberth C., Edgardo V.
Resources thanks to Calgary Transit for assistance in content development and providing a filming venue.