Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash
There are many ways to get to SKULE in Toronto, whether you live uptown or if you rent somewhere far from campus. Here are some common methods of transportation, along with tips and advice. You may want to plan out your daily commute before the term starts, so pay attention!
Biking
Do you know biking is often faster than driving downtown? Some students bike to school because it’s healthy, fast, and fun! Be sure the check out cycling in Toronto for information including maps, parking, laws, and integration with public transit. Just make sure to lock your bike!
For a list of bike shares, bike racks, bike storage/parking, and bike maintenance, take a look at U of T’s Maps
TTC
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) offers subway, streetcar, and bus services. If you’re taking the subway, Queen’s Park is (usually) the closest station. According to Google Maps, it’s about a seven-minute walk from the station to the common room. As long as you’re downtown, you can try out this cheap and environmentally friendly method of transportation. A single fare is $3.30 if you have a PRESTO card and $3.35 if you don’t; if you do have PRESTO, there’s a two-hour transfer period, meaning you can enter the TTC unlimited times for free within two hours of the first tap (you do not need to tap when you exit).
You may want to buy a PRESTO card at customer service outlets, where you can set up a student or youth discount.
GO
According to the website, “GO Transit is the regional public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.” If you take GO Transit to commute between home and U of T, make sure to schedule your trips, because trains and buses usually come once an hour and you don’t want to be stuck at Union Station! To save time, you can also plan ahead and get some light work done during the commute. You can stay on the top floor of the train, also known as the “Quiet Zone.” If you need charging, accessibility coaches usually have functioning AC outlets.
Walking
Many who live in residence or rent nearby choose to walk to school. If you are an international student, you should familiarise yourself with Toronto signals and laws, which may be different from what you are used to. According to the City of Toronto, you are allowed to cross when the walking person symbol lights up. The symbol then changes to an orange flashing hand, which may be accompanied by a countdown. At this point, you can’t start to cross the street, but you can continue crossing if you’re already in the intersection. You cannot enter the roadway when the orange sign becomes steadily illuminated. Note that cars can turn right on a red, so you should check for cars before crossing, even if the “walk” sign is illuminated. As you’re walking, you may see buttons on traffic lights – but some simply turn on audible signals that tell you when to cross and not all trigger a change in signal.
If you walk to school, you should take more precautions during the winter, especially if you aren’t used to snow yet. Sidewalks can be slippery, and concussions are no joke. Vehicles also take longer to stop on icy roads, so give them lots of room. You should walk more slowly and plan your commute accordingly. Speaking from personal experience (this is Daniel typing), you can pack hiking boots if you have them instead of buying winter boots here. Dress accordingly, because you will be spending a short while outdoors.
Resources
For a thorough list of transportation services available to you, please check the U of T’s Transportation Guide. Click here for an interactive map of U of T.