How do you get to school? There are many ways to get to Skule™, whether you live uptown or rent somewhere far from campus. Here are some common methods of transportation, along with some tips. You may want to plan out your daily commute before the term starts, so pay attention!
Biking
Did you know biking is often faster than driving downtown? Some students bike to school because it’s healthy, fast, and fun.
Be sure to check the City’s guide to cycling in Toronto for information including maps, parking, laws, and integration with public transit. If you haven’t biked in Toronto before, it’s also worth checking out the City’s guide to Winter Cycling for safety tips, information about bike lanes and the TTC policy on taking bikes if you plan to combine biking with public transit. Lastly, for a list of bike shares, bike racks, and bike storage/parking, take a look at U of T’s Maps. Enjoy your rides and make sure to lock your bike!
Interesting to Know:
Sterling Huang, one of your blog admin Monika’s fellow 2T9s, has created a Toronto cyclist-focused navigation app called BikeTO on the App Store.
If you have your own bike and are living in a residence (e.g., Chestnut Residence), bike rooms are available for storing your bike.
Bike Share Toronto is available 24/7, with bikes located across the city. U of T students also receive a Bike Share Toronto discount.
U of T has an on-campus educational bicycle repair space called Bikechain that offers a range of services, from free bike rentals to do-it-yourself maintenance spaces.
Public Transit – TTC
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs the subways, streetcars, and buses across Toronto and into the York and Peel regions. The closest subway stations to campus are Queen’s Park, Spadina, Museum, and St. George.
Queen’s Park is ideal for classes in Engineering buildings like Sandford Fleming (SF), Bahen (BA), and Myhal (MY). It’s about a seven-minute walk from Queen’s Park to the EngSci Common Room.
If you’re heading to the Athletics Centre for a workout or to physics classes in the McLennan Physical Laboratories (MP), Spadina station is the nearest.
If it’s exam season and Robarts Library is your destination, St. George is usually the best choice.
Lastly, if you’re looking to enjoy a sunny day with a run around Queen’s Park, Museum station is perfect.
A single ride on the TTC is $3.35 if you’re paying cash and $3.30 if you’re paying with a PRESTO card – which is a transit card for a variety of systems including the TTC, YRT, and GO Transit – or your debit/credit card. 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. Check out the TTC website for the latest information on fares and passes.
If you’ll be taking the TTC regularly, you may want to buy a PRESTO card at customer service outlets, where you can also set up a student or youth discount (If you’re under 20 you pay $2.35 per ride). You can also find details on how to get a Post-Secondary Monthly Pass here which offers unlimited travel on the TTC for a month for $128.15. The University of Toronto Students’ Union has a great resource on all the discounts you can get as a student, including transportation.
Note: Do your own calculations to see if a monthly pass will save you money based on the average number of rides you take on the TTC per month.
GO Transit
GO Transit is an option if you’re commuting from farther away within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. With Ontario’s new One Fare Program, you can transfer for free between some of the different transit agencies, such as GO and the TTC, with a two/three-hour transfer window.
If you take GO Transit to commute between home and U of T, you’ll usually transfer from GO to TTC at Union Station. When taking GO trains and buses, make sure to schedule your trips, because many of the buses only come once an hour and you don’t want to be stuck at Union Station! Unfortunately, Toronto public transit isn’t known for being the most punctual. Here are the TTC’s recommendations for staying informed.
To save time, see if you can get some light work done during the commute on the top floor of the train, also known as the “Quiet Zone.” If you need to charge your devices, accessibility coaches usually have functioning AC outlets.
You can use your PRESTO cards to pay for GO Transit as well. Unlike TTC, however, GO Transit offers a monthly savings system where your single-ride fare in any given month depends on how many trips you have taken that month. You can use the GO Transit Fare Calculator to find the price for your commute and details about the monthly savings system. Like TTC, GO Transit offers discounts to post-secondary students – check out details on applying for a GO Student ID here.
Walking
If you aren’t from Toronto, you should familiarize yourself with Toronto signals and laws, which may be different from what you’re used to.
You should also 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.
Tips for Commuting
Students commute from various places around Toronto, so here are some tips for how you can make the most out of your commute.
You’ll be carrying your backpack around most of the day, so pack light and avoid bringing extra things that are available on campus. Bring a healthy and filling lunch/dinner and some snacks. If you don’t feel like bringing your own lunch every day, there are commuter meal plans available from U of T Food Services.
You can rent lockers in the EngSci Common Room from EngSci Club (as well as from multiple other locations on campus such as the Athletic Centre), so you won’t have to carry everything back and forth. With the extra space, you’ll have access to items such as chargers, stationery, and extra clothing without having to carry them.
Check to see if a monthly pass is cheaper for you. Make sure your Presto card is set up for a post-secondary student discount and remember to tap off when exiting GO buses and GO trains. You may want to download the PRESTO app so you can check your balance and load funds in advance. Better yet, set up autoload!
Toronto is known for heavy congestion and frequent traffic delays. If you’re taking public transit to get to class, check for service updates on their respective websites (TTC, GO Train, etc.) daily and always give yourself extra time to avoid delays or being late.
Aim to arrive at school at least 10–15 minutes before your classes start. If possible, avoid rush hour, which is generally from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It’s also a good idea to know alternative routes to your destination in case of service changes or disruptions.
During midterms/exams, give yourself extra travel time in case of delays. Arrive early! Before heading out, check ACORN to see if your exam is relocated because it can change at the last minute.
Prioritize your travel time, whether it’s listening to music, reading, studying, or sleeping. If you choose to work during your commute, note that reading is easier than working on a problem set, for example, so plan accordingly. Make sure you can work (or relax!) offline, as Wi-Fi may not be stable.
Practice your time management skills. Schedule your travel time in your calendar or agenda, which will help you figure out how much time you have to complete schoolwork, study, or partake in extracurriculars/hobbies. If you plan for it, you can still be active in clubs and design teams as a commuter.
Additional Resources
For a thorough list of transportation services available to you, please check U of T’s Transportation Guide. You can also use the interactive map of U of T here for details on all things campus-related including buildings, amenities, transportation, and food.