How to Use This Site
This site has been developed to help Metro Vancouverites plan for - and adopt - smarter travel options that benefit us all. Whether maximizing your car's efficiency, increasing your use of transit, or cycling or walking more often - there are so many simple ways to be TravelSmart.
TravelSmart.ca provides a wide range of ideas, benefits and programs that help businesses, schools and individuals. The site offers resources, tips and tools, while also providing opportunities for you to contribute and share your own TravelSmart ideas and experiences.
Find out more about the information and functionality TravelSmart.ca has to offer by checking out the overviews below:
Site Sections
The site is made up of four main sections:
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Life & Home: Provides information and tools that help with your day-to-day general travel needs, specific considerations for families and seniors, or fun and educational materials for kids. You can also access Your Neighbourhood map to help find the perfect community for your new home, plan out your daily commute, or map general travel plans like going to the game, running errands, or taking the family out on the weekend.
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Work: Businesses wanting to reduce their carbon footprint and support greater health and wellness for staff can access TravelSmart programs, resources and even one-to-one support. Employees interested in making changes in the workplace can check out a range of TravelSmart tools and information. Or commuters can learn about all their transportation options - and benefits - available to be more TravelSmart.
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School: TravelSmart is building programs and resources to support schools, teachers and students in learning about and adopting smarter travel options. Information and tools are also available for parents taking kids to school, and high school or university students commuting on their own. Access ideas and tips on safety, sustainability, active travel or options available to get to school, including student transit fares.
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Plan a Smarter Trip: Quick access to travel tools, resources and a wealth of information to help make the best travel choices no matter the mode you're considering. Whether new to cycling or walking, looking for better ways to plan transit trips, or wanting to get the most from your car, the Plan a Smarter Trip section can help.
A fifth area of the site, About the Program, offers details on the TravelSmart program - why it's important, it's benefits and success from the 2010 Olympic Games - as well as additional access to key articles and Contact Us information. Contact Us is accessible from any page on the site, but is also highlighted in the About the Program area. Links to About the Program can be found at the top and bottom of every page on the site.
Search the Site
TravelSmart.ca offers a range of tools and information that can be found through our four main sections (see above), or easily presented using the site's search function. Simply type in the key words of the information or tool you are interested in, and a list of articles or resources available on the site will be listed containing (or relating) to your search criteria. Interested in cycling for work, school or day to day travel? Simply type in "cycling" and see everything TravelSmart.ca has to offer on that topic. Want some ideas on how to make driving more TravelSmart? Type in "TravelSmart driving" (or a variation of those words), and check out the resources available.
Join TravelSmart
TravelSmart is a program built to support Metro Vancouverites with information and resources that help lead to smarter travel choices. Although TravelSmart starts with individuals, it benefits everyone with improved air quality, a healthier population and stronger communities.
You can join the TravelSmart movement anytime. Sign up as a TravelSmart user to post comments and participate in conversations throughout the site, receive customized information, and in near future even receive incentives. Simply click the "Join Now" button at the very top or bottom of any page on the site and register to become a TravelSmart user!
Help Build TravelSmart.ca
Whether you have a comment to add (you have a great story or experience you'd like to share), want to ask a question (our TravelSmart team provides ongoing site monitoring and response!) or post a note to start conversations with other users, use the commenting function at the bottom of every article to help build a better TravelSmart.ca community. We don't just appreciate your input, we're counting on it!
For TravelSmart to be a successful program, we need active participation from its users. This site - and the programs offered - are built for its users. If something is missing - like a great tip or suggestion - or there are new opportunities for TravelSmart ideas or initiatives, we want to hear from you. You can sign up to be a TravelSmart user, sign in via existing TransLink or Facebook accounts, or simply post without any sign up at all. It's simple to do, and helps build a better experience for everyone.
If you'd like to contribute articles, or discuss additional TravelSmart program ideas with our team, Contact Us. As TravelSmart.ca continues to grow, we'll actively begin to look for new writers and contributors to expand the information and resources we offer.
Sharing
TravelSmart.ca is focused on its users - whether ensuring useful information and resources are available to help users make travel choices, or providing opportunities for users to contribute to the growth and ongoing success of the site. Commenting is enthusiastically encouraged (see Help Build TravelSmart.ca), but there are other ways to help expand the site.
Share an article with others via Twitter or Facebook, or let others know you "like" a specific story or resource. Become an active user and promote TravelSmart.ca to others! All of these options help broaden the reach of TravelSmart, build a better program, and help more Metro Vancouverites be aware of travel options.
Quizzes & Polls
At the top of many pages in TravelSmart.ca, you can take quick quizzes to test your knowledge of TravelSmart topics. Or on the lower right of most pages, try out a TravelSmart poll to give your opinion on a particular subject, and then see how others have responded.
Quizzes and polls are fast and easy to use. Just choose the answer that works for you, click submit (or "Vote" on polls), and you'll either view the correct answer on the quiz, or see how you and other users responded on a poll. These fun elements are meant to help educate and inform users on the options, benefits and considerations pertaining to TravelSmart - whether it be health, sustainability, costs or community related, there is so much to learn and discuss.
If you have an idea for a specific poll or quiz you'd like to see on the site, Contact Us with your suggestions.
Your Neighbourhood Map
Your Neighbourhood map is a great tool to help users with their TravelSmart planning. Maybe you're buying or renting a new home and want to find the right community to fit your lifestyle. Or you're considering walking or cycling for your work or school commute. Or maybe you just want to map out the best transit route for all your errands. Your Neighbourhood map can help!
For more details, check out the How to Use Your Neighbourhood Map page.