[darkpuppet]

vancouver transit uses encoded passes, you figure out where you want to go (3 fare zones), pay your fare and get a transfer or you get a pass. You just zip it in the slot on the bus, ferry, skytrain, and if the card is good, you can keep going.. the passes are good for 1.5hours, and it's unlimited travel during that time within the fare zones you paid for.

zone 1 is $1
zone 2 is $2
zone 3 is $3

zone 2 allows you to travel in zone 1 and zone 2
zone 3 allows you to travel in zones 1, 2 and 3.

and not to mention that the passes cover an area that seems larger than toronto (vancouver, north vancouver, burnaby mt, etc).

oh, and did I mention that the buses have bike racks?

we'd pay our $2 and shuttle bikes to the top of burnaby (SFU), and bomb down, with enough time for about 4 runs on a single pass.

(toronto is currently doing a pilot program, and I've seen a bus on bathurst with the bike rack, but no bikes).. it's much harder to find a bus in vancouver without a bike on it.