Vancouver Aquabus
Vancouver residents will recognize the rainbow-coloured Aquabus boats that circulate around False Creek. These colourful water taxis carry thousands of locals and tourists across the bay daily.
The Aquabus Ferries help commuters cut down their travel time by offering short but efficient trips around False Creek. The Aquabus operates 364 days of the year, taking only Christmas Day off. On rare occasions, if the wind gets above 25 knots, the Aquabus is forced to shut down as per Transport Canada regulations. But the volatile Vancouver weather is typically no deterrent for these boats. The Aquabus services Vancouverites through sun, rain, fog, and snow.
On November 29th, 2022, Vancouver had its first snowfall of the season. Although the roads were treacherous that day, and numerous car accidents were reported, the Aquabus ran smoothly from dawn until dusk.
History
The Aquabus Ferry Company was founded in 1985 by Jeff and Margot Pratt. Jeff's father, George Pratt, had worked for the Aquabus competitor, False Creek Ferries, and Jeff decided to start a ferry company of his own. Aquabus arrived on the scene just in time for Vancouver's Expo 86, helping visitors easily navigate across the city and see the sites. Today, the Pratt family still owns the company and is very involved in the day-to-day activities.
"[The Pratt Family] like to be very
hands-on and we get to talk to them a lot,
which is pretty great. They're a really great family
to run the company and really care about us."
- Eric Houtman, Aquabus Captain
Fleet
The Aquabus Ferry company has 14 boats that vary in size and capacity. When the captains first begin training, they start by driving the smaller, traditional diesel boats before moving to the larger ones. Eight of the Aquabus vessels are "cyquabusses" which can hold up to 12-30 passengers, depending on the boat.
Most of the Aquabusses run on gas. To refuel an Aquabus, drivers go to the floating gas station in False Creek. Filling up an Aquabus tank is relatively similar in cost to that of an SUV or small bus- about $75 to $100.
Who Takes the Aquabus?
Passengers
Passenger numbers vary greatly depending on the day and the time of year. In the summer months, captains say that the boats are generally busier as they welcome more tourists visiting Vancouver. However, the Aquabus is more than just a fun way for tourists to see the city- it is a viable transit option too. In the winter, most of the passengers are locals on their way to do their shopping at Granville Island.
The undisputed busiest day of the year is Canada Day. The drivers all unanimously agree that July 1st brings the most chaos to the Aquabus docks. According to Captain Reese, even by scheduling as many staff members as possible, it is never enough to meet the public's needs on Canada Day. What about the holiday makes it so much busier than others? That remains a mystery to the drivers.
The well-dressed Bambie and her owner head to Granville Market to get some groceries. The pair have a monthly Aquabus pass, so Bambi is very attuned to the boat commute.
The well-dressed Bambie and her owner head to Granville Market to get some groceries. The pair have a monthly Aquabus pass, so Bambi is very attuned to the boat commute.
Dog Friendly
It isn't just people that ride the Aquabus; pets are also welcome aboard! Vancouver is known for being a very dog-friendly city. So, it would be unfitting for a Vancouver staple like the Aquabus not to follow suit and allow canine companions on to take a ride. According to the Aquabus website, dogs are not only allowed on, "they are encouraged!" The only requirement is that they are clean and kept on a leash.
Tourists, Tim and Joelle, explore Vancouver by taking a trip on the Aquabus. Their new rescue dog, Hershey, does very well on his first-ever boat ride.
Tourists, Tim and Joelle, explore Vancouver by taking a trip on the Aquabus. Their new rescue dog, Hershey, does very well on his first-ever boat ride.
"We're all very lucky in Vancouver to have a small sheltered body of water like False Creek... We have great access to the water and the opportunity to go on boat rides!"
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