Transportation in Montreal

BIXI is the name of Montreal's new public self-service bicycle sharing program. BIXI is a combination of the words "bicycle" and "taxi". Montreal’s BIXI was modelled on bike sharing programs in Europe, particularly the Vélib network in Paris.

Although Montreal has 2 major airports, Dorval's Pierre Eliot Trudeau International Airport remains the busiest airport serving Montreal. Formerly known as Dorval Airport, this airport is on the west side of Montreal and is approximately half an hour from downtown Montreal. Trudeau International Airport has recently been renovated and currently handles most International flights to and from Montreal.

Montreal has always been a cyclist-friendly city. There are numerous bicycle paths located all over the city, and Montreal recently rolled out the BIXI bicycle sharing program. BIXI, which is a term that combines the words “bike” and “taxi”, gives people a convenient way to get some exercise and explore Montreal's 400km of bike paths.

It is possible to reach montreal, by bus, from other cities within the province of Quebec, the rest of Canada as well as the United States. There are also various chartered bus services that can help you coordinate group travel plans while visiting Montreal. All buses entering Montreal stop at the Gare d'autocars de Montréal, which happens to be Montreal's bus terminal. Formerly known as the Station Centrale d'Autobus Montréal (English: Central Bus Station) , the Gare d'autocars de Montréal is located in the downtown area on 505 Blvd.du Maisonneuve Blvd, just on the corner of rue Berri.

Getting around by car in Montreal is another great way to discover the city. Renting a car in Montreal is a particularly popular way to travel around the city and explore the surrounding areas. Cars can be rented directly from the Montreal Airport, with all major car rental companies available. Most of the major car rental companies offer their services around the island of Montreal.

Traveling to and from Montreal by train is relatively easy. Montreal's central train station is calld Central Station (Gare Central in French). It is located in the downtown area of Montreal on De La Gauchetiere, just south of Rene Levesque Blvd. If you are staying in either the Queen Elizabeth or Bonaventure Hotels, then you have a direct access to the Gare Centrale. An underground pedestrian walkway leads to the closest Metro (subway), which happens to be Bonaventure.

Guided tours around Montreal are a great way to explore the city of Montreal with an expert. Generally, a guided tour is great way to visit all of Montreal’s best attractions and landmarks. They tend to provide special explanations and a historical background to many of the neighborhoods. However, keep in mind that many guided tours will only stop off at well-known landmarks, so it is quite hard to mingle with the Montreal locals through guided tours.

Full Fare Rates (Full Bus and Metro Access on the Island of Montreal)

Montreal's Urban transportatoin system is one of the best in North America. Public bus transport in Montreal is cheap, reliable and convenient. The Montreal bus system, commuter Trains and Metro (subway) system are closely intertwined. Between all these urban transportation options, you can pretty much get anywhere on the island as well as the surrounding regions. The STM (Montreal Transport Society) is responsible for Montreal's buses and metro (Subway) system.

The Montreal subway system is known as the metro. The Metro is an excellent and safe form of transportation around the island. Montreal's metro system spans 66 km and contains more than 65 stations. After opening in 1966, it still remains one of the most popular modes of transportation around the city of Montreal. It was the first subway system to run completely on rubber tires and is completely underground due to the sometimes severe winters in Montreal.

The OPUS card is a re-usable smart card used for all of Montreal's public transit systems. The OPUS card is the size of a credit card and serves as the single form of payment for the various public transit systems in Montreal. As of 2008, the OPUS card became the only valid card for public transit use in Montreal. Montreal's Société de transport de Montréal (STM) , which is responsible for the bus and metro system, upgraded to this system in 2008.