Reply: cycling around vancouver

Hi Photog,

     I hear you, and am not keen to buy a car anyhow now, sea bus and sky train works well for me, and the transport to Squamish is all good too, so who needs a car?  Cheaper this way and from all I gather, faster in many ways too.  I hear you re. not commuting far from work, some do the same where I work, but for me the decision was do I commute on my days off to where I want to spend my days off in a rural environment enjoying my sports; or do I commute to work (and for me it's just 2 days, and 2 nights every 9 days); so not that bad.  I'd prefer to get up a little earlier to do that (for just 2 days every 9 days), and live where I'd rather live.

Hi Ketchup,

             vancouver great, well North Vancouver and further up anyhow, I prefer that side of Vancouver to this side of Vancouver, for living and sports.  In many ways it's like being in London again on the side of seeing drug addicts and smokers around, not my scene personally, hence I am hoping to live in the North, though commuting for work 2 days every 9 days (very early start) may be an issue as to how far away I can live of course.  I don't prefer to live on my work doorstep out of choice, who does?  Normal to commute in UK for most of us too, and a good way to switch off from work that way.

So, do you/ and photog live in the North, or in the South?  I got a gr8 mtbke now, from that shop you all recommended in North Van, and it's only 1 x lb difference to the one I had, can bunny hop on this one easier in fact ;)

Hey!

I've been awol for a while.  What's going on?  This forum seems quiet.

Hey Suzanne!  Yes .. welcome.  Hope you brought your umbrella :P

Let us know how you're settling in.  Summer's here are great ... I promise.

Sounds great photog.  Do you climb too?  Same here in UK on ferries, not cheap either esp if taking a car, very similar how things are in Canada to how they are in UK, expenses, house purchasing, health care etc, though you're health care is better than ours, the system in UK is abismal currently, seriously in need of a sort out and all thanks to the Labour party.  Shame but there you go.

I think I'll stay in New Westminster going by all you've said, and not too expensive to buy a condo there either from all I gather in comparison to the rest of Vancouver areas.  Well it's 0930 here and 0130 am in your neck of the words, I am flying over today.  My friends will be visiting, not going to be short of visitors, which is good as I will miss my friends here.  Which areas are best avoided, high crime areas around Vancouver (though they are probs no near as bad as the US or parts of the UK I am sure?)  Always a high criminal rate in any city, but good to know where they are so they are best avoided, any feedback on that one would be appreciated as well.  Thanks photog :)

One I keep meaning to ask; what is Vancouver island like for living?  I hear Victoria is more English than England; so if I ever get homesick I'll just go there and visit ;)  Is there good climbing there too?

Thanks for all your feedback though photog, very helpful! :)

Renting is always cheaper (except in UK where that is a rip off); it's cheaper to buy (if you can afford it in the first place that is), and live in that and pay a mortgage, than it is to rent.  I own a one bed flat in Scotland (luckily got that in my previous job when I was living and working up there for 4 yrs), but it was also dirt cheap back then and affordable, now it's all gone up everywhere, still cheaper up north, further you go up north in UK, but still it's all gone up price wise.  Won't be selling that as it's paid for in 6 yrs time, investment.  But in Van I'd rather buy and live in it than rent in the long term.  I resent paying someone elses mortgage ;)  In UK more so, as they take 1.5 months deposit off you, and then a months rent (and that's before you've moved in!); so you are skint before you start here, and rents start at around £500 pcm plus bills (around $1000 plus bills in your money).  But some places like where you are bills can be inclusive, not all, just things like council tax and water rates if you're lucky.  Depends how generous the owner is I guess.  In London the size for the price is less, so you likely get a shoe box to live in and pay alot for it, if you want big you pay rip off fees; hence you tend to see alot sharing in London, except maybe some better off professionals who get paid what they're worth ;)  I knew somone in IT who owned a one bed flat (big) in Clapham South; have another friend in Putney who rents a large 2 bed but what he pays is disgusting.  And a lawyer who owns a 2 bed flat in Islington, and works in Canary wharf, but like I say, they can afford it.  I'd not want to live in a city like London long term, healthier to live in the country, less crowded, less cars etc, easier and nicer for mtbing, running etc etc.

:(  It sounds like London again all of what you said, the commutes, the traffic, the expense.  House prices etc cheaper where you are compared to here mind; but yes I am aware Vancouver is the most expensive city in Canada, Ontario etc cheaper to buy, but Vancouver is more for me (with all the sports on the doorstep, not so flat, and not so cold).  It was Kerrisdale that someone mentioned to me over here, what is Kerrisdale like, and how far from New West?  I realised a house would be out of the qu.  More likely a condo sure.  House purchasing has hidden costs same as over here, fees for surveyor, deposit, tax on top, still will keep the deposit aside and continue saving.  Anyway, I have to get a mtbke and a car before I think about a condo.  Would rent out a room likely (like some do here) to make it easier on the pocket, less lonely that way too, but only to a likeminded outdoor, workaholic person; so they don't sit indoors all day ;)

Sure, I hear you both.  I spent a week in Vancouver 2 yrs ago and yes it felt like living in London (was living in London at the time), so shouldn't feel it too much, it was their different way of taxing that I bore in mind; e.g. in the shop it's $40 for e.g. but when you get to the till more like $50 or $60; online shopping is good! :)

I do intend to buy a car (not right away of course), but already got all the info for bringing a reference from car insurer, and bank, and got those sorted, and to register the licence asap once I get to Van.

Also aiming to purchase, as I'll have a deposit for a property to hand shortly; and housing to buy is a very similar system to here in the UK, I've read into that.  But won't rush into it of course, until I know exactly where I want one, though rural is my desire, for work it may not be so.  Always aim to live near work, but if it's easy commuting from the North to the South then that shouldn't be a problem, North is more expensive than South too mind (from what I have read).  Someone recommended to me a place beginning with a K (not got it to hand on me, but I wrote it down somewhere).  Alternatively, I could live near work, and take off on my 4-5 days off each 5th day (shift pattern at work is going to be 2 days, 2 nights, followed by 4-5 days off).  I usually took off on my days off here in UK, camping and mtbing, or camping and climbing (I was with a mtbing club; and a climbing club). Some awesome long miled off road bike rides too!  Always came back to work for  rest ;)

New Westminister to North Vancouver, according to Google Maps, is about 22 kms.  (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=north+vancouver&daddr=new+westminster&sll=49.220064,-122.920532&sspn=0.098891,0.4319&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=11&om=1).  Don't know much about the New West part of the city unfortunately ... I've spent most of my time downtown and a little in North Van. 

60-80 miles in 2 days!  Damn ... way outta my league.

Vancouver is pretty expensive but if you've experienced London then it won't seem so bad.