World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Quebec City  - Getting Around
Getting Around

Public Transport

Public buses in the Quebec City region are run by the Société de transport de la Communauté urbaine de Québec (STCUQ) (tel: (418) 627 2511). The buses run from 0600 to 0100, and are supplemented by a limited system of night buses (Friday and Saturday until 0300). Express Métrobus services run more frequently and link the university area of Ste-Foy with northern suburbs, stopping near Place D'Youville en route.

One-way fares for STCUQ services are C$2.25 for adults (concessions available); tickets purchased in advance are available singly and only cost C$1.75. It is possible to transfer from one bus to another at no extra cost, provided a transfer slip is obtained when boarding the first bus. A one-day pass is available for C$4.70.

The upper part of Old Quebec is linked to Basse-Ville by a funicular (web site: www.funiculaire-quebec.com), which runs 0730-2300 (until 2400 in summer). The fare is C$1.25.

During ski season, the HiverExpress winter shuttle (tel: (418) 525 5191) links the city with the main ski centres. Departures are from downtown hotels and the cost is C$25 return.

Taxis

Taxis are available from taxi ranks at major hotels and at the airport, or they can be hailed on the street downtown and in areas where bars and restaurants are clustered. Taxis can also be ordered by phone: Taxi Québec (tel: (418) 525 8123) and Taxi Co-op Québec (tel: (418) 525 5191) are the main firms in the city. Fares start at C$2.50 and increase by C$1.20 per kilometre. A tip of 15% is customary.

Limousines


Service de limousine Guy Samson
(tel: (418) 652 7316; fax: (418) 652 7250; web site: www.limousinesamson.com) offers sedans and stretch limos for C$40 and C$83 per hour, respectively. Groupe Limousine A-1 Inc (tel: (418) 523 5059; fax: (418) 524 5608; web site: www.limousinequebec.com) has sedans for C$50 per hour, and vans and stretch limos for C$100.

Driving in the City

Quebec City is a city that people walk around to see most of the sights; usually because it creates the right romantic ambience, although the difficulties of driving and parking in Old Quebec no doubt have their effect. Motorists not only have to contend with narrow, twisting streets filled with pedestrians but also have to wait while horse-drawn calèches amble along. To try and preserve the quiet atmosphere, motorcycles are not permitted in Old Quebec. There are parking lots scattered around the periphery of the Old Town, the most convenient being the ones near the tourist office on avenue Wilfrid-Laurier, near the Grande Allée and Porte St-Louis. Within the Old Town itself, there is parking below the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) at the end of rue St-Jean. Longer term, unattended parking is available across from the coach station off rue Abraham-Martin. There are a number of lots in the Old Port area, along Quai St-Andre and rue Dalhousie - a convenient option in that they are a walk downhill after seeing the sights.

Although the Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency (Highway 440) passes within a couple of blocks of the city walls providing a direct link to the attractions east of the city, the other highways crossing the city to the north and west can be confusing as not enough information about exits and routes is given.

Car Hire

In general, drivers must be over 21 years and possess a national driving licence and credit card. An International Driving Permit is not legally required but is recommended. Major car hire firms in Quebec City include Budget, 29 Côte du Palais (tel: (418) 692 3660), who generally charge C$50 per day (C$30-35 per day at the weekend) for a small car, not including insurance (C$18 per day) or taxes. Other firms are Avis, in the Hilton, 900 boulevard René-Lévesque Est (tel: (418) 523 1075), Discount, 12 rue Ste-Anne (tel: (418) 692 1244) and Tilden, 295 rue St-Paul (tel: (418) 694 1727). Rent-a-Wreck, 2981 boulevard Ste-Anne (tel: (418) 666 1234), has a reputation for being cheaper than the majors and charge C$46 including insurance and taxes.

Bicycle & Scooter Hire

As part of the province-wide Route Verte (Green Route) of cycling paths, there are two long-distance cycling paths within Quebec City, in addition to shorter paths and bike lanes for regular commuters. The long distance-paths are also useful for visitors, one links the Old Port with the Chute Montmornency, while the other branches off to the west, eventually linking up with a longer trail to one of the provincial parks. Cyclists are required to follow all the laws of the highway code, as well as bike-specific signs.

There are two main firms that hire bikes: Vélo Passe-Sport Plein Air, 22 Côte du Palais (tel: (418) 692 3643), an Old Quebec based company, is open from mid-April until the end of October and hires scooters (C$39 for two hours; C$79 for eight hours) in addition to bicycles (C$14 for two hours; C$25 for eight hours). Cyclo Services, 84 rue Dalhousie (tel: (418) 692 4052; web site: www.microtec.net/cyclo) is located in the Old Port and offers inline skates (C$17 for four hours; C$27 for 24 hours) as well as bikes (C$15 for four hours; C$25 for 24 hours).

Both sell maps of the cycle path network. Promo-Vélo (tel: (418) 522 0087) has information on local cycle paths; Vélo Québec (web site: www.velo.qc.ca/route_verte) and Véloasis (web site: www.veloasis.qc.ca) have information on La Route Verte, which is part of the Trans-Canada Trail.



Copyright © 2001 Columbus Publishing
    
GENERAL
City Overview
City Statistics
Cost of Living
 
GETTING THERE
Air
Water
Road
Rail
 
GETTING AROUND
Getting Around
 
BUSINESS
Business
 
SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing
Key Attractions
Further Distractions
Tours of the City
Excursions
 
ENTERTAINMENT
Nightlife
Sport
Shopping
Culture
Special Events