Getting around Waterloo Region

There are many ways to get around Waterloo Region:  

• Walk or cycle
• Take a bus
• Take a taxi
• Drive a car

Walking and Cycling

Walking and riding a bike are great ways to get around Waterloo Region.  Enjoy more than 500 km of trails and bike paths. 

• Map of Existing Regional Cycling Network Facilities shows off-road trails and on-road bikeways in Waterloo Region.
• The Trails of the Grand River Watershed offers information on many trails in and near Waterloo Region and the Grand River Watershed, as well as the Ontario Trails Council, and the Trans Canada Trail.

Riding a bike saves time and money, improves your health, and helps the environment. Use your bike to get to work, run errands, visit friends, or enjoy an afternoon with your family.

• Cycling in Waterloo Region brochure has information on cycling benefits, safety, regulations and more.
• Bus and Bike shows how you can bike and take a bus.
• Recycle Cycles offers inexpensive repaired bikes for children and adults as well as a bike shop where you can repair your own bike.

GRT (Local Bus)

Enjoy quick, affordable travel and forget about gas prices and parking.  Grand River Transit (GRT) serves Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. 

Visit their website to get information on fares (prices) and schedules.  You can get a GRT bus map online and a list of places to buy a paper copy of the map for $2.00.  The map shows all Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge streets and cycling routes. 

To plan your trip, try the Easy Go trip planner. Use the next bus call service to find out when the next bus will be at a bus stop near you. 

All buses have a bike rack on the front of the bus so you can bike part of the way and then take the bus the rest of the way.

GRT MobilityPLUS offers special transit services in the city service area for people who are not able to use regular buses.

Taxis

Taxis offer the advantage of a car without driving or owning it yourself. If there is no public transit or you need to go somewhere quickly, you can get a taxi. 

There are many ways to get a taxi:

• Call a taxi company and ask for a pick up.  You can also reserve a taxi ahead of time.  You will need to give your name, where you are, and where you want to go.  You can ask how much the trip will cost. 
• Hail a taxi in the street. Stand on the sidewalk and wave to a taxi. Only a taxi with a lighted roof sign will stop for you.  It is not easy to get a taxi this way in many areas of Waterloo Region.
• Go to a taxi stand. There are often taxis at the Waterloo International Airport, the downtown Kitchener train station and GRT bus terminals.

Taxis are harder to get during rush hour and in bad weather. 

All taxi drivers in Waterloo Region need to be licensed. The driver has to post the license where you can see it. The license shows the driver’s picture, first name, and license number. 

See a list of licensed taxi companies’ names and phone numbers in Waterloo Region.
 
The Region of Waterloo sets rates for taxi trips in the Region.  Drivers or taxicab companies cannot raise or lower those rates for trips within the Region.  Rates for out-of-town trips can differ between companies.  More than one person may ride in a taxi for the price of a single fare. 
 
Waterloo Region Taxi rates are:

• Starting meter fare (flag drop): $3.00 as soon as you begin your ride
• Cost per kilometre: $1.70 per km
• Charge for waiting: $30.00 per hour 

Taxes (like GST - Goods and Services Tax) are included in all fares.

You may also be interested in Coming and Going from Waterloo Region.   

For more information…

• Accessing places to live, work, learn, and play in Waterloo Region
• Ontario Travel for information on how to get around Ontario by bus, train, car, taxi, plane, boat, or rental car. 
• How can I travel within Ontario?
• Traveller’s information to find out about Ontario road signs, traffic reports and wait-times for Ontario-United States border crossings.
• Ontario Immigration - Getting around