There must be 50 ways to get around without a car

February 25, 2009 7:38 AM

How can I get from Toronto, Ontario to Newmarket, Ontario, this Saturday morning?

Two of my best friends from grade school want me to meet them in Newmarket at noon on Saturday for a get together. I haven't seen them since grade school (we've reconnected thanks to Facebook) and would love to see them for some sticker book and doll dressing fun (oops, did I just regress there...).

Slight problem: I can't drive. VIA and Greyhound appear not to have a Newmarket/Toronto route. The GO bus does, but the routes don't operate on weekends. I must be missing some option... how can I get there, short of hitch hiking? I don't like to ask the two of them to meet me somewhere else closer to me, because one's already coming from Orillia and the other is coming from Holland Landing, so Newmarket seems more central. Ideas?

posted by orange swan to Travel & Transportation around Ontario (11 answers total)

I've taken the GO bus on the weekend. Are you sure it doesn't operate? I've taken it from Barie back to Toronto, and it stops in New Market along the way. Honestly though, having them meet you South of Steeles would make your life way more easy.

I cut people out of my life if I can't get to them via the TTC.
posted by chunking express at 7:52 AM on February 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

The GO bus direct from York U to Newmarket doesn't run Saturdays, but the Barrie bus goes from Union Station to Newmarket every hour on the tens.
posted by yellowbinder at 7:59 AM on February 25, 2009

Yes, there's at least one bus to Newmarket on weekends, a bus leaving from Union Station.

I used the keyword search instead of browsing schedules -- much easier!
posted by maudlin at 8:02 AM on February 25, 2009

the GO Bus will take you to Newmarket, it's just hard to figure out how to find it on the GO Bus website.

here's what i did (since the direct link won't work) --

1. on the Go Transit website, go to Schedule Finder (for Feb. 27 and after)
2. City/Town you're starting from = Toronto (includes downtown) [when i put Union only, it didn't work]
3. the Station/Terminal you're starting from = Union Station GO Bus Terminal
4. the train or bus service = Sutton GO Bus (Beaverton - Newmarket)
5. Direction = North toward Beaverton
6. Day = Saturday

it looks like there are 6 trips arriving before noon.
posted by gursky at 8:04 AM on February 25, 2009

Is keyword search new at Go? I didn't even notice it until today. I think it's a lot easier than the old schedule hunt-and-guess.
posted by maudlin at 8:08 AM on February 25, 2009

Another option is the VIVA YRT bus - if you live in the north end of the city (especially near either York U or Finch Station) this might be a faster option than going all the way to Union GO Bus.
posted by onshi at 8:09 AM on February 25, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks! I looked at all the schedules marked "Newmarket" — didn't think to look at the Barrie one. I thought there had to be a way to get to Newmarket on Saturday.
posted by orange swan at 8:10 AM on February 25, 2009

Best answer: You want the VIVA Blue bus from Finch station. I think it leaves every 20 minutes or so. Check the site schedules.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:12 AM on February 25, 2009

I had forget about VIVA. I would recommend that over taking the GO, depending on where you live in the city. The GO bus is all kinds of slow.
posted by chunking express at 8:16 AM on February 25, 2009

Response by poster: Oh my GOD. There is a VIVA bus that leaves Finch at 11 and gets to Yonge and Mulock (where the restaurant is) at 11:59 (we were to meet at 12:00).

You people are amazing.
posted by orange swan at 8:30 AM on February 25, 2009

Response by poster: Now my only problem is to find my dolls and sticker books.
posted by orange swan at 8:36 AM on February 25, 2009