Using the Bus

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ETS has more than 5,000 bus stops and over 150 routes, half of which are specialized routes providing school service. Here are some tips to help make your riding experience quicker, easier and more enjoyable.

Finding your Bus

ETS offers two types of bus information: scheduled information and real-time information. Here’s how they compare:

Real-time Information	Scheduled Information
Available for all buses routes.	Available for all bus routes.
Continually updated so you know exactly when your bus is departing.	Outlines scheduled bus times and only change when the schedule changes.
Provides real-time departure times for all stops.	Provides scheduled departure times only for stops known as timing points, which are stops used to ensure that ETS buses remain on schedule by preventing buses from departing too early and allowing buses to ‘catch up’ if running late. All other stops are estimated times.

Real-time information offers an easy way for riders to get up-to-date bus departure times through the ETS Live website, Apple and Android apps, Google, or other third party transit tools. Find out more about what tools real-time has to suit your needs.

Waiting for your Bus

A bus stop is marked by a blue and white sign that lists two major pieces of information: every bus route servicing a particular stop, and the Bus Stop number - a unique four or five digit number that identifies the exact stop.

Most ETS buses are equipped with Smart Bus technology, which means they provide real-time information on the location of each bus. While waiting at the stop for your bus, you can use the free ETS Live® To Go app, the ETS Live® Bus Finder mobile website, or a number of third-party transit tools to look up information on when your bus will arrive.

We recommend you arrive at your stop early, approximately 5 minutes before your bus departs. That way, your bus will notice you waiting and stop for you, rather than passing by what looks like an empty stop.

Boarding a bus

When a bus approaches your stop, check the route number and destination name to see if it is the bus you wish to board. You can check this number, on the:

Front screen above the windshield (which also includes the bus destination).
Small screen located beside the front door (which also includes the bus destination).
Back of the bus.

When you’re waiting at a bus stop, be sure to pay close attention for your approaching bus and show the oncoming operator you want to board his/her specific bus. A single bus stop can often serve multiple routes; therefore, our operators have no way of knowing which particular bus a customer is waiting for (e.g. does the customer want to board bus #7, #11, or #14?).

We ask that customers step out of the bus shelter, face the oncoming bus and make eye contact with the operator. Otherwise, the operator might assume you’re waiting for a different bus and not stop. For customers with mobility difficulties, ETS has several travel tools available free of charge to help communicate their trip needs to the operator (e.g. customer communication cards, mobility card and bus hailer kit).

If you have a question for the driver allow others to board first.

Move towards the back of the bus and take a seat if one is available. If not, or if the bus is crowded, you can firmly grip one of the overhead handrails or a support post. Buses may move and stop abruptly and ETS recommends you hold on tightly.

ETS would like to thank our customers for their continued positive and respective behaviours while riding ETS. Your good etiquette on ETS helps make the experience a pleasant one for everyone.

Paying on the bus

You have three fare options to present when you board your bus:

Cash (change not provided).
Bus ticket.
Bus pass or valid transfer.

Have your fare ready as you board the bus. Clearly display your pass or transfer to the driver, or deposit your cash or ticket in the fare box located on the right as your board.

For customers paying with cash or tickets, they will need to take a transfer from the operator (even if they don’t need a transfer) to show proof of payment, in the event they are asked by a Transit Peace Officer or a member of Edmonton Police Service (EPS).

Exiting the Bus

To let the driver know you’d like to get off the bus, pull the cord above the windows, or press the button on the support post near the front and back doors. A bell will ring, the sign will display “Stop Requested” and a voice will speak to let you know your request has been registered.

The further in advance of your stop that you let the driver know you’d like to get off, the more time the driver has to safely stop.

Gather your things, but stay seated until the bus has stopped for your safety.

Take care when stepping off the bus, especially in icy weather.

Understanding the Bus Stop Numbers and Signs

Note: All routes used as examples are for demonstration purposes only and are not confirmed route numbers in the new Bus Network.

Using the Bus

Frequent and Crosstown Routes (Single and Double-digits)

Frequent routes are single digit routes that travel on main roads in central areas of the city

These routes come often and are similar to previous routes 1 to 9.

Crosstown routes are double digit routes numbered 51 to 56

They connect transit centres in at least two quadrants of the city, for example West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre and Mill Woods Transit Centre.

Local and Community Routes (Three-digits)

These are routes that operate in one area of the city.

Local and Community routes have three digits.

They refer to different quadrants in the city and roughly align with positions on a clockface.

100 series routes operate in north Edmonton
500 series routes operate in southeast Edmonton
700 series routes operate in southwest Edmonton
900 series routes operate in west Edmonton

Note: Regional routes in St. Albert, Strathcona County, Leduc, Beaumont, Fort Saskatchewan and Spruce Grove (200s, 400s and 540-589) will continue to use the same numbers.

Routes Ending with a Letter (X, A and B)

Route numbers that end in a letter provide a special type of service.

Rapid (express) routes: 12 express routes will have an X at the end of their route number.

These routes have fewer stops and carry suburban commuters to downtown destinations and the University of Alberta.

Routes with As and Bs: 3 routes have “A” and “B” branches, which take slightly different paths during part of the trip.

Examples:

Route 1 travels between downtown and Capilano, but 1A stays on 106 Avenue until 50 Street while 1B travels on 101 Avenue.
Routes 509 and 918 have large loops where route "A" travels clockwise through one part of the neighbourhood and route "B" travels counterclockwise through another part of the neighbourhood. This means reduced walking distance to the bus stop for more people.

Check your schedules and the destination sign on the front of the bus to make sure you’re getting on the right one. If it’s not clear to you, ask the bus operator.

Owl Service

Routes that operate until approximately 3am, 7 days a week.

Route 2-OWL — Clareview to West Edmonton Mall
Route 4 — Lewis Farms to Capilano
Route 8 — University to Abbottsfield
Route 9-OWL — Eaux Claires to Century Park
Route 511 — Downtown to Mill Woods

School Special Routes

School special routes are numbered in the 600s and only operate during school days.

All ETS customers can ride these buses, but make sure you check the schedules first so you know where it goes. Many schools are also served by regular ETS routes and there are extra trips on some local routes to accommodate a particular school.

How to Read Bus Stop Signs

Bus Stop Sign

How to read the new bus stop signs.

Service Feedback

Feedback about a bus

As ETS continually works to improve service; your feedback is very important. The information is used to make adjustments to schedules and service levels, address concerns about bus drivers, and flag shelter damage for repair. We are not able to address issues related to one-off traffic delays or extreme weather conditions. ETS appreciates hearing from customers about any of the following items:

Good customer service.
Safe driving practices.
Late by 15 minutes or more, or late by 5 minutes or more on a regular basis (5 times).
Early by five minutes or more.
Early leaving a timing point.
Too full to take any more passengers.

Sharing Compliments and Concerns

Your feedback matters to us. To help us follow-up on rider feedback, ETS encourages noting the vehicle number of the bus or LRT car (not just the route number or time of day). We are able to use the vehicle number to identify the exact vehicle, correctly identity an operator or motorman, and determine the location of the bus or LRT when an event occurs.

Vehicle numbers can be found in a variety of locations on different models and makes of buses. See the image gallery for examples of where the vehicle number may be located on the buses you ride.

Bus Exterior Front
Bus Exterior Rear
Bus Interior Front
DATS Exterior Front
DATS Exterior Rear
DATS Exterior Side
LRT Exterior Front
LRT Exterior Side
LRT Interior Top
LRT Interior Side

For More Information

Contact ETS

Telephone	311
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