Vancouver Ventures | DAY 11: (Pt. 1) Mobi Bike Share + McArthur Glen Outlets

Every suburban citizen understands the importance of a personal vehicle. Without one, you're essentially bound to the schedules of public transit systems, to conducting favours for those equipped with a vehicle, or investing copious amounts into Uber services. While one can navigate Richmond quite well with the SkyTrain during peak hours, bus connectivity - and, more generally, reliability - remains an area of concern.
In advance of undertaking an all-day agenda, I obtained permission to operate the rental car. The process would enable me to drive within the Greater Vancouver Area for the first time since becoming a license holder!

My plan involved securing a spot at one of the region's very few Park and Ride garages, then venturing into downtown to test out the Mobi Bike Share system. The closest one was situated at Bridgeport.
Admittedly, I had expected a greater number of commuter lots, given the prevalence of riding the SkyTrain for daily work commutes. Seeing no other designated spots on the map, I carefully made my way to Bridgeport, nearly crossing the Sea Island Bridge in error due to lack of clear signage at No. 3 Road and Bridgeport Rd.

​To my horror, all five levels of the parking garage were full. My presumption of low commuter volumes on a Wednesday afternoon at 1 PM has been refuted. Thirty minutes of scrutinizing spaces and their posted signage later, I attempted the nearby River Rock garage, only to find posted signage at the entrance noting restrictions for casino guests only. Heaving with great despair, I opted to route to Costco. By parking along the extremities of the lot, I could board one of the double-decker bus along Bridgeport and for a seamless escape - or so I thought.
While the asphalt lot was relatively empty, menacing signage graced every pillar in existence, clearly forbidding one's departure from the lot without taking his or her vehicle. Underneath this list was a towing sign for further enforcement.

I almost tossed in the towel at this point, but settled for taking a trek about Costco first.

Emerging with a bag of Dare gummies, I planted myself back in the driver's seat and angrily tore the bag open. In response to this aggression, the packaging was disjoined from its resealable zipper. Munching on handfuls at a time while fuming, I consulted my browsing partner on the situation, who advised against taking the risk, and began to contemplate further alternatives. The ordeal had already spanned one hour - it was now 2 PM.

At long last, I resorted to a location that guaranteed an abundance of spots and no parking restrictions: The McArthur Glen Outlets. Two lots could be found within proximity: a paid "Long Term Value" designated for travel to and from YVR, and a substantially larger complimentary lot to support retail functions for the outlet shops.

Settling on a shaded location at the midway point between the outlet entrance and Templeton station entrance, I tucked my Dare gummies into the backseat, locked my belongings, and strode towards the open-air shopping haven. The detour would serve a number of purposes: to ensure penalty-free parking, use of washroom facilities, and browse, at a high level, any outposts of interest.

​String lights and bevelled facades would contrast against the cloudless blue skies for a beautiful backdrop. Meanwhile, pavers of uniform elevation would ensure a peaceful walking experience.
My heart dropped slightly at seeing The Body Shop's impressive 50% off sale, for I had replenished my inventory of tea tree oil at Richmond Centre the previous week. I averted any purchases, however, for additional weight would make for a noticeably exhaustive commute.

​Serving a smaller crowd than the terminus, Templeton station was rather compact. Nevertheless, it included accessibility features and a scenic overpass boasting an unobstructed view of planes departing the International Airport.

After about ten minutes, the next train would arrive.

​​I'd disembark at Yaletown just after 3 PM. The district comprised of eateries, offices, and a few independent retailers. Immediately behind the station entrance was a small square for outdoor performances.

My four-year absence from the area prompted a brief saunter, though few installations and/or establishments proved of interest.

​The location of the Mobi Bike Share station was not immediately obvious to me, though intuition had led me to believe that each SkyTrain station would be fitted with one. I was correct, but simply needed to turn the opposite way from the entrance.

​In advance of my arrival, I had verified the availability of bikes, then confirmed accuracy of the app data on site.

With the Toronto Bike Share program, bikes could be unlocked using a QR code scanner on the dedicated app. Mobi, on the other hand, required manual entry of a seven-digit user code followed by a unique four-digit pin. For bikes with finnicky buttons, this resulted in quite the hassle. The screen would time out before I could successfully enter all the numbers, prompting me to restart the process.
I would unlock and re-dock two times before successfully removing the e-bike from the dock for use. Pricing plans posted on the Mobi website noted a minimum unlock fee of three dollars, but I wasn't entirely certain of the calculations for a one-second use period.

​Prior planning had been minimal, for my aim was simply to test out the system and the city's cycling infrastructure. Entering a destination of Granville Island into Google Maps, I found two options being suggested: a direct route using a personal bike, and a second that showed the position of nearby docking stations. Mind you, presence of a station did not automatically equate to available docks - an aspect I later realized during the venture.

Spatial awareness of the cardinal directions is difficult to grasp given Vancouver's winding roads. Most street configurations will persist as being grid-like until the intersection of two arterials, arguably the most crucial point for navigation.
A number of wrong turns later, I finally found my way to Burrard Bridge. The surrounding streets had been extremely forgiving, being designated as bike-friendly routes (bicycle pavement markings) or featuring dedicated cycle facilities such as on-street cycle tracks or in-boulevard asphalt pathways. Off-peak hours and driver familiarity with cyclists also garnered a sense of security in spite of my biking amateurness.

​​Navigating bike boxes or lifting one hand to signal left/right turns both constitute foreign territory for me. Yet, clearly signed and designated facilities helped to alleviate with these qualms. Green pavement treatment, tactile plates, and crosswalks delineated between pedestrian and cyclist traffic with precision. Reduced corner radii, such as those on the northwest and southwest corners of the Pacific Street/Burrard Street intersection, were especially worth nothing as they improved sight lines and encouraged separation of on- and off-street volumes.

SW corner of Pacific Street and Burrard Street; Source: Google Maps, 2023

Crossing the Burrard Bridge was absolutely breathtaking. The light breeze, gloriously sunny weather, and stunning view of the mountains in the distance made for the highlight of my ride. Views of the Credit River over the Burnhamthorpe bridge could hardly compare.
Spacious, uni-directional cycle tracks ran along each side of the bridge, with concrete barriers for adequate separation of vehicular traffic. Pedestrians would be use the adjacent concrete walkway, keeping a safe distance from cyclists. 

​After crossing False Creek, Google Maps would guide me along W 1st Ave and Fir Street towards Granville Island. It was nearing the tourist attraction that a vehicle nearly collided with me. My plan had initially involved docking the bike and roam briefly on foot. However, an absence of available docks prompted me to continue riding along the Island Park Walk trail.

There were hardly any regrets, for the scenery along the creek and marina were just as beautiful as the Vancouver waterfront and Sea Wall.

As a recreational cyclist, one of the greatest features of Mobi was its time-based pricing system. Unlike Toronto Bike Share, Mobi does not mandates docking and undocking the bikes every 30 to 45 minutes to prevent overage charges. Elimination of this requirement allows users to indulge in a stress-free riding experience without constantly fearing the passing of time. That said, every minute paused is also a minute expensed.

​Continuing along the trail, I somehow arrived at Science World.

​Downtown, Granville Island, and Science World were three very different destinations on a transit map, yet fascinatingly all attainable with ease if equipped with a bike.

​I'd continue southbound along Quebec Street, not expecting to find abrupt termination of the buffers and pavement markings at E 3rd Ave. Subsequent stretches would be uphill, devoid of shade, and through primarily industrial areas, conjuring some degree of wariness with regard to safety. Thankfully, a few other cyclists - either regulars clad in skin-tight attire or office workers commuting home - provided guidance towards available connecting routes. Following their lead, I eventually found my way to W Broadway, mixing into vehicular traffic as I slowly made my way towards Broadway City Hall station.

Contrary to TTC stations, which have multiple access and egress points at all four corners of the intersection, SkyTrain stations can only be accessed at one point. Without the knowledge that the Broadway City Hall station was located at the southeast corner of the W Broadway/Cambie intersection, I continued to walk the bike to the northwest side. Upon almost reaching the next street over, I paused to verify the location of the transit stop and its closest Mobi station. Since departing downtown for the comparatively commercial-residential area of Mount Pleasant, there were significantly fewer docking stations, with hardly obvious coordinates to boot.
​Eventually, I resolved to cross towards the opposite corner of the intersection, braving the Eglinton LRT-like pedestrian detours on the south approach.

My ride totalled 11 km over a 71-minute period - likely the shortest I've ever undertaken. Due to greater elevation variances though, the trip felt more strenuous than excursions back home that were double or triple the duration. Thankfully, I had selected an e-bike for the trip. On the other hand, this choice would incur steeper per-minute charges. With an unlock fee of $1.75 and usage rate of $0.39 per minute, the trip set me back $29.44. After application of 5% GST, the journey totalled $30.91.
This was an obscene amount in consideration that usage rates for Bike Share Toronto were about half as much. Moreover, I had almost invested enough for a $49 Monthly Pass in just one afternoon!

It is my understanding that Bike Share Toronto is a publicly maintained system, owned and operated by the municipal authority, whereas Mobi is privately owned and sponsored by Rogers. With this difference in mind, I noted better quality and maintenance of Mobi bikes, despite fewer stations overall.

​Should I wish to bike again in the GVA, I'd likely take to a monthly pass and adhere to Classic Bikes in areas of low elevation. ​

Prior to returning, I decided to explore the neighbourhood a bit more. Across from Vancouver City Hall was a three-storey shopping plaza by the comprehensively common name of City Square Shopping Centre.

​I learned of Kin's Farm to have locations outside Richmond, and Daiso to persist along the West Coast, in spite of its conversion to OOMOMO inside Aberdeen.

Hankering for a mid-day pick me up, I continued south along Cambie in search of snacking material.

At finding nothing of interest though, I hopped back onto the SkyTrain at King Edward and returned to Templeton.

​Downtime before dinner allowed me around two hours to browse the outlets.

Without much thought, my footsteps led me into The North Face, where I uncovered truly incredible deals.

​The Freedom jacket which I had been eyeing for months would be found marked down to a whopping 70% off! While the Mulberry tone complimented my complexion, the lineup had unfortunately ran out of my size. The last Small fit well with the exception of annoyingly long sleeves. With some grievance, it was returned to the rack, where two Cantonese-speaking ladies debated between short and long down jackets for winter.

​Glancing through the nearby assortment of clothing, I found a pair of hiking pants marked down for $28.35, and swiftly looped it about my forearm.
But the Sample Sale assortment proved the most fruitful. Originally thought to be a lineup of faulty items, a nearby employee confirmed that Sample Sale items were simply produced in limited quantities and sizes to test sales, and that none were defective by any means. Women's apparel would be offered in Medium, meaning they'd be too roomy for me.

Turning towards the accessories instead, my gaze fell upon a dusty lilac and black Borealis backpack for just $32.40! Durable and lightweight with plenty of compartments, I immediately clutched my fingers over the product and meandered toward the checkout counter. What an amazing unexpected deal!

​My second stop was Soft Moc, where I secured a backup pair of EVA slides for home use. In addition to still being able to collect loyalty points, purchases were subject to a 30-day exchange period. The North Face had noted an identical policy, with the exception of the Sample Sale items.

Being mindful of time, I began to slowly route back towards the entrance. Past Japadog, Castella, ​and Neptune Wonton Noodle was a shallow fountain, and beyond that a lemon yellow Lee's Donuts trailer. ​As if the skies had spoken, the sighting compensated for my missed opportunity to visit their physical storefront at Granville Island.

​Donuts appeared to have acquired quite the cult following in recent years, though I could never figure out why. Excessively synthetic, sickeningly sweet rings were hardly my cup of tea. That said, there had to be some method to the madness behind renowned names such as Lee's and Mello.

​Hovering before the trailer, I sought out recommendations from the girl within. She named the Homer Donut, followed by the Churro, as the best-seller. My expectations for the $3.25 cake donut was awfully low, though perhaps it was precisely these grounds that generated greater glee. The donut was pillowy, light, and not greasy at all! In addition, strawberry essence could indeed be detected in the baby pink icing - delightfully fruity, not cloying, and utterly free from icky synthetic aftertastes. The colourful sprinkles were a cute touch as well.
I devoured half of the heavenly phenomenon, then returned it to its paper bag in fear of rendering myself too full before dinner.

Read Part 2 HERE !