Difference between revisions of "Toronto"

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To go East, you need to reach Highway 401, North of the city centre. You can reach it via Don Valley Parkway (404), slightly East of the centre. There are several on-ramps to it such as Dundas St and Queen St, a walkable distance from the centre. Please note that you cross a deprived area on your way there (around Moss park), but it's generally safe.  
 
To go East, you need to reach Highway 401, North of the city centre. You can reach it via Don Valley Parkway (404), slightly East of the centre. There are several on-ramps to it such as Dundas St and Queen St, a walkable distance from the centre. Please note that you cross a deprived area on your way there (around Moss park), but it's generally safe.  
  
Others advise to avoid hitching within city limits, as it is an approach sometimes used by prostitutes to acquire customers.  If you prefer, you may take transit to one of the smaller centres outside of the city.  GO transit (www.gotransit.ca) has regular trains leaving Union station downtown Toronto for Oshawa (60km).  Get off at the Oshawa train station, there are on-ramps onto the 401 nearby (20 mins unpleasant walk).  Oshawa also has it's own public transit system that can get you further east.  Have a sign for points east, as there is a lot of local traffic in the Oshawa area.  Alternatively, you can get aboard a Greyhound bus for Peterborough (136km), or a ride VIA rail into Cobourg (117km).  Both of these cities are well out of the GTA and are easier to walk to good hitching points.  Onramps onto the 401 in Cobourg are good spots, and if you find yourself in Peterborough, the junction of HWY 115 and Lansdowne st, where HWY 7 begins, is a good place to begin travels towards Ottawa.  Highway 7 between Peterborough and Ottawa is notorious for being a bit tough to hitch on, though I personally have never had difficulties on it.   
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Others advise to avoid hitching within city limits, as it is an approach sometimes used by prostitutes to acquire customers.  If you prefer, you may take transit to one of the smaller centres outside of the city.  GO transit (www.gotransit.ca) has regular trains leaving Union station downtown Toronto for Oshawa (60km).  Get off at the Oshawa train station, there are on-ramps onto the 401 nearby (20 mins unpleasant walk).  Oshawa also has it's own public transit system that can get you further east.  Have a sign for points east, as there is a lot of local traffic in the Oshawa area.  Alternatively, you can get aboard a GO bus for Peterborough (136km), or a ride VIA rail into Cobourg (117km).  Both of these cities are well out of the GTA and are easier to walk to good hitching points.  Onramps onto the 401 in Cobourg are good spots, and if you find yourself in Peterborough, the junction of HWY 115 and Lansdowne st, where HWY 7 begins, is a good place to begin travels towards Ottawa.  Highway 7 between Peterborough and Ottawa is notorious for being a bit tough to hitch on, though I personally have never had difficulties on it.   
  
 
Also, there is a large service station off the 401 near Bowmanville, which may be a good spot to get a lift east.
 
Also, there is a large service station off the 401 near Bowmanville, which may be a good spot to get a lift east.

Revision as of 00:18, 26 June 2010

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<map lat='43.76712702120528' lng='-79.34326171875' zoom='9' view='3' float='right' />

Toronto is the largest city in Canada with over 5 million inhabitants in the Greater Toronto Area. It is also the capital city of Ontario. It is a fabulous city worth visiting, with a vibrant musical and cultural scene.

Hitching Out

East toward Oshawa, Kingston, Ottawa and Montreal

Some say that hitching out of Toronto is difficult. But as not so many points seem to have been tried yet, maybe you can give it a try and discover some new ones.

Easiest way: Bloor-Danforth subway all the way East to Kennedy, transfer to Scarborough RT, go all the way to McCowan, exit, walk North to Corporate Drive 401 ramp. In fact, on Google street view you can see a hitch hiker there getting picked up :)

To go East, you need to reach Highway 401, North of the city centre. You can reach it via Don Valley Parkway (404), slightly East of the centre. There are several on-ramps to it such as Dundas St and Queen St, a walkable distance from the centre. Please note that you cross a deprived area on your way there (around Moss park), but it's generally safe.

Others advise to avoid hitching within city limits, as it is an approach sometimes used by prostitutes to acquire customers. If you prefer, you may take transit to one of the smaller centres outside of the city. GO transit (www.gotransit.ca) has regular trains leaving Union station downtown Toronto for Oshawa (60km). Get off at the Oshawa train station, there are on-ramps onto the 401 nearby (20 mins unpleasant walk). Oshawa also has it's own public transit system that can get you further east. Have a sign for points east, as there is a lot of local traffic in the Oshawa area. Alternatively, you can get aboard a GO bus for Peterborough (136km), or a ride VIA rail into Cobourg (117km). Both of these cities are well out of the GTA and are easier to walk to good hitching points. Onramps onto the 401 in Cobourg are good spots, and if you find yourself in Peterborough, the junction of HWY 115 and Lansdowne st, where HWY 7 begins, is a good place to begin travels towards Ottawa. Highway 7 between Peterborough and Ottawa is notorious for being a bit tough to hitch on, though I personally have never had difficulties on it.

Also, there is a large service station off the 401 near Bowmanville, which may be a good spot to get a lift east.

NOTE: Kingston is well known for being a jailing centre, there are more than 10 prisons in the area. It is a very, very difficult place to get picked up from. If Kingston is not your destination, consider taking a ride that gets you well beyond it. Though, if you're curious, Kingston is one of Ontario's most charming cities, despite all the jails!

SouthWest toward Hamilton, Niagara and Buffalo

West toward Kitchener (Ontario), London (Ontario), Windsor (Ontario), Sarnia and Detroit

North toward Barrie


This method gets you just north of Major Mackenzie drive which is far enough outside of Toronto that you will be able to get a lift. In the Summer, you can take the subway to Yorkdale station (I believe York Mills Station works too), Proceed to the GO Bus Terminal and buy a direct ticket to Wonderland (should be $4-5). When you arrive at the park it is about a 200 meter walk back to Highway 400. There is an overpass on/off ramp right there, where you can wait for a ride. When you get off at the Park if you go in the opposite direction from the highway about 300 m there is a large plaza with lots of gas stations and fast food joints for food, including a Tim Hortons for your coffee fix. Also check the "Canada's Wonderland" website for updated info on this bus, under the heading "Planning a visit" then "Directions".

Helpful Tip: Try to convince the bus driver to let you off just after you get off highway 400 if you want to avoid the walk from the park back to the highway.


Alternate Route to the Park: To my opinion, the best way to get there - operating year round, cheap, frequent: take the ttc bus 165D from Wilson subway to its last stop, Hwy 400 Car Pool Lot. Buses run Mon-Sat from 5.43am - 24 to 30 mins interval, last bus at 9.51pm. If You will not get a ride north, the last bus 165D back to Toronto runs at 10.54pm. Sunday: they run from 8.50am till 8.10pm - every 32-40 minutes. You can use a free transfer from the subway, and You are supposed to pay extra $0.35 since You travel past the city border. This last stop is only a FEW METERS from the ramp! THe ramp is in a good place because it is out of the city, yet there is enough traffic on it. This seems to be the best spot to hitch north/transcanada from Toronto.