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Here's a couple of specific information about bus lines :
- Bus drivers don't make change or sell bus passes, so be sure to have the exact change before getting on the bus or have a ticket. You can buy passes and tickets at metro stations and most convenience stores (aka dépanneurs).
- Bus stop signs (how to read them) : Telbus number, metro stations, crescents, lozenges.. no I'm not talking about Lucky Charms. That's what you will find on the bus stop signs. For each bus line, you will find an icon representing its type (reserved bus lane, metrobus, express bus, night bus), its bus line number, its AUTOBUS stop number and the next metro station on the bus' schedule.
- Express buses : express buses are basically the same as the metrobuses except that they don't have special bus stops. They are designated by a green E on their front and on the bus stop signs.
- Metrobuses : metrobuses only stop at certain special stops (with special bus stops). They are designated by a green M on their front and on the bus stop signs.
- Night buses : after the metro closes down for the night, the night buses take over. The night bus lines do not take the same route as their daytime equivalent and usually run only once every hour until the metro opens at dawn. All the major streets have their night time bus (they usually run alongside the metro lines). The night bus lines are identified by a black crescent moon on the bus stops and their number usually starts with a 3 (like the 365 on Parc ave.).
- Reserved bus lanes (rush hour buses) : at rush hour, some buses have their own reserved bus lanes (designated with large white lozenges). No cars (except taxis) can use those lanes, that's the idea. Reserved lane bus lines (aka rush hour bus lines) don't have the same number as their non-rush-hour equivalent. The rush hour buses have a large white lozenge over a green circle on the front of the buses and their number usually start with a 5.
- Schedules : there's a couple of ways you can get bus schedules, you can go to the Berri-UQAM metro station where a STM office is located (they have all the schedules for all the bus lines), you can call A-U-T-O-B-U-S (288-6287), sometimes you can find them on the buses (they disappear quickly though) or you can check out the STM's web site.
- Ticket price : the ticket price is the same as for the metro, if you have to take a corresponding bus line after the metro (or vice-versa) then don't forget to take a transfer. If you take a commuter train after a bus or taking the metro, you may have to pay for another ticket depending on where you are going, ask a driver or metro attendant for information.
- Telbus : it's a phone service you can call that tells you the schedule for the next three buses (give and take three minutes... actually it's more like 5 minutes) for a specific bus stop, each group of three bus stops have their own phone number. It's practical if you know the phone number of your stop in advance. But if you don't have the number, the STM's web site has a list of the numbers of each bus line.
- Transfers (aka correspondances) : if you want to make a connection with another bus or metro station, then you'll need a transfer (the driver usually offers you one once you have paid with change or a ticket). Transfers only work if you change bus lines, for example you can't get off at a stop then take the same bus line again or take the bus on the other direction. You can keep your transfer if you are making a connection to a third bus line though. Transfers are also useful if you are taking a bus after taking the metro or vice-versa.
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