Toronto is a relatively easy city to get around, with plenty of major roadways and an extensive highway/bypass system and two well-maintained transit systems. However, like any other city, it has its fair share of traffic snarls and delays, particularly during peak hours. For expats commuting to work in Toronto’s downtown, the transit system is the best option. GO Transit services offers a wide range of routes by train or bus into the city from most nearby townships, with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) offering more than adequate service in the city proper. This is also a more economic choice, given the fact that parking in Toronto’s downtown is extremely expensive.
Car ownership in Toronto is common, but not entirely necessary. A large number of Torontonians exist quite happily without cars in the city, choosing to use the transit systems and bike routes as well as walking from place to place. Toronto motorists in the heart of the city suffer from the regular frustrations of gridlock and the high cost of parking throughout the city. Toronto also has a permit-parking fee in place, making it difficult to park in residential neighborhoods. Cycling has become quite popular in Toronto, with a growing and vocal cycling community that is gaining ground in the area of bike paths and cycling lanes, making it an increasingly bike friendly city in which to live.
There are two airports in Toronto. The majority of air traffic is handled by Pearson International Airport, which house all major North American airlines and handles most of the connecting air traffic between the continents. The much smaller Toronto Island Airport houses Porter Air, which offers service to some of the larger cities in Northwest Canada and the U.S. There is also a ferry service at the city harbour, to allow access to Central Island, which houses Toronto Island Airport, park land, and residential areas.
