The UVic bus loop can feel overwhelming — but with our official guide, it doesn’t have to
Photo via University of Victoria website.
Victoria’s public transportation can be a mixed bag, especially when a new school year starts and thousands of new and returning students commute to UVic daily. Some buses are more reliable and efficient, while others might test your patience. With this Martlet guide, find out which bus routes will take you from wherever you are in the city to the UVic bus loop.
“During the school year the UVic exchange is one of the highest frequency locations in Greater Victoria,” said BC Transit in an email to the Martlet. The Victoria Regional Transit System currently has ten routes that provide service to the UVic exchange; six of them have service to downtown, and the remaining four have service to McKenzie Street and the Gordon Head area. These routes have been assessed according to reliability, efficiency, and frequency.
Downtown service routes
Route 9: Royal Oak Exchange via Hillside
This is a mystery route. I’ve never seen it personally, and there isn’t much information about it online, but it still has fans.
“I love the 9,” wrote Sie Douglas Fish, a former UVic student, in a written statement. “It runs twice a day! Two times in the morning to UVic, twice from UVic in the evening.” This route serves 34 stops, but because it is so infrequent, Route 9 is at the bottom of my list.
Route 11: UVic to Tillicum Mall
With service every 25 minutes, and passing through key areas like Hillside Centre, Gorge Road, and Cadboro Bay, Route 11 is a convenient option for students who live in these areas. It serves 33 stops in total, and the full journey takes around 56 minutes. This long journey makes the 11 one of the worst options if you intend to go downtown on a connecting bus, and on top of that, this route is on time only 76 per cent of the time, according to the BC Transit app.
Route 7: Downtown to 21 Interurban
Route 7 serves 35 bus stops through the Fairfield area. This is a special route because it serves as two routes in one! It starts as Route 7, and once it arrives downtown, it transforms into Route 21. However, this bus tends to be slow and unreliable. According to the BC transit app, this route arrives on time about 74 per cent of the time, and has new trips only every 30 to 60 minutes. That’s a long wait if you miss the bus. Although this route is less reliable than Route 11, it will take you downtown faster, and the fact that this route combines two routes grants it extra points.
Route 14: UVic to Victoria General Hospital
Route 14 is one of the most popular choices for UVic students, connecting the university to downtown and Victoria General Hospital. With service every 20 minutes, this route is fast and frequent. It serves 58 stops and usually takes about 44 minutes to travel its full length. Route 14 sports single and double-decker buses. However, because the route is so popular, the bus is usually crowded and delayed.
Route 4: Downtown via Hillside
This route sets off every 20 to 30 minutes and has both single and double-decker buses as well. This bus serves 29 stops and has an average time of 30 minutes to complete its route, starting at the UVic exchange and finishing at Fairfield and Blanshard Street. It’s direct, short, and sweet.
Route 15: Esquimalt, Fort-Yates Express
This is the best bus serving the downtown area. It offers 30 stops and the full-length travel time is around the 35-minute mark. This express route comes every 25 minutes and its arrival accuracy is a glowing 90 per cent. Route 15 takes tenth place out of 56 BC Transit Victoria lines, according to the BC Transit app!
McKenzie and Gordon Head Routes
Route 12: University Heights
This route serves residents in the Gordon Head and Shelbourne areas. This route runs every 35 minutes, and it only needs around 15 minutes to complete its 21-stop full-length course. There’s no more service on this route after 7 p.m., and its infrequency often makes for a crowded bus experience.
Route 26: Dockyard
This route passes through residential neighborhoods and makes frequent stops, resulting in a slow trip. Buses run around every 25 minutes, but not all of those buses will complete the Dockyard route — some 26 buses will only run to Uptown. Route 26 serves 44 stops and the full trip takes around 50 to 60 minutes. To boot, it is only on time 68 per cent of the time.
Route 51: Langford to Uvic Express
This route offers a direct service from Langford to UVic, making this route ideal for students living on the West Shore. Route 51 serves 26 stops and takes about 36 minutes from start to finish. As awesome as this sounds, this route has no weekend operations and it only runs a limited amount of times during the week. The route allows students to take morning classes and return home during the afternoon.
Route 39: Colwood/Westhills exchange
This route is a direct link between Royal Roads University and UVic. Buses come every 30 minutes and the route serves 65 stops. The full trip can take up to 90 minutes, depending on traffic. While the route covers important academic hubs, the low frequency, and potential delays make it a frustrating option for students who rely on it. Nevertheless, Route 39 is on time 96 per cent of the time, ranking sixth place out of all 56 BC Transit Victoria lines in BC Transit’s app assessment.
Do you have any thoughts about your bus to or from UVic? BC Transit encourages UVic students to join the “Voice of the Rider,” an online engagement platform to share their thoughts on what can be done to make our transit systems safe, accessible, and reliable.
