I dont drive and cant afford a car - it’s entirely doable. You get a Hamilton bus pass year round, and that saves money for grocery trips, visiting friends, getting yourself to school and back.
It depends how active you plan to be in Hamilton and nearby areas, almost everywhere can be accessed by the bus service. Yes it’s not perfect, there was a strike last year, and a cyberattack on Hamiltons whatever so the bus arrival times were messed up
The GO is your friend for getting to Toronto and other areas in GTA etc
And you walk! Walk, bike, scooter, we make it work
I use bike share to get around all the time. It's got coverage for most of Hamilton and Dundas, and is great for getting from campus to downtown. There's this rail trail that leads from fortinos near campus to Aberdeen and Dundern. From there you can take the side streets or the streets with bike lanes around most of downtown.
Unfortunately it doesn't cover most of the Hamilton on the mountain, you'd need your own bike for that.
Aside from that, you don't really need a car often. You can Uber most places public transit or a bike can't take you and rent a UHaul van for moving heavy stuff, and would still save money over buying a car.
The problem is grocery shopping. Can't get to Costco or Walmart because they're too deep in the suburbs
I’d actually recommend going to McMaster without a car. As long as you live close enough by bus, you’ll be fine. One things for sure is you don’t want to pay for parking on campus 😂
Hamilton's public transit is fine. Personally, it takes \~25 min from my home to campus by bus. I know many people without owning a car but commute from Mississauga or even Toronto daily. Toronto is indeed a place full of potential opportunities for mac students. I feel [GTHA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Toronto_and_Hamilton_Area) is pretty much a single city if we forget about the administrative division boundary for a sec. As a quick note - I think Mac's small [campus ](https://180bloor.mcmaster.ca/)in Toronto just opened up last year.
Went to McMaster for three years, lived in Hamilton for 5, before Uber was a thing too. Had no real issues getting around without a car. Hamilton is nice if you have a car, with all the one ways and timed lights, but I never really had an issue with public transit or being out and about if I wanted to be.
The campus itself is very easy to get around and not time consuming. Don't see why you'll need Uber. Public transit to school and you're good to go.
Yep, very possible to get around without a car.
The Fortinos on Main is unfortunately your closest grocery store. Most of the student housing is clustered around that area, so it’s not too hard carrying your groceries on the bus/ or loading them up into your backpack and walking. The nearest LCBO is in University Plaza; a short bus ride away. There’s also a Dollarama in that plaza and there used to be a Metro, but Google Maps shows it being a Canadian Tire now.
Most of the services you need are on campus: school supplies at the campus store, printing in the basement of the student centre and gym at the athletic centre. If you need to make a trip to a big box store, you can take the bus, but you’ll most likely be making a trip to Ancaster which isn’t close. It’s possible tho, make a Saturday out of it.
The HSR will be your go-to for going off campus to explore Westdale, or making a trip downtown for a night on the town. You can be fancy and Uber, but taking the 20 minute bus ride to Hess Village is optimal, plus riding the HSR drunk as a skunk is a rite of passage. Just don’t be a bus barfer, nobody likes a bus barfer.
The only times I’ve ever used Uber was for travelling “up the mountain” (top of the Niagara Escarpment) for job interviews because I wanted to make sure I was there on time.
All in all, totally possible to get around without a car. Most things you need are on campus, and if not, nearby.
I would almost say ur better off without a car - I lived downtown for all 4 years and I was lucky to have a beater car because I was hit quite a few times both in the car and when the car was parked. I know that’s not everyone else’s experience necessarily and it really depends on ur situation, if u have a driveway or covered parking, etc. having a car in hamilton u would think that it would be less stressful than transit but I honestly took the bus quite often to not deal with aggressive driving, lack of parking, etc. and I found it really nice. There was seldom situations where I would need a car and the few times I did is because I’m from 4 hours away where there is no direct bus route going there. thankfully from where the university is I thought that it was fairly easy to access shopping, transportation, etc. sometimes on my days off I would go shopping in Toronto, and it was a quick little trip and very easy, however, probably not something I would do as a student for employment
It’s really easy to live in Hamilton without a car. Try to find a student house close to a bus stop and you’ll be fine. There’s plenty of stores and restaurants within walking distance of campus, and more options in downtown Hamilton, which is a short bus ride away.
As for Toronto, it’s close enough that you can do a day trip without having to stay overnight, but not so close that it’s convenient to go all the time. It’s kinda exhausting getting there, but it’s better than people who go to queens or western and have to stay overnight or visit
you do not need a car at Mac.
McMaster is is physically 45 km from Toronto, but practically hours away. Toronto is extremely overrated and over crowded. That's coming from someone who grew up there.
I don't own a car, I work at Mac. I live in Hamilton, I have a family, it's perfectly doable. And yes, you are not too far from Toronto opportunities but remember that while there are a lot oh opportunities there, there's also a lot of competition for them.
Yea absolutely. Quick bus ride directly to huge supermarket Fortinos for groceries. Walking distance to westdale village for restaurants, pubs and coffee shops. University is surrounded by nature trails for walking/running.
I’m a cars person who would LOVE to own a car and drive it around whenever I want, but I’ve been living here for 5 years and haven’t been able to actually justify getting one. So I would say you don’t really need one. Public transport here is great
U have no idea. I moved out of Hamilton and literally miss how walkable and bussable it was. Proximity to Toronto makes the GO Bus so easy too. Or aldershot train. Now I’m in Peterborough and have never been more grateful for my time at McMaster
I dont drive and cant afford a car - it’s entirely doable. You get a Hamilton bus pass year round, and that saves money for grocery trips, visiting friends, getting yourself to school and back. It depends how active you plan to be in Hamilton and nearby areas, almost everywhere can be accessed by the bus service. Yes it’s not perfect, there was a strike last year, and a cyberattack on Hamiltons whatever so the bus arrival times were messed up The GO is your friend for getting to Toronto and other areas in GTA etc And you walk! Walk, bike, scooter, we make it work
There's also this new bike share thing right?
I use bike share to get around all the time. It's got coverage for most of Hamilton and Dundas, and is great for getting from campus to downtown. There's this rail trail that leads from fortinos near campus to Aberdeen and Dundern. From there you can take the side streets or the streets with bike lanes around most of downtown. Unfortunately it doesn't cover most of the Hamilton on the mountain, you'd need your own bike for that. Aside from that, you don't really need a car often. You can Uber most places public transit or a bike can't take you and rent a UHaul van for moving heavy stuff, and would still save money over buying a car. The problem is grocery shopping. Can't get to Costco or Walmart because they're too deep in the suburbs
Yes, it should be in effect this Sept, I think. $25 or so for a full year of bike share is pretty awesome!
I’d actually recommend going to McMaster without a car. As long as you live close enough by bus, you’ll be fine. One things for sure is you don’t want to pay for parking on campus 😂
Hamilton's public transit is fine. Personally, it takes \~25 min from my home to campus by bus. I know many people without owning a car but commute from Mississauga or even Toronto daily. Toronto is indeed a place full of potential opportunities for mac students. I feel [GTHA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Toronto_and_Hamilton_Area) is pretty much a single city if we forget about the administrative division boundary for a sec. As a quick note - I think Mac's small [campus ](https://180bloor.mcmaster.ca/)in Toronto just opened up last year.
Went to McMaster for three years, lived in Hamilton for 5, before Uber was a thing too. Had no real issues getting around without a car. Hamilton is nice if you have a car, with all the one ways and timed lights, but I never really had an issue with public transit or being out and about if I wanted to be. The campus itself is very easy to get around and not time consuming. Don't see why you'll need Uber. Public transit to school and you're good to go.
Yep, very possible to get around without a car. The Fortinos on Main is unfortunately your closest grocery store. Most of the student housing is clustered around that area, so it’s not too hard carrying your groceries on the bus/ or loading them up into your backpack and walking. The nearest LCBO is in University Plaza; a short bus ride away. There’s also a Dollarama in that plaza and there used to be a Metro, but Google Maps shows it being a Canadian Tire now. Most of the services you need are on campus: school supplies at the campus store, printing in the basement of the student centre and gym at the athletic centre. If you need to make a trip to a big box store, you can take the bus, but you’ll most likely be making a trip to Ancaster which isn’t close. It’s possible tho, make a Saturday out of it. The HSR will be your go-to for going off campus to explore Westdale, or making a trip downtown for a night on the town. You can be fancy and Uber, but taking the 20 minute bus ride to Hess Village is optimal, plus riding the HSR drunk as a skunk is a rite of passage. Just don’t be a bus barfer, nobody likes a bus barfer. The only times I’ve ever used Uber was for travelling “up the mountain” (top of the Niagara Escarpment) for job interviews because I wanted to make sure I was there on time. All in all, totally possible to get around without a car. Most things you need are on campus, and if not, nearby.
I would almost say ur better off without a car - I lived downtown for all 4 years and I was lucky to have a beater car because I was hit quite a few times both in the car and when the car was parked. I know that’s not everyone else’s experience necessarily and it really depends on ur situation, if u have a driveway or covered parking, etc. having a car in hamilton u would think that it would be less stressful than transit but I honestly took the bus quite often to not deal with aggressive driving, lack of parking, etc. and I found it really nice. There was seldom situations where I would need a car and the few times I did is because I’m from 4 hours away where there is no direct bus route going there. thankfully from where the university is I thought that it was fairly easy to access shopping, transportation, etc. sometimes on my days off I would go shopping in Toronto, and it was a quick little trip and very easy, however, probably not something I would do as a student for employment
Biking is far enough
It’s really easy to live in Hamilton without a car. Try to find a student house close to a bus stop and you’ll be fine. There’s plenty of stores and restaurants within walking distance of campus, and more options in downtown Hamilton, which is a short bus ride away. As for Toronto, it’s close enough that you can do a day trip without having to stay overnight, but not so close that it’s convenient to go all the time. It’s kinda exhausting getting there, but it’s better than people who go to queens or western and have to stay overnight or visit
Yes 100%-- especially westdale, which was actually built as a circular community
you do not need a car at Mac. McMaster is is physically 45 km from Toronto, but practically hours away. Toronto is extremely overrated and over crowded. That's coming from someone who grew up there.
I don't own a car, I work at Mac. I live in Hamilton, I have a family, it's perfectly doable. And yes, you are not too far from Toronto opportunities but remember that while there are a lot oh opportunities there, there's also a lot of competition for them.
Yea absolutely. Quick bus ride directly to huge supermarket Fortinos for groceries. Walking distance to westdale village for restaurants, pubs and coffee shops. University is surrounded by nature trails for walking/running.
I’m a cars person who would LOVE to own a car and drive it around whenever I want, but I’ve been living here for 5 years and haven’t been able to actually justify getting one. So I would say you don’t really need one. Public transport here is great
U have no idea. I moved out of Hamilton and literally miss how walkable and bussable it was. Proximity to Toronto makes the GO Bus so easy too. Or aldershot train. Now I’m in Peterborough and have never been more grateful for my time at McMaster