By car
Because the large geography, extensive highway system, and paltry public transport of the West Island, a car is by far the most convenient way to get around the West Island. Autoroute 40 covers the northern part of the West Island, taking you to Pierrefonds, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Fairview Shopping Centre, and Senneville. Autoroute 20 covers the south, taking you to Dorval including the Airport, Kirkland, Pointe-Claire, Baie-d'Urfé, and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue including the MacDonald Campus.
The two autoroutes, which go east-west, are connected via the following north-south roads in the West Island: Avenue des Anciens Combattants, Avenue St-Charles, Boulevard Saint-Jean, Avenue des Sources, Autoroute 13, and Autoroute Côte-de-Liesse. Getting from one highway to the other takes 5 min without traffic but up to 20 min at rush hour.
By bus
People without cars take the bus to get around the West Island. $3.00 one way, transfers included exact change required. Fairview Pointe-Claire shopping mall, at the corner of Autoroute 40 and Avenue St-Jean, is the hub for most bus services. Other bus connection points include Dorval commuter bus station at the intersection of Autoroute 20 and Côte-de-Liesse and McGill's MacDonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.
By bicycle
Lakeshore Road, along the shore of the St. Lawrence River, is an enjoyable ride by bicycle although the narrow road is shared by cars. The West Island does not offer many bicycle paths. Be alert, however, as cyclists on major roads are relatively rare, so drivers do not always look out for them. Remember that snow and ice can be a very real obstacle for cyclists from the end of November through to the beginning of April.
