For many years, bus riders have been able to walk into public library branches and pick up printed timetables for various transit routes.

But that will not be possible in the future because TransLink has decided to "temporarily suspend" publication of these handy printouts and stick with digital timetables.

According to TransLink, this will save about $60,000 in September.

That's traditionally a busy month as students flock onto buses to reach their colleges, institutes, and universities.

"This change is due to various factors, including many groups who distribute timetables being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic," TransLink spokesperson Gabrielle Price told the Straight. "TransLink has been in touch with all distributors to alert them of this change."

Online timetables are still available.

According to Deloitte's Global Mobile Consumer Survey, 83 percent of Canadians used a smartphone in 2019, up from 71 percent in 2015.

"The biggest lift in the Canadian jump came from those 55 to 75 years of age: at 69 percent, smartphone adoption for that group was up six points year over year," Deloitte stated.

In 2019, TransLink's total revenues exceeded $2 billion and it posted an operating surplus of $333.2 million, according to its annual report.