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TransLink spent just over $4,000 on “tire socks” in order to keep buses running up Burnaby Mountain during two snow days last winter.

Last fall, the transit authority announced that it would be the first in North America to test tire socks on buses. The socks are fabric covers that have Kevlar threads running through them, and are installed on the back wheels of buses.

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tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or TransLink used 'tire socks' on buses two days last winter, at a cost of $4,300 Back to video

The socks were used on four buses that ran between Production Way-University SkyTrain station and the information tunnel and bus loop at Simon Fraser University, a route that is often hit hard by snowy winter weather.

This winter, service to the university was never cancelled.

The tire socks were used on two occasions during the winter: Dec. 19 and Feb. 23. The transit authority used 19 sets of tire socks at a cost of about $230 per set, for a total cost of about $4,370. A set of tire socks typically lasted for about two hours.

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TransLink spokesman Chris Bryan said overall, the results of the tire-sock trial were positive.