The 53 Steeles East bus route operates between Finch Station on the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway, the area of Steeles Avenue East and Staines Road, generally in an east-west direction.  Accessible service is provided on the route.  Finch Station is an accessible subway station. Bike racks are available on this route.

Six services are operated.  The 53A (Finch Stn-Staines) is the main branch, and operates during the midday and late evening from Monday to Friday, and at all times on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The 53B (Finch Stn-Markham Rd) short-turn branch operates during the daytime and early evening from Monday to Friday, and the daytime on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.  The 53 (Finch Stn-Pharmacy) short-turn branch operates during the peak periods, from Monday to Friday only.  The 53D (Steeles & Yonge-Finch Stn) short-turn branch operates in service southbound only during the morning peak period, from Monday to Friday only.  The 53E (Finch Stn-Markham Rd EXPRESS) branch operates during the peak periods, from Monday to Friday only.  The 53F (Finch Stn-Staines EXPRESS) branch operates during the peak periods and early evening, from Monday to Friday only.

Eastbound 53 TO PHARMACY

During the morning peak period from Monday to Friday only, these buses operate from Finch Station via west on Pemberton Avenue, north on Yonge Street, east on Steeles Avenue East, south on Pharmacy Avenue, and west on Gordon Baker Road to Victoria Park Avenue.

Westbound 53 TO FINCH STN

During the morning peak period from Monday to Friday only, these buses operate from Gordon Baker Road and Victoria Park Avenue via north on Victoria Park Avenue, west on Steeles Avenue East, south on Yonge Street, and east on Bishop Avenue to Finch Station.

Eastbound 53 TO PHARMACY

During the afternoon peak period from Monday to Friday only, these buses operate from Finch Station via west on Pemberton Avenue, north on Yonge Street, east on Steeles Avenue East, and south on Victoria Park Avenue to Gordon Baker Road.

Westbound 53 TO FINCH STN

During the afternoon peak period from Monday to Friday only, these buses operate from Victoria Park and Gordon Baker Road via east on Gordon Baker Road, north on Pharmacy Avenue, west on Steeles Avenue East, south on Yonge Street, and east on Bishop Avenue to Finch Station.

Eastbound 53A TO STAINES

These buses operate from Finch Station via west on Pemberton Avenue, north on Yonge Street, east on Steeles Avenue East, south and west on Staines Road to Morningside Avenue.

Westbound 53A TO FINCH STN

These buses operate from Staines Road, north on Morningside Avenue, east on Oasis Boulevard, east on Seasons Drive, north on Staines Road, west on Steeles Avenue East, south on Yonge Street, and east on Bishop Avenue to Finch Station.

Eastbound 53B TO MARKHAM RD

These buses operate from Finch Station via west on Pemberton Avenue, north on Yonge Street, east on Steeles Avenue East, north on McCowan Road, and east on Elson Street to Markham Road.

Westbound 53B TO FINCH STN

These buses operate from Elson Street and Markham Road via south on Markham Road, west on Steeles Avenue East, south on Yonge Street, and east on Bishop Avenue to Finch Station.

Westbound 53D TO FINCH STN

These buses operate from the Steeles/Willowdale off-street loop (on the south side of Steeles Avenue East, east of Yonge Street) via west on Steeles Avenue East, south on Yonge Street, and east on Bishop Avenue to Finch Station.  These 53D short-turn buses provide southbound service only.

Eastbound 53E EXPRESS TO MARKHAM RD

During the morning and afternoon peak periods from Monday to Friday only, these buses operate from Finch Station via west on Pemberton Avenue, north on Yonge Street, east on Steeles Avenue East, north on McCowan Road, and east on Elson Street to Markham Road.  Eastbound 53E buses operate EXPRESS from Finch Station to Victoria Park Avenue, stopping only at Bayview Avenue, Don Mills Road, Woodbine Avenue, and Victoria Park Avenue;  53E buses then operate LOCAL from Victoria Park Avenue to Markham Road.

Westbound 53E EXPRESS TO FINCH STN

During the morning peak period from Monday to Friday only, these buses operate from Elson Street and Markham Road via south on Markham Road, west on Steeles Avenue East, south on Yonge Street, and east on Bishop Avenue to Finch Station.  During the afternoon peak period from Monday to Friday only, westbound “53E TO FINCH STN” buses operate from Elson Street and Markham Road via south on Markham Road, west on Steeles Avenue East, north and east through Bayview Loop, continuing south on Bayview Avenue, and west on Finch Avenue East to Finch Station.  Westbound 53E buses operate LOCAL from Markham Road to Victoria Park Avenue;  53E buses then operate EXPRESS from Victoria Park Avenue to Finch Station, stopping only at Woodbine Avenue, Don Mills Road, Bayview Avenue, and Finch Station.

Eastbound 53F EXPRESS TO STAINES

During the morning and afternoon peak periods and early evening from Monday to Friday only, these buses operate from Finch Station via west on Pemberton Avenue, north on Yonge Street, east on Steeles Avenue East, south and west on Staines Road to Morningside Avenue.  Eastbound 53F buses operate EXPRESS from Finch Station to Victoria Park Avenue, stopping only at Bayview Avenue, Don Mills Road, Woodbine Avenue, and Victoria Park Avenue;  53F buses then operate LOCAL from Victoria Park Avenue to Staines Road and Morningside Avenue.

Westbound 53F EXPRESS TO FINCH STN

During the morning peak period from Monday to Friday only, these buses operate from Staines Road, north on Morningside Avenue, east on Oasis Boulevard, east on Seasons Drive, north on Staines Road, west on Steeles Avenue East, south on Yonge Street, and east on Bishop Avenue to Finch Station.  During the afternoon peak period and early evening from Monday to Friday only, westbound “53F EXPRESS TO FINCH STN” buses operate from Quietbrook Crescent and Staines Road via north on Staines Road, west on Steeles Avenue East, north and east through Bayview Loop, continuing south on Bayview Avenue, and west on Finch Avenue East to Finch Station.  Westbound 53F buses operate LOCAL from Staines and Morningside to Victoria Park Avenue;  53F buses then operate EXPRESS from Victoria Park Avenue to Finch Station, stopping only at Woodbine Avenue, Don Mills Road, Bayview Avenue, and Finch Station.

All 53, 53A, 53B and 53D buses on the route serve local bus stops along the route.  The 53E EXPRESS and 53F EXPRESS buses serve local bus stops east of Victoria Park Avenue only.