Victoria City Council has endorsed a proposal to make all public transit in the Capital Region District (CRD) free for riders.
The proposal is described as an environmental action and involves phasing out transit user fees in the CRD and significantly improving bus services to encourage community usage.
...According to the city, vehicle emissions are responsible for over 50% of the community’s carbon output and encouraging residents to switch from personal vehicles to public transit would result in a significant step towards carbon neutrality.
https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2019/04/victoria-city-council-approves-proposal-for-free-bc-transit-across-the-crd/
In Whistler, the students will be provided free bus passes for the Whistler transit system early next year, while Victoria will give youth bus passes beginning next month.
Whistler’s plan will be funded by increasing the cost of monthly parking passes in day lots 1, 2 and 3, according to a news release from the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
Passes for monthly parking passes will increase by $10 to $60 dollars a month.
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/whistler-pilot-project-makes-transit-free-for-students
A Nanaimo city councillor is proposing youth ride transit for free around the city.
On Wednesday, Coun. Don Bonner wrote on social media that while he was riding the number 40 bus to a Nanaimo council finance and audit meeting, the bus was full of NDSS [Nanaimo District Secondary School] who have to pay to go to school.
“Time to make riding the bus free for youth under 19,” Bonner wrote.
https://www.cheknews.ca/nanaimo-councillor-calls-for-free-public-transit-for-youth-622127/
There is a growing call on the Sunshine Coast to make public transit free for students.
This initiative has so many benefits. Creating a culture and lifelong habit of taking the bus lowers our collective CO2 emissions by reducing the need for parents and students to drive. It would also make getting around the Sunshine Coast more equitable, giving equal access regardless of household income. And of course, it would reduce the congestion on our all too busy roads.
City of Powell River Council is awaiting a report from BC Transit regarding a prospective initiative to offer free transit to Powell River riders.
The suggestion to offer free transit came from the city’s youth council, which recommended at the June 18 committee of the whole meeting that council support a free transit pilot program for summer 2019 where all buses would be free.
https://www.prpeak.com/news/city-of-powell-river-looks-into-free-public-transit-1.23884090
