Building Canada’s Biggest
Youth Transit Resource Library
A bus can
take our youth anywhere.
Photo: Limestone District School Board
Get on the Bus is a national movement to inspire a youth transit revolution across Canada. We partner with communities, municipalities, transit agencies and grassroots organizations to provide fare-free transit to youth. As importantly, we focus on engagement and training, ensuring young people feel confident and connected using public transit.
Get on the Bus is a program of national charity Small Change Fund. Inspired by the acclaimed success in Kingston, we’re sharing all the good things that youth transit brings.
Why youth transit?
Lifelong transit users bring many benefits to communities and themselves. But they need to be grown.
Our mission is to get youth on the bus for free and train them how to use it. We help communities develop policies, partnerships and resources to create youth-focused transit programs. This empowers young people to choose public transit and helps them understand the benefits of sustainable transportation for life. It also gives back to the community by investing in the public transit system and creating future riders.
Throwing Our Car Culture Under the Bus | Dan Hendry | TEDxOttawa
Get On The Bus will bring all these benefits anywhere a bus goes.
Social Benefits
Independence & Confidence
Builds travel independence and self-reliance.
Skill Development
Enhances planning, time management and decision-making skills.
Increased Participation
Enables involvement in sports, clubs and community programs.
Expanded Educational Experience
Access to museums, libraries and cultural centres for experiential learning.
Equity in Access
Equal transit access regardless of income or background.
Improved Employment Pathways
Year-round access to jobs and volunteer opportunities.
Economic Benefits
School Transportation Savings
Fewer chartered buses are needed for activities.
Reduced Family Costs
Lower fuel and maintenance costs for family vehicles.
Youth Employment
Greater access to year-round job opportunities.
Gas Tax Funding
Increased municipal access to federal gas tax.
Environmental Benefits
Less Congestion
Fewer cars on the road means less C02 in the atmosphere.
Reduced Emissions
Less exhaust emissions being released into the atmosphere.
Sustainable Habits
Transit use from a young age results in lifelong sustainable practices.
More Efficient Transit
Better routes, better buses, and less carbon emitted.
Ready to get on the bus?
When youth use public transit, transit systems come alive. The future of Canada’s transit systems is stronger when we get young people riding today. Putting programs in place as we’ve done in Kingston makes that a reality.
Former Director, Transit Services, City of Kingston
The free bus pass allowed me to develop independence since I was no longer reliant on my parents for rides, and improved my social life dramatically since I could travel across town reliably without charge.
Frontenac Secondary School Alumna
