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Welcome, Sophia!

Get on the Bus is thrilled to welcome Sophia Young as our Edmonton Consultant. Sophia became a public transit advocate after facing transportation barriers in her youth. At the age of 15, she helped direct a successful fare-free transit campaign for youth thirteen and under in her hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan.

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Why I Joined the Get On the Bus Movement

James Beyer, a second-year marketing student, joins Small Change Fund's Get on the Bus movement. His personal connection drives enthusiasm for free transit, reflecting on its impact on his adolescence. Excited to contribute, James values the movement's equitable youth mobility.

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101.5 UMFM “Not Necessarily The Automobile” Guest Spot

On Saturday, February 17th, 2024 Get on the Bus co-founder Dan Hendry discussed the current state of youth transit, as well as the future of the movement, with Adam Johnston from Not Necessarily The Automobile. The Winnipeg-based radio series focuses on alternative transportation in Adam’s home city.

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London School Board Investigating Free Transit for High Schoolers

The Get on the Bus team is happy to see London joining the growing list of communities across Canada investigating youth transit solutions, including Halifax, Orangeville, Belleville, Victoria, Toronto, and Grand Prairie. Free youth transit can transform students’ lives by providing access to unlimited opportunities.

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Launching a Youth Transit Movement

A decade ago, Dan Hendry helped lead a simple but powerful model to transform public transit in the City of Kingston, Ontario. The Kingston Transit High School Bus Pass Program was born when Limestone District School Board partnered with Kingston Transit to offer high school students in the City free bus passes.

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Get on the Bus Gaining Traction

This year, Get on the Bus has gained considerable traction with communities across Canada expressing interest in implementing similar initiatives and municipalities reaching out to hear more from our team. On June 6, 2023, Dan and Burkhard were invited to present the movement at a Planning and Works Committee meeting for Waterloo (ON) Region

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Youth Transit in the News


London Transit: Too many hurdles yet for free-ride high school test

London Free Press • October 2024

B.C. municipalities back free transit for youth

Global News• September 2024

More than 28K students in Halifax area to receive free transit passes

CityNews • August 2024

Student Transit Pass Pilot Expands

Government of Nova Scotia News Releases • August 2024

Ride and Read program provides free transit to Milton youth

Inside Halton • June 2024

Pilot program to get more kids riding Barrie Transit instead of school buses

Barrie360.com• June 2024

Youth need no ticket to ride Barrie's transit this summer

CTV News • May 2024

Orillia Transit teen and senior passes now available

Orillia News • February 2024

Saanich council backs motion for free transit for teens

Victoria Times Colonist • May 2024

Saanich council asking province to consider free bus passes for teens

Greater Victoria News • May 2024

Advocating for free transit ridership in Kelowna for 13-18 year olds

Kelowna Capital News • April 2024

Youth Are Calling for Free Public Transit Across BC

The Tyee • April 2024

Penticton first in B.C. to offer free transit to riders 24 and under

Penicton Western News • March 2024

Brampton bolsters transit use, expands youth program offering free trips in the summer

The Pointer • February 2024

Victoria youth U-PASS to free ride on transit rolls into 2024

Greater Victoria News • November 2023

Getting high school students on public transit

CBC News • November 2023

Grande Prairie Transit now free for youth under 18

My Grand Prarie Now • September 2023

Youth activist drives change for fare-free transit in Regina

David Suzuki Foundation • July 2023

Burlington seniors to get free transit in August, young people ride free on evenings and weekends

CBC News • July 2023

Youth and seniors to ride Oakville Transit for free

Oakville News • April 2023

Youth and seniors ride Oakville Transit free starting May 1

Inside Halton News • April 2023

Kelowna youth climate action group petitions to make transit public

Kelowna Capital News • March 2023

Free youth and post-secondary student transit on the Sunshine Coast by 2024 proposed

Coast Reporter News • February 2023

Should Sunshine Coast students get to ride the bus for free?

CBC Listen • February 2023

New West school board calls for free transit for teens

New Westminster Record News • February 2023

Region may consider free transit rides for children and seniors

City News • January 2023

Better Bus Youth looking to make transit free for Regina students

CTV News Regina News • November 2022

Cambridge trustee proposes free public transit for students

Cambridge Today News • September 2022

High school students launch petition for fare free transit

CTV News Regina News • June 2022

Free transit for St. Albert youth

St. Albert Gazette • November 2020

City says Charlottetown youth transit project a success, but barriers still exist

CBC News • August 2019

City of Victoria considers free public transit for children

CBC News • December 2018

We invite you to explore these youth transit stories and join us in celebrating the achievements of communities across Canada.

Do you think should public transit should be free?

CBC Listen • September 2024

B.C. communities support expanding free transit for all youth

CBC News• September 2024

Free bus passes for high school students

Sudbury Local News• August 2024

Langford joins other municipalities in calling on BC to make transit free for youth and seniors

Victoria Buzz• June 2024

B.C. communities want free transit access for youth, seniors

Vancouver Island Free Daily • June 2024

'Good evolution': City, school board partnering on free transit plan

Barrie News • June 2024

Penticton first city in B.C. to offer free ride for youth transit riders

Penticton Western News • March 2024

B.C.'s Sunshine Coast to expand free transit to youth up to age 18

Coast Reporter• February 2024

Free transit for teens campaign catches steam in Vernon

Kelowna Capital News • May 2024

Saanich pushes for free transit for those 18 and under

Victoria Times Colonist • May 2024

Kelowna council to explore offering free transit to youth up to 18

Kelowna Now • April 2024

Free London Transit passes for east-end high school students set for test ride

London Free Press • April 2024

Sunshine Coast to expand free transit to youth up to age 18

Coast Reporter • February 2024

New report sets out bold 10-year plan for integrated public transit throughout BC

BC Federation of Labour • February 2024

Regina advocacy group continues calls for fare-free transit for youth

Regina Leader Post • December 2023

School board eyes pilot project to get high schoolers on city buses

The London Free Press • November 2023

TVDSB to consider free transit passes for high school students

CBC News • November 2023

A Student Bus Pass Program Builds Public Transit Loyalty in Ontario

Blue Dot Living News • July 2023

Burlington public transit free for seniors any time, free for youth evenings and weekends

Global News • July 2023

Transit Training Program Boosts Ridership, Gives Grade 9 Students Their Freedom

The Energy Mix News • June 2023

More Ontario communities are giving kids and teens a free ride — on public transit

TVO Today News • April 2023

Few school bus drivers, one possible fix: Free transit passes for city students

The London Free Press News • March 2023

Free transit for youth proposal headed for vote

My Grand Prarie Now • March 2023

Idea floated for free high school bus passes

Quinte News • February 2023

Hamilton and District Labour Council wants city council to get ball rolling on free public transit

CBC • February 2023

Kids can travel free on Burlington Transit - but will need a Presto Card - City giving away 1000 of them

Burlington Gazette News • January 2023

WRDSB trustees looking into free bus passes for students

City News • January 2023

More students in Dartmouth to get free transit passes

The Signal News • November 2022

Will St. Catharines idea for free student transit passes be extended to Niagara Region?

Insauga News • July 2022

Free transit for Milton youth aged 16 and under this summer

Inside Hatton News • June 2022

What Guelph can learn from Kingston's free bus program for youth

Guelph Today News • February 2020

Mont-Tremblant: free bus local service to all users

Tramblant Express • June 2019

Transit teaching program in Kingston garnering national attention

Global News • June 2018