A bus can take our youth anywhere.

Get on the Bus is a national movement to inspire a youth transit revolution in communities everywhere. We’re building a network of communities that are investing in youth transit education and free youth passes and providing resources, support and connections to help them launch their own youth transit programs.

Inspired by the acclaimed success in Kingston, we’re sharing all the good things that youth transit brings.

Students in front of a Kingston Transit bus

Photo: Limestone District School Board

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.

Lowers the cost of school programs.

Provides youth from all backgrounds access to life-enriching opportunities.

Reduces air pollution and traffic congestion.

Builds confidence and encourages independent travel.

Makes it easy to support local businesses.

Boosts participation in cultural programs and expands employment opportunities.

Creates lifelong transit users.

Increases access to community resources and services.

"Over the past 10 years that the Kingston Transit High School Bus Pass Program has been in place I've seen a number of positive changes in the way that students and staff are able to access our two Kumon centres in Kingston. I see young students who are not bound by the availability of their parents to drive them to the centre after school and high school staff who have this sense of pride as they commute to their part time job on their own. I even had a student come up to me after their class at the centre asking if I could look on my phone for something. At first I thought she wanted to call her parents for a ride home from our centre but what she actually wanted to know was when the #2 was coming next as she had made plans with some friends. Taking transit never would have been on my radar when I was that age. Making transit more accessible for students in Kingston has made more parts of our beautiful city accessible to them."

Kelvin Tang
Co-Owner, Kumon 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."

Saige Clark
Frontenac Secondary School Alumna
"Lasting change starts with habits, and one habit that we've been thrilled to see grow in our students is that of taking public transit. Since Kingston made the decision to provide free transit for all youth, I've noticed students using the bus more not only for their transport to and from school, but also to meet friends and move around the city on a regular basis. Through Kingston Transit's field trip program, we've been able to use public transit in lieu of school buses, reducing cost barriers that sometimes come with field trips. These initiatives have allowed for increased accessibility across the city and have sparked conversation around what sustainability looks like as well."

Catherine Tang
Grade 7 Teacher with Limestone District School Board
"Working with the Kingston Transit team through the youth transit programs has been an incredible experience for our organization and the students we serve. This past Fall, Loving Spoonful's GROW Project facilitated 14 field trips with 314 students from the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) and Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) to an urban farm to teach students about local food. With access to the 'Teacher Field Trip Pass,' schools in Kingston could take advantage of free Kingston Transit rides to and from their destinations. Planning these trips was a breeze, and the teachers were provided with all the necessary information for a successful day. Out of the fourteen schools, we offered the sustainable option to each of them. We had three schools located outside the city limits, three within walking range of the garden, and five classes ranging from kindergarten to grade 5 that enthusiastically elected to take public transit! We are grateful for the support and partnership of Kingston Transit in making our field trips a success. Together, we are inspiring the next generation to embrace sustainable transportation and create a brighter future for our community."

Emily Duncan
GROW Educator, Loving Spoonful
"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."

Jeremy DaCosta
Director, Transit Services, City of Kingston

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Ready to Get on the Bus?

Here’s how you can start the wheels rolling in your community.