People holding a bus pole

Resources

Youth Transit Programming in Kingston

A decade ago, Dan Hendry, Get On The Bus Co-Founder, helped plant the seeds for our movement in Kingston, Ontario. Partnering with the Limestone District School Board and the City of Kingston (Kingston Transit), he introduced a transformative program in 2012: the Kingston High School Bus Pass. This simple yet powerful model gave high school students free bus passes, along with hands-on orientation that built confidence in navigating public transit.

Pre-COVID, Kingston high school students increased their transit use from 28,000 to nearly 600,000 rides annually. That dramatic leap shows the impact of our core philosophy: when you equip youth with the tools, skills, and encouragement they need to use public transportation, they gain real-world independence and a sense of agency.

This “Kingston Model,” championed by Get On The Bus, is about more than free rides, it’s about creating a lasting cultural shift. By cutting carbon emissions, building life skills, and empowering youth, we’re proving that a simple bus pass can be a catalyst for widespread change in how communities move and grow.

“Introducing the Kingston High School Bus Pass Program, a game-changer for our local students! With free bus passes for every Grade 9 student, annual youth ridership has soared to an impressive 28,000.”
— 2012
“This groundbreaking year marks the first time all high school students (Grades 9-12) can ride the bus for free, propelling youth ridership to an impressive 600,000 annually.”
— 2016
“The City of Kingston introduced free rides for children aged 0-14, making it easier than ever for young families to embrace public transit.
”
— 2017
“The City of Kingston launched its all-new Field Trip Pass Program, offering a convenient and cost-effective transportation solution for educational outings.”
— 2017
“Awarded the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ “Sustainable Communities Conference” Inaugural Inspire Award, celebrating our unmatched creativity and innovation.”
— 2018
“Honored with the prestigious Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ “Sustainable Communities Conference” Transportation Award, recognizing our leadership in advancing sustainable mobility.”
— 2018
“Co-Founder Dan Hendry captivated an audience of 800 at the prestigious National Arts Centre during TEDx Ottawa, delivering the groundbreaking talk, ”Throwing Our Car Culture Under the Bus””
— 2019
“In partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the program helped develop a national guidebook showcasing how city–school collaborations can empower youth to choose sustainable transportation. Now available in both English and French.”
— 2019
“Participated in the Queen’s University’s DDQIC Summer Initiative with Jadon Hook and Jega Rajendran and conceptualized a social enterprise that uses learning from the success of the proven “Kingston Model” of youth transit programming to help build long-term transit ridership post-COVID-19 across mid-sized North American communities.”
— 2020
“Joined forces with Jadon Hook and Jega Rajendran in Queen’s University’s DDQIC Summer Initiative to develop an innovative social enterprise inspired by the proven success of the “Kingston Model.” Designed to boost long-term transit ridership in mid-sized North American communities post-COVID-19, this forward-thinking concept leverages youth transit programming to drive sustainable change.”
— 2020
“Teamed up with the Small Change Fund to explore strategic partnerships and expand the reach of youth transit programming to communities across the country.”
— 2021
“Represented Climate Reality Canada in the global 24 Hours of Reality Project hosted by Al Gore. Featured in the “Expanding zero-emission vehicles and transportation” presentation.”
— 2022

Community Materials

“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