With municipal elections approaching, BC has a real opportunity to put children, youth, and families at the centre of the conversation about transit. Starting this week, the Centre for Family Equity is asking all mayoral, city council, school board trustee and parks board candidates everywhere in BC to endorse our vision for Child, Youth and Family-Friendly Transit Systems in BC.

Why this matters now

Mobility is essential for youth and families to access school, work, community, and the services they depend on. But our peer-led research shows how far we are from equity in BC's transit systems. Transportation is a substantial expense for low-income households, alongside housing and food, and families are routinely forced to choose between transit fares and other pressing daily needs. For children, youth and families across BC, the result is measurable exclusion: limited job prospects, missed medical appointments, and diminished access to the services and community life that allow people to thrive.

These barriers fall hardest on those already facing structural disadvantage: low-income families, disproportionately led by lone mothers, parents with disabilities, as well as Indigenous and racialized families. Access to affordable and reliable transit is a matter of equity, of rights, and of dignity — and it is one of the most direct routes out of poverty.

A comprehensive vision for BC

Our policy solutions are grounded in research and shaped by the voices of those with lived experience of mobility poverty. Our vision for Child, Youth, and Family-Friendly Transit Systems includes promoting green, active transportation, expanding transit in rural BC, equitable school access, and the implementation of free transit for all youth up to age 18. 

Our priority evidence-based recommendations:

• Expand the Get on Board program to include all youth up to age 18 in BC.
• Incentivize children and youth to get to school using green, active transportation.
• Establish low or no-traffic active transportation zones around all BC public schools and ensure transit stops are adjacent to schools.
• Introduce a sliding scale fare pass based on income for adults.
• Introduce fare evasion fine forgiveness programs in both of BC's transit systems for those experiencing financial hardship.
  Significantly invest in transit infrastructure in rural and remote BC regions.
• Improve equitable, safe access to transportation for families impacted by disability by bringing TransLink's HandyDART fully in-house.

Will you help make safe and accessible transit a reality for your community?

Election periods are when political will is most within reach. By asking every candidate where they stand — and encouraging them to endorse our evidence-based policy solutions — we can turn a moment of opportunity into real life daily impacts with life-changing outcomes for children, youth, and families across the province.

Community members: Let's make the message loud and clear in cities across the province! Your voice can make a real difference: Ask your local where they stand on transit for children, youth, and families, and encourage them to add their endorsement.

Candidates: Add your endorsement here to let us know you'll champion Child, Youth & Family-Friendly Transit for your community and for BC. We hope you join us to make this vision a reality in BC with strong leadership in every community in BC.