Transit for Teens

Free transit for all youth up to age 18 in every transit system in BC

We call on the province to extend the provincial Get on Board program to include free transit for all youth up to age 18 in every transit system in BC. Youth are currently excluded from this important program in BC that only goes up to age 12. They do not deserve to be. 

Youth aged 13-18 in the crucial developmental stage of adolescence need basic mobility more than ever to thrive in every aspect of their lives. Our youths are the future of this province and our most valuable resource. We must ensure their right to access school and thrive while BC brings up new generations who choose sustainable transportation for life. We cannot separate the right of every youth to access their school from their access to the mobility to do so. 

Add Your Voice

BC needs a universal approach to public transit that ensures no youth is left behind or singled out due to their socioeconomic status. And let’s ensure that all at-risk youth experiencing mobility poverty can access the lifesaving supports they need.  

Sign our petition today and send a message to the provincial government that we need free Transit for Teens now.

Resources

In the news

Read about the Union of BC Municipalities 2024 resolution endorsing free transit for all youth under 18!

B.C. communities support expanding free transit for all youth
TransLink says suggested expansion could cost it $30 million in fare revenues annually
CBC News | September 19, 2024

B.C. municipalities back free transit for youth
Simon Little | Global News | September 19, 2024

UBCM supports expanding free transit to youths under 18
Transportation was top of mind on day 4 of the UBCM conference Thursday, with municipal leaders passing a vote in support of free transit for youths up to 18 years old.
CityNews | September 19, 2024

Listen to this CBC interview with Gloria Macarenko on On the Coast here: Youth Leadership Coalition member Ellie Goelman addresses the need for Transit for Teens with precision: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.7181851

Read our January 2023 Transit for Teens letter to BC's Premier and Ministers with recommendations on building an accessible public transit system.  

Endorsers

Transit for Teens has now been endorsed by over 30 stakeholders including:

• Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities
• BC School Trustees Association
• City of Langford
• City of New Westminster
• City of Vernon
• CIty of Kelowna
• District of Oak Bay
• District of Saanich
• New Westminster School Board
• Okanagan Transit Alliance
• Powell River School Board
• Town of Gibsons 
  
• Vancouver School Board

Research

Transit for Teens is based on research and data that we gathered as one of four community partners in the City of Vancouver Reduced Fare Transit Pilot Project in 2021-2022 and our historical support for the #AllOnBoard campaign run by the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition. The pilot project provided free transit for six months to low-income residents and families. Our peer researchers gathered data on the impact of free transit on the lives of pilot participants, including at-risk youth.   

Check out our report here.  

Transit for Teens needs your financial support. Will you support us to hire youth leaders and carry out all the high impact actions we need to win? Please join our Transit for Teens fundraising drive so our important work on this issue can continue. You can make a financial contribution to support Transit for Teens here.