(CFJC Today/File photo).

By Aaron Schulze

Kids Ride for Free

B.C. Transit free for children 12 and under starting September

Aug 9, 2021 | 11:09 AM

VICTORIA — Bus fares are being lifted for children 12 and under in British Columbia this fall.

The B.C. government announced that starting Sept. 1, children can board B.C. Transit for free. Families that buy fares or monthly bus passes for children 12 and under will no longer need to do so.

“Free transit for children 12 and under makes life more affordable for families,” Premier John Horgan stated. “Taking public transit is a great choice. It offers a cleaner, low-carbon way of getting around that works for people, communities, and the environment. The ‘Get on Board’ program will also encourage a new generation of transit riders.”

The province said savings on a B.C. Transit children’s pass, at an average cost of $35 per month, would add up to $420 a year. The province estimates that approximately 370,000 children 12 and under throughout B.C. will be eligible to ride for free when the program is launched.

Unaccompanied children aged six to 12 will be able to ride buses and HandyDART for free without requiring a fare product or identification. B.C. Transit will require children aged five and under to be accompanied by a person 12 or older.

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While travel for children 12 and under will be free, the province said parents and guardians will remain responsible for providing adequate supplies for the safety and care of their children whenever travelling on transit.