Campaign on for low-income transit passes in Metro Vancouver as fares set to rise

Aman Chandi is a member of Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders, a transit advocacy group. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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With transit fares set to increase July 1, a Metro Vancouver group is campaigning to get the province to follow in the footsteps of other major cities and create low-income passes for all who qualify.

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Advocacy group Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders says the five per cent fare hike will hurt many residents.

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“It would be a huge strain on workers and families and low-income riders, and we have this mission that nobody should be denied transit because they can’t afford it,” said Aman Chandi, director of programs and fundraising at Movement.

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Chandi said her work with Movement is primarily focused on Surrey, where many newcomers, Indigenous people and seniors use transit.

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“We did some engagement with the urban Indigenous Elders in Surrey, and there was an Elder there who showed me that she had $2 in her bank account, and she’s like, ‘I cannot even afford a bus ticket.’ The conditions are dire,” Chandi said.

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A discounted transit pass does exist in B.C. — the B.C. Bus Pass — but is only available for low-income seniors and people receiving disability insurance from the province. For low-income seniors, the pass costs $45 annually, while those on disability either choose the bus pass or a $52 transportation supplement.

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Movement believes this should be expanded to include all low-income people.

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“There are people in Surrey who have to commute to Vancouver to work. Why are we punishing them? Why are we punishing riders with increases?”

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The program director said she has spoken to families who are sharing a university U-Pass, risking fines.

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Metro Vancouver transit prices are comparable to other major Canadian cities. After the fare hike, a one-zone adult pass paid with cash would go from $3.35 to $3.50, while concession fares for seniors and youth would go up to $2.30.

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In Calgary, prices are slightly higher, with adults paying $4 and youth paying $2.65.

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In Toronto, adults pay $3.35, youth pay $2.40 and seniors pay $2.30.

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But in Toronto and Calgary, discounted transit options are available to all low-income residents.

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Calgary’s low-income monthly pass can cost as low as $6.30 a month in its sliding scale system, up to $63 a month for those who qualify.

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In Toronto, the low-income pass offers a 36 per cent discount to transit fares, according to the city’s website.

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Metro Vancouver’s lack of a similar, more inclusive system is “embarrassing,” Chandi said.

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“For a region that cares about equity, we can’t even provide this support for folks who need it,” she added. “We have demographic-based discounts but we want it to be income-based discounts.”

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In other parts of B.C., Kamloops offers a low-income transit pass to adults. Penticton residents under the age of 24 ride free.