A somewhat forgotten program introduced by the City of Victoria late last year is being resurrected in a way that lets people abide by COVID-19 health and safety regulations.
Victoria residents aged 12 to 18 years old can now apply for their free monthly bus passes online and have them mailed to their homes.
For now, the passes will be made available for June, July, and August, after over two months of BC Transit cancelling fare collection and thereby rendering bus passes obsolete during the height of the pandemic.
See also: Victoria transit commission rejects motion to expand free bus pass program for youth
“Although transit has been free during the COVID-19 pandemic, fares are returning over the coming weeks, so this innovation is perfectly timed,” said Mayor Lisa Helps in a statement on Friday.
“I believe in free transit for youth and I’m excited to see this valuable program moving forward in a way that keeps residents and staff safe.”
The children applying for these passes or their parents/guardians will be required to provide documentation and confirm their eligibility to participate in the City of Victoria’s free monthly transit pass program.
These passes come at a cost of $729,000, and a total of 7,200 monthly passes have been made available.
Applications can be made at this website or by emailing the City’s Public Service Centre at upass@victoria.ca or by calling 250-385-5711.
See also: K-12 students can start returning to classrooms in B.C. on June 1 on voluntary basis
