The Free Transit for Children 12 and Under program is a Province of BC initiative allowing children aged 6 to 12 to ride fixed-route and handyDART buses in B.C. for free, unaccompanied and without requiring a fare product or identification.
Children aged 5 and under must be accompanied by someone aged 12 or older to ride the bus and must board and depart at the same stop as their guardian.
At BC Transit, providing safe and affordable public transportation that people can rely on is our top priority. We support the Province in their effort to help families get around more affordably by making transit free for children up to and including age 12.
BC Transit’s BusReady program offers educational materials to parents, guardians and their children aged 12 and under. Please visit busready.bctransit.com for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
This program applies to all BC Transit systems across British Columbia, including fixed-route, custom, paratransit, community, commuter systems and Health Connections buses.
Children aged 6 to 12 can ride the bus for free, unaccompanied and without requiring a fare product or identification.
Children aged 5 and under must be accompanied by someone aged 12 or older to ride the bus and must board and depart at the same stop as their guardian.
While taking the bus is free for children aged 12 and under, parents and guardians are responsible for educating and making decisions about the safety and care of their children whenever traveling on transit. This includes when children are traveling unaccompanied and determining if their children can or should take transit unaccompanied.
If an Operator determines that a child is in distress due to age, behavior, injury or circumstance, they are expected to call for assistance and allow the child to remain on the bus and in a location close to the driver.
Children aged 12 and under are not required to present a fare product or valid ID. BC Transit relies on the honor system in which customers aged 13 and older are expected to pay for a fare product. It is the parents and guardians’ responsibility to ensure their children have access to a fare product.
Drivers are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles. They are directed to report fare violations to supervisors as appropriate. We appreciate customers bringing any challenges they face to our attention.
Children aged 6 to 12 will be able to ride buses and handyDART for free, without requiring a fare product. Children aged 5 and under will be able to ride handyDART for free with an attendant. Customers have to apply, at no charge, for handyDART services.
Please contact the Umo call centre at 1-877-380-8181 to see if you are eligible for a refund.
You can bring your bike to the bus and place it on the bike rack, and you can click here to learn more. You can bring your foldable scooter on the bus, but it must be folded prior to boarding the bus and kept in front of you while sitting or standing to ensure it does not block the way for other passengers.
If you are looking for educational materials for children taking the bus for the first time, please click here to visit the educational BusReady web site. You will find videos and other engaging resources to teach your child the important life skill of taking transit.
School districts are responsible for providing school bus services for students living further distances from school, including those who do not have access to transit services that connect with their schools. The Free Transit for Children 12 and Under program is expected to complement existing school bus services used by children aged 12 and under, providing another option for children to travel to and from school.
While travel for children 12 and under is free, parents and guardians are responsible for educating and making decisions about the safety and care of their children whenever traveling on transit. This includes when children are traveling unaccompanied and determining if their children can or should take transit unaccompanied.
