BC Transit’s Umo (pronounced “you-mo”) electronic fare system is now live in the Fort St. John Regional Transit System. Umo introduces contactless payment methods and new fare products that improve the transit experience by allowing riders to pick the best options for their lifestyle and travel habits.
New Payment Methods
New payment methods include the Umo Mobility app and a reloadable Umo card. Live for use today, the Umo Mobility app is free in the Apple App and Google Play stores. Once downloaded, riders create an account to purchase and manage their fare products. When ready to travel, riders open their app to display a dynamic QR code that serves as their fare product. As riders board the bus, they present their app’s QR code to a new onboard validator. The Umo app also provides riders with additional tools to help them plan their trip.
Alternatively, available May 1, riders have the choice of using a reloadable Umo card. A Umo card can be picked up for free from a BC Transit Umo vendor and is designed for repeated use. Cards can be continually topped up with fare products through a vendor, online at ca.umopass.com, or through Umo’s customer service call centre at 877-380-8181. When boarding, riders tap their card at the new onboard validator. Riders are recommended to register their card by creating a Umo account online or through the Umo customer service call centre using the unique number on the back of their card. Registering a Umo card will safeguard fare products in the event a card is misplaced. A list of BC Transit Umo fare vendors is available at bctransit.com/fort-st-john/fares/.
New and Improved Fare Products
Umo introduces improvements and changes to some of the fare products riders use in the Fort St. John Transit System.
Cash Balance, an alternative to cash or Adult Single Ride fares, is a pre-paid dollar amount loaded to a Umo card or app. A Cash Balance value is drawn from by $2.00 as trips are taken.
A digital transfer, removing the need to collect and retain paper transfer slips, is automatically applied to a Umo app or card at onboard validation. Riders then simply scan or tap their Umo payment method on their second bus within a 90-minute transfer window to continue to travel without incurring an additional charge. A rider will know their transfer has been applied by referencing a confirmation message on the onboard validator’s digital screen.
Digital 10 Rides, eventually replacing paper tickets, is available via Umo at the same discounted price.
New 30-Day Passes, eventually replacing existing Monthly Passes, can be activated on any day of the month and s riders with unlimited travel during a continuous 30-day period.
The final date for Monthly Pass and paper ticket fare product sales is still to be confirmed but BC Transit plans to provide riders several months to transition to a new Umo payment method. While it is expected most riders will find one of Umo’s new payment methods a more convenient option, cash will continue to be accepted for riders who prefer it.
BC Transit’s Umo customer service call centre is live for support. Riders can call 877-380-8181 toll-free from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday – Friday and 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to receive support. Riders are invited to learn more about Umo by visiting bctransit.com/umo or attending an in-person engagement event.
DATE
TIME
LOCATION
Wednesday, April 24
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
North Light College – Fort St. John Campus 9820 120 Avenue
Wednesday, April 24
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Fort St. John Public Library 10015 100 Avenue
At a future date, BC Transit plans to provincially enable onboard payments with debit and credit cards.
