EFFECTIVE: April 1, 2016
Fare Structure Approved
at the December 8, 2015
Victoria Regional Transit Commission Meeting
This Tariff is available for public inspection at the offices of BC Transit, 520 Gorge Road East, Victoria, B.C. and online.
SECTION I DEFINITIONS 3
SECTION II FARES 5
SECTION III TERMS AND CONDITIONS 9
SECTION VI COMPLIANCE WITH THE TARIFF 11
In this Tariff, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms thereafter defined shall have the following meaning:
(2) Cash
Coins or printed currency issued by the Government of Canada or the Government of the United States. Exchange is not paid on U.S. currency.
(3) Child
A person who is 12 years of age or under.
(4) Discount Fare
Discounts on prepaid products are applicable to youth and seniors, upon proof of eligibility, as defined herein.
(5) handyPASS
A handyPASS is issued to registrants of the Victoria Regional handyDART System to identify passengers with disabilities as qualified to travel with attendants or to use Taxi Savers.
(6) Mobility Aid
A mobility aid is a scooter, wheelchair, baby stroller or pediatric stroller. A mobility aid must not exceed 2 feet by 4 feet (24” by 48” or 60.96 cm by 121.92 cm), must have secure components to which tie-down straps can be attached, and must carry no aerials, flagpole, or other projections which may injure other passengers or interfere with securement of the mobility aid.
(7) Pass
A pass sold by or for BC Transit, equivalent in value to a fare when used in accordance with this tariff.
(8) Post-Secondary Institution
A post-secondary learning institution Registered and Accredited under the Private Career Training Institutions Act (PCTIA).
(9) Post-Secondary Student
A full-time student enrolled at a participating registered learning institution. Full-time attendance is defined as a minimum of 20 hours per week in attendance at the institution for a minimum of three months.
(10) Preschool
A person who is five years of age or under shall be carried free when accompanied by a fare paying passenger. At least one accompanying adult guardian is required for every eight passengers five years of age or under.
(11) Regular Fare
If paying with cash, all passengers must pay the regular fare. If paying by prepaid product, a regular product must be used by all passengers who do not qualify for a discount as defined herein.
(12) Senior
A person who is 65 years of age or over and presents upon request a BC Services Card or Gold CareCard issued by the Province of British Columbia, valid Drivers License, Passport, Birth Certificate indicating date of birth, Health and Welfare Canada Old Age Security Identification Card, or equivalent picture ID issued by any national, provincial, or state government agency showing age or date of birth.
(13) Fare Receipt
A piece of paper issued by BC Transit in order to regulate and control the payment of fares.
(14) Transit Employee
An employee of BC Transit or its agents.
(15) University Student
A full-or part-time student at either the University of Victoria, Camosun College or Royal Roads University.
(16) Victoria Regional Transit System
This Tariff applies to all services of the Victoria Regional Transit System including fixed route, paratransit and handyDART service. Fares are valid on all of these services unless exceptions or special charges are noted in this tariff.
(17) Youth
A person who is 18 years of age or under and presents upon request a valid Drivers License, Passport, Birth Certificate, BC Services Card, BC CareCard, or equivalent picture ID validated by any national, provincial, or state government agency showing age or date of birth.
SECTION II FARES
Conventional Service Fares effective April 1, 2016
Fare Product Category
Child
Regular
Discount
CASH
Free
$2.50
$2.50
TICKETS
$22.50
$22.50
MONTHLY PASS
$85.00
$45.00
College Pass
$77.00
DayPASS
$5.00
$5.00
handyDART Fares effective April 1, 2016
Fare Product Category
Fare
CASH
$2.50
TICKETS
$22.50
MONTHLY PASS
$85.00
(1) CASH FARES
Cash fares are to be submitted as exact fare only in Canadian or U.S. currency. Operators carry no change. A cash fare is valid for unlimited travel (with appropriate fare receipt) in one direction up to the time shown on the fare receipt received when the fare is paid.
(2) TICKETS
Tickets will be sold through vendors in sheets of ten tickets. A valid ticket is equivalent in value to a fare when used in accordance with this tariff.
A ticket is valid for travel on all services of the Victoria Regional Transit System including handyDART. Tickets are not valid on the Cowichan Valley Commuter.
(3) PASSES AND PROGRAMS
Passes must remain in the possession of the bearer at all times while riding on the transit system, and in keeping with terms in Section III and VI.
VICTORIA REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM TARIFF – APRIL 1, 2016
(a) DayPASS
A DayPASS is valid for unlimited travel on all services of the Victoria Regional Transit System for one day only and only for the service day for which it is validated. A DayPASS is not transferable and not valid on the Cowichan Valley Commuter and is only available for purchase on board the bus.
(b) Regular Monthly Pass
A regular monthly pass is valid for unlimited travel on all services of the Victoria Regional Transit System including handyDART for the appropriate calendar month stated on the pass. A monthly pass is sold only by vendors under agreement with BC Transit, or sold by BC Transit. A regular monthly pass is not valid on the Cowichan Valley Commuter.
(c) Discount Monthly Pass
A discount monthly pass is not valid on handyDART or the Cowichan Valley Commuter.
Passengers using a discount monthly pass must be prepared to demonstrate eligibility by displaying identification as defined in Section I.
(d) Post-Secondary Monthly Pass
Post-Secondary students registered for full-time attendance may purchase a regular monthly pass from their campus outlets under the terms and conditions established between these institutions and BC Transit.
Passengers using a discount monthly pass must be prepared to demonstrate eligibility by displaying identification as defined in Section I and in keeping with terms of Section VI.
Registered learning institutions may apply to BC Transit to sell regular adult monthly bus passes to qualifying students for an $8.00 discount off the regular monthly pass price. Schools are not permitted to charge students any additional fees for these passes. To qualify for the pass, students must be in attendance full-time for a minimum of three months at a post-secondary educational institution in the Greater Victoria region. Full-time attendance is defined as a minimum of 20 hours per week in attendance at the institution.
Institutions must apply to BC Transit and must be willing to administer the bus pass program and to ensure that passes will only be sold to their students who qualify. The Institution must be set up as a bus pass vendor to sell monthly passes at the Post-secondary monthly rate. A Post-secondary Bus Pass Vendor Agreement will be initiated between BC Transit and the Institution. The agreement establishes reporting requirements, product limitations, and other requirements.
A minimum of 10 Post-Secondary bus passes must be sold each month to maintain status on the program. Institutions with fewer than 10 sales per month must accept responsibility for courier and administrative costs of pass delivery and accounting.
(f) U-PASS
This non-transferable student photo-ID pass is valid for unlimited travel on all services of the Victoria Regional Transit System including handyDART where issued to a full- or part-time regular post-secondary student or regular high school student included in the U-PASS program through agreement with BC Transit and the respective educational institution. The funds received per student may include contributions from institutions as well as fees levied against students. U-PASS is not valid on the Cowichan Valley Commuter. Further terms are identified in each institution specific U-PASS agreement.
(g) Employer Bus Pass (ProPASS)
This non-transferable photo-ID pass is valid for unlimited travel on all services of the Victoria Regional Transit System where issued to a permanent employee of an employer participating in the ProPASS program through agreement with BC Transit. ProPASS is not valid on the Cowichan Valley Commuter.
Monthly Multiplier
Effective
Annual Rate
Monthly Rate
Bi-weekly Rate
10.3
April 1, 2016
$875.50
$72.96
$33.67
(h) BC Bus Pass Program
The BC Bus Pass annual pass is valid for unlimited travel on all services of the Victoria Regional Transit System with the exception of handyDART service during the calendar year for which it is issued. The pass is issued by the Government of British Columbia to eligible recipients through agreement with BC Transit and rates payable to BC Transit on behalf of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission are negotiated annually.
The pass is not transferable. Application for a BC Bus Pass or replacement pass must be made to the responsible ministry of the BC Government. The government of BC has the authority to define eligibility and to set and amend the rates charged to the client to receive a pass or replacement pass.
(i) Family Travel Program
Parents and guardians may board with up to four children (12 years of age or under) for no additional fare. Children must alight prior to or with the fare paying passenger. The following payment methods are allowed:
– Adult (19 years of age or over) paying with a regular Monthly Pass, DayPASS, ProPASS, U-PASS, EcoPASS, or BC Bus Pass
– Senior (65 years of age or over with valid ID) paying with a discount monthly pass, DayPASS,
(j) Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)/ BC TRANSIT Annual Pass
The CNIB National Identification Card or BC Transit Blind Persons pass is valid for unlimited travel on all conventional and community bus services of the Victoria Regional Transit System excluding handyDART. The pass is available to medically blind persons as determined by the CNIB criteria.
(k) War Amputee Annual Pass
The War Amputee Pass is valid for unlimited travel on all services of the Victoria Regional Transit System including handyDART to members of the War Amputees of Canada Association. Passes are provided by BC Transit to the War Amputees of Canada Association which is responsible for issuance of the pass to eligible members.
(l) Passage for Postal Employees
Postal Letter Carriers in uniform and/or displaying a letter carrying bag are eligible under the terms of the agreement between BC Transit and Canada Post to travel to or from their postal walk or postal station without payment of fare.
(o) BC Transit Employee Pass
The Employee Pass is issued by BC Transit to employees and others specified by its collective agreements. It is valid for free unlimited travel on all services of the Victoria Regional Transit System.
SECTION III TERMS AND CONDITIONS
(1) Requirement to Pay Fare
A person boarding a transit vehicle shall in the presence of a transit employee pay the fare required by this tariff or present proof of payment to the employee.
(2) Proof of Payment NOT Transferable
Except as permitted by this tariff, proof of payment is not transferable. No person shall use a proof of payment unless it was purchased for use at the proper fare. Proof of payment must be retained for the duration of the passenger’s trip.
(3) Surrender of Passes
A pass must remain in the possession of the bearer at all times while riding on the transit system. It must be submitted for inspection upon request by a transit employee. If the transit employee feels the pass is being fraudulently used, the pass must be surrendered to BC Transit. In these instances full fare must be made and the circumstances reported to BC Transit.
(4) Insufficient Fare
BC Transit reserves the right to refuse travel for insufficient fare.
(5) Fare Dispute
In the event that an employee of BC Transit is not satisfied with the validity of a proof of payment, pass, or identification demonstrating eligibility for discount fares, passengers are required to pay the regular fare and appeal the circumstance to BC Transit.
(6) Refusal of Transportation
BC Transit reserves the right to refuse to carry, or to remove any person who is sick, intoxicated, boisterous, disorderly or profane, refuses to tender correct fare, or who for any other reason may be offensive, dangerous or pose a health risk to the other passengers, or their property, the operator, or to the property of BC Transit, for the length of the service day.
(7) Refusal of Transportation for an Indefinite Period
BC Transit reserves the right to refuse transportation for an indefinite period of time any person who poses a health or safety risk to other passengers, their property, any transit employee or the property of BC Transit. A person who has been refused transportation for an indefinite period of time may apply, in writing, to BC Transit for a review of the decision.
(8) handyDART
Victoria Regional handyDART may suspend any registrant who is abusive to a transit employee or who persistently refuses to abide by safety rules.
Safety rules and other information for riders can be found at www.bctransit.com/regions/vic/ under the handyDART tab.
SECTION VI COMPLIANCE WITH THE TARIFF
In order to regulate and control the payment of fares and travel BC Transit may, from time to time, require passengers to receive and produce on demand such evidence of payment of a fare, or part thereof, place of boarding, entitlement to a reduced fare, or otherwise as BC Transit may deem expedient.
(1) Public Safety and Protection of Property
No person shall damage, tamper with or remove any equipment or device on a transit vehicle. No person shall prevent or interfere with the operation of a transit vehicle. No person shall occupy any place in a transit vehicle not intended for public use. No person shall impede a transit employee in the operation of a transit vehicle.
According to the provisions of Order in Council 2191 Transit Conduct and Safety Regulations pursuant to the BC Transit Act persons contravening these stipulations upon conviction, are liable to a fine set or amended by the Government of BC.
(2) Transit Conduct and Safety Regulation
BC Transit’s safety and security practices uphold the British Columbia Transit Act and the Motor Vehicle Act. The British Columbia Transit Act states:
Where British Columbia Transit makes rules or posts signs on transit vehicles for the safety, good order, or convenience of persons while they are on, entering or leaving transit vehicle or other transit property, a transit employee may require, as a condition of allowing any person to enter or remain on the transit vehicle or transit property, that the person obey the signs or comply with the rules.
Where a person does not obey a sign or comply with the rules when required to do so by a transit employee, a transit employee may refuse that person permission to enter the transit vehicle or order that person to leave the transit vehicle.
According to the provisions of Order in Council 2191 pursuant to the British Columbia Transit Act failure to obey such instruction from a transit employee or fails to pay fare or present proof of payment commits an offense. Upon conviction, persons contravening these provisions are liable to a fine set or amended by the Government of BC.
(3) Appeal
All complaints or inquiries concerning payment of fares, passes, compliance with the rules and regulations of this tariff should be addressed in writing only to:
General Manager, Victoria Regional Transit
BC Transit
PO Box 610
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 2P3
