--- title: "Expand Free Transit to Youth Under 18: the Vote Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/2026-platform/transportation-choice/free-transit-for-youth" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:00:59.333Z" meta: description: "Vote Vancouver would partner with TransLink to give every Vancouver resident under 18 a free transit pass. Within its first 100 days it would launch a pilo..." "og:description": "Vote Vancouver would partner with TransLink to give every Vancouver resident under 18 a free transit pass. Within its first 100 days it would launch a pilo..." "og:title": "Expand Free Transit to Youth Under 18: the Vote Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" "twitter:description": "Vote Vancouver would partner with TransLink to give every Vancouver resident under 18 a free transit pass. Within its first 100 days it would launch a pilo..." "twitter:title": "Expand Free Transit to Youth Under 18: the Vote Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" --- ** Vote Vancouver · Vancouver 2026 # Vote Vancouver: a free transit pass for every resident under 18, from 2027 Vote Vancouver would partner with TransLink to give every Vancouver resident under 18 a free transit pass. Within its first 100 days it would launch a pilot with passes valid for 2027, with no means testing, online or in-person applications, and a public review after the first year. All 4 commitments [Read pages 14 to 15 of the PDF ](https://votevancouver.ca/s/VV-PolicyPriorities_260915.pdf#page=14) [**12**Candidates](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/candidates) [**10/10**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/platform) [**6**Sources on file](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/money) **9**Questions answered TRANSPORTATION CHOICE · PAGES 14 TO 15 ## Expand Free Transit to Youth Under 18: what the Policy Priorities says Vote Vancouver says children in Vancouver ride transit for free until they turn 13, and then pay for every trip. The party says a pass is a real cost for many families, and that a teenager who cannot pay or forgets a Compass Card is stuck. It argues that parents then either pay or drive, which adds cars to the streets. The party's answer is a free transit pass for every Vancouver resident under 18. It says a Vote Vancouver majority on council would partner with TransLink to provide it. Within the first 100 days in office, it would launch a pilot program for 2027, with passes valid for the 2027 calendar year. There would be no means testing, which means no check of family income. Young people would apply through an online portal, sending proof that they live in Vancouver and proof of age, and the pass would arrive by mail. Residents could also apply in person at City Hall. After the first year, the party says the city would review the pilot, looking at youth ridership, the views of young people and parents, their part in community and recreation activities, their part in the local economy, and traffic. TransLink, a regional body the city does not control, runs the buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus, so this pass depends on an agreement with TransLink. Council would decide how much city money goes to the program and how the city runs the applications. THE PARTY'S NUMBERS ## Figures in this chapter **13** Age at which, the party says, children in Vancouver start paying transit fares The party's figure, page 14 **Under 18** Age group that would get a free pass under the party's plan The party's figure, page 14 **100 days** Time after taking office by which the party would launch the pilot The party's figure, page 14 **2027** Calendar year the pilot passes would be valid for The party's figure, page 14 4 COMMITMENTS ## What the party says it would do 1. ### Free transit pass for residents under 18 A Vote Vancouver majority on council would partner with TransLink to provide a free transit pass for all Vancouver residents under 18, with no means testing.
Who has the power
Regional body TransLink, a regional body the city does not control, runs transit, so the city can only offer this pass through an agreement with it.
Source
Policy Priorities, page 14
2. ### Pilot launched within 100 days for 2027 Within the first 100 days of taking office, the party would launch a pilot program running through 2027, letting Vancouver residents under 18 apply for a free pass valid for the 2027 calendar year. The program would build on other free youth transit programs in Canada.
Who has the power
City, with others Council can fund and launch a city program, but the passes themselves need TransLink's agreement.
Source
Policy Priorities, page 14
3. ### Online and in-person applications An online portal would let residents apply with proof of residency and age, with approved passes delivered by mail. Residents who prefer could apply in person at City Hall.
Who has the power
City Council How the city takes applications and checks residency is up to Council and city staff.
Source
Policy Priorities, page 15
4. ### Review after the first year After the first year the program would be reviewed for youth transit ridership and usage, youth and parent experiences, participation in community, recreation and extracurricular activities, youth participation in the local economy, and the effect on transportation patterns and congestion. The results would decide how the program is improved and expanded.
Who has the power
City Council Council can direct city staff to measure and publish the results of a city program.
Source
Policy Priorities, page 15
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT ## Where the power sits for this chapter City Council2 City, with others1 Regional body1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ## Questions about expand free transit to youth under 18
Does Vote Vancouver promise free transit for kids under 18? Yes. Vote Vancouver says a majority on council would partner with TransLink to provide a free transit pass for all Vancouver residents under 18, with no means testing (Policy Priorities, page 14).
When would Vote Vancouver's free youth transit pass start? The party would launch a pilot within its first 100 days in office. Vancouver residents under 18 could apply for a free pass valid for the 2027 calendar year (Policy Priorities, page 14).
How would teenagers apply for Vote Vancouver's free transit pass? Through an online portal, with proof of residency and age, and the pass would be sent by mail. Vote Vancouver says residents could also apply in person at City Hall (Policy Priorities, page 15).
Would the Vote Vancouver youth transit pass depend on family income? No. The platform says there would be no means testing and no complicated application process for Vancouver residents under 18 (Policy Priorities, page 15).
How would Vote Vancouver measure the free youth transit pilot? After the first year, the party says the program would be reviewed for youth ridership, the views of young people and parents, participation in activities and the local economy, and the effect on traffic. The results would guide changes and expansion (Policy Priorities, page 15).
Can Vancouver City Council give free transit passes on its own? TransLink, a regional body the city does not control, runs buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus. Vote Vancouver's plan says the city would partner with TransLink to provide the passes, so the program depends on that agreement (Policy Priorities, page 14).
ON THE BALLOT ## The Vote Vancouver candidates behind this ### Mayor [52**Rebecca Bligh**Ballot 52 · Vancouver city councillor](https://voche.me/candidates/rebecca-bligh) ### City Council [105**Geoff Teoli**Ballot 105](https://voche.me/candidates/geoff-teoli) [106**Keerit Jutla**Ballot 106](https://voche.me/candidates/keerit-jutla) [112**Steve Jedreicich**Ballot 112](https://voche.me/candidates/steve-jedreicich) [114**Rebecca Hasdell**Ballot 114](https://voche.me/candidates/rebecca-hasdell) [115**Bhavna Solecki**Ballot 115](https://voche.me/candidates/bhavna-solecki) [132**John Boychuk**Ballot 132](https://voche.me/candidates/john-boychuk) ## Sources Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it. 1. [Vote Vancouver Policy Priorities ](https://votevancouver.ca/s/VV-PolicyPriorities_260915.pdf#page=14)SAYS SO ITSELFVote Vancouver · pages 14 to 15 · checked September 22, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.