Press Release: July 4, 2025
Victoria Transit Riders Union Concerned About New BC Transit “Fare Awareness and Enforcement Program” – Calling on BC Government to Eliminate Fares and Fully Fund Transit
The Victoria Transit Riders Union (VTRU) is calling on the Provincial Government to fully fund public transit and eliminate fares to prevent fare evasion crackdowns, which are ineffective, inefficient, unjust, and dangerous, and which disproportionately affect poor and racialized people, according to Human Rights Watch and a recent report on fare enforcement in San Francisco by the Center for Policing Equity.
BC Transit recently announced a new “Fare Awareness and Enforcement” program that will see uniformed Transit Supervisors boarding buses in the Victoria Regional Transit System to search for fare evaders starting July 7th. At first fare evaders will be given “educational materials”, according to BC Transit, but “stronger enforcement measures” will be introduced as the program progresses.
The program echoes similar shameful crackdowns underway in Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto.
Translink claims their crackdown in Vancouver has generated $3.2 million of additional revenue over six months: a fraction of their projected $72 million shortfall for 2025. They do not report the cost of the increased enforcement, nor measure downstream costs in areas like healthcare and emergency services. They do not report the social harms and injustices their crackdown has resulted in. Fare-free transit would be vastly more cost-effective and humane.
BC Transit’s justification for cracking down on fare evasion in Victoria is impossible to assess because the Crown corporation only reports combined revenue from fares and advertising, and provides no figures for fare evasion.
BC Transit stated in their announcement of the program that they “[partner] with several organizations to support riders who are unable to pay their fare”. While some programs exist to help people who cannot afford bus fare, what VTRU has heard from community members and service providers is that these programs are inadequate, stigmatizing, and difficult to access.
The vast majority of people in the region do not qualify for any of these programs, and there are important gaps. For example, the City of Victoria provides bus passes for teens, but kids in Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Saanich, and neighbouring regions lose the ability to ride for free when they turn 13.
“The last thing we need in the face of the climate and affordability crises is to be putting resources into harassing folks trying to use public transit. You can’t harass or ‘educate’ people into having the money for fares. This is a disturbing move by BC transit. We want to see the BC Government move toward fully funding transit and eliminating fares, not presiding over increased enforcement.”, said Christina Clemente, chair of VTRU.
“We’ve already been hearing from First Nations folks in the region concerned about how this program will impact Indigenous and racialized people, and from drivers concerned about impacts on youth,” said VTRU member Liz Cronin. “We see this as part of a dangerous wider pattern in Victoria and BC recently, of harassing and punishing working-class and poor people, instead of making policies that address underlying systemic issues and meet people’s needs. It’s harmful and a waste of time and money. Like the library, transit should be free and welcoming to all people, and funded through fair taxation. Making it harder or more stressful for the public to move freely will have real social and financial costs.”
“When people can move freely, they can access food, healthcare, loved ones, employment, recreation, and other things they need to thrive.” Liz Cronin continued. “The evidence supports eliminating fares as not only the compassionate move, but a smart move that would save money in big ticket areas like healthcare, emergency services, and infrastructure.”
“Free transit is hands-down the best way to prevent fare evasion,” said Nathan Bird, VTRU member. “There is zero fare evasion in Albuquerque, New Mexico, or in Richmond, Virginia, or in Kansas City, because the bus is free in these places. There is no suspicion, no resentment, no fines, no profiling. There is only freedom of movement.”
“This will make some people very anxious about taking the bus,” said a BC Transit driver who wishes to remain anonymous. “I often see people who don’t have the fare asking to get on the bus to make it to work. This will bring some people to tears. To confront them like that, on their way to work, in front of their community.”
VTRU is campaigning for fare free and excellent transit across BC, recently presenting to the BC Budget Consultation Committee. We are calling on the provincial government to immediately eliminate fares for all BC teens (18 and under) and seniors (65 and up) and to then transition as quickly as possible to universal fare-free transit that is funded through fair and socially just taxation.
The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) recently asked the Province for free transit for teens, and the BC NDP promised to introduce free transit for seniors (in off peak hours) during the 2024 provincial election.
Background:
VTRU is a grassroots organization advocating for fare-free, rapid and reliable public transit service in the Greater Victoria Area. We are proud to be officially endorsed by Unifor Local 333-BC, which represents transit workers in Greater Victoria, and by the Greater Victoria Teachers Association (GVTA).
We believe adequately funding public transit helps increase accessibility, which is an essential part of building an inclusive community, and that our growing city needs more routes connecting under-serviced neighbourhoods and rapid transit for people living outside of the downtown core to more easily access services, visit friends, and participate in community life. We believe that fares are an accessibility barrier, a public safety issue, and aninjustice. And we will fight for the right of all – regardless of age, ability or income – to travel around the Victoria region in a safe and environmentally friendly way.
Media coverage of our fight for free transit for youth and seniors can be found here and here.
Quick Facts:
- Free public transit is already available to youth aged 18 and under in Victoria, but in most other municipalities – for example, in Esquimalt, Oak Bay, and Saanich – youth pay a fare starting at age 13.
- Fares in Greater Victoria increased substantially – from $2.50 to $3 for a single ride with no transfer – on April 1st of this year.
- Revenue from fares and advertising combined accounts for about 20.5 per cent of Victoria Regional Transit System funding: $35.9 million of the total $175.3 million in 2023-24.
- High school students in Kingston, Ontario have been eligible for complimentary bus passes since 2012. A study of the impacts of this program found that ten percent of students took recreational trips that would not be possible without access to fare-free transit.
- In a Kansas City survey, 86% of 1,686 respondents said free transit “has made me feel that Kansas City leaders are concerned about my needs.”
- Following the elimination of fares for seniors in Montreal, their use of transit increased by 15-20%.
Victoria Transit Riders Union 