Children aged 12 and under will be able to ride city buses for free, starting on Sept. 1.
BC Transit, Translink and the B.C. government announced the province-wide initiative on Monday.
"Free transit for children 12 and under makes life more affordable for families," Premier John Horgan said in a press release. "Taking public transit is a great choice.
It offers a cleaner, low-carbon way of getting around that works for people, communities and the environment. The 'Get on Board' program will also encourage a new generation of transit riders."
Currently, in Prince George, children five years old and younger ride free with an accompanying adult. Bus fare for school-age children is $2.50 for a single ride or $50 per month for a monthly bus pass.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the City of Prince George said that details of what the change will mean for the city’s transit system and fare revenues would be made public at a future city council meeting.
The provincial government estimated that approximately 370,000 children in B.C. will now be eligible to ride transit for free.
Children aged six to 12 will be able to ride city buses or use the HandyDART program without showing ID or paying a fare. Children five and under still require to be accompanied by an adult.
"Providing safe, reliable and affordable public transportation is our top priority, and we support this program to help families get around more affordably,” BC Transit president and CEO Erinn Pinkerton said in a press release. “This is a great opportunity to grow young ridership, create lifelong transit users and further reduce congestion on our roads."
