At the Connecting the Dots symposium in Ottawa, a former Kingston youth approached me and said, “You taught me how to ride the bus.” That full-circle moment captured the heart of my talk: youth transit programs build lifelong habits, equity, and community connection. From pilots in Kingston to international policy shifts, investing in youth mobility creates measurable change—and as Anna Zivarts reminded us, transit is ultimately about justice and inclusion.

On March 25, Dan Hendry presented an inspiring webinar for The Atlantic Canada Climate Network and the Canadian Environmental Network, showcasing the transformative power of youth-focused transit initiatives. Highlighting Kingston, Ontario’s success, Dan emphasized how free student transit dramatically increased ridership from 28,000 to nearly 600,000 annually. Over 20 Canadian communities now look to this model to boost sustainability, autonomy, and inclusivity.

Transit Talk is Get on the Bus’s newsletter — your go-to source for stories, updates, and ideas in youth transit, engagement, and training across Canada. Curious about what’s rolling out in communities coast to coast? This is the newsletter to sign up for.

Program Director Dan Hendry recently had the pleasure of joining the Sustainably Geeky podcast to discuss his work on youth transit initiatives, including Get on the Bus.

In Edmonton, we brought youth voices to the forefront through two inspiring initiatives that combined art and advocacy. At M.E. LaZerte High School, over 45 students collaborated with Cree artist Jayda Delorme to create a powerful mural that reimagines transit as a force for community, equity, and reconciliation. Alongside this, our team led a youth transit feasibility study that challenged the limits of the fare-free debate and proposed actionable steps to expand access. Together, these projects show how youth creativity and research can drive real change in public systems.

A recent report from Environmental Defence and Équiterre suggests Canada’s federal and provincial governments must use public transit as a tool for reducing nationwide carbon emissions. The report proposes using the Permanent Public Transit Fund to support the operational costs of transit systems across the country, rather than for capital costs. The report asserts that operational funding is the key to improved service and therefore improved ridership.

Get on the Bus is thrilled to welcome Sophia Young as our Edmonton Consultant. Sophia became a public transit advocate after facing transportation barriers in her youth. At the age of 15, she helped direct a successful fare-free transit campaign for youth thirteen and under in her hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan.

James Beyer, a second-year marketing student, joins Small Change Fund's Get on the Bus movement. His personal connection drives enthusiasm for free transit, reflecting on its impact on his adolescence. Excited to contribute, James values the movement's equitable youth mobility.

Discover how Halton Hills is paving the way for sustainable transportation! Their $4.00 cash fare and integrated travel modes make commuting a breeze.

On Saturday, February 17th, 2024 Get on the Bus co-founder Dan Hendry discussed the current state of youth transit, as well as the future of the movement, with Adam Johnston from Not Necessarily The Automobile. The Winnipeg-based radio series focuses on alternative transportation in Adam’s home city.

The Get on the Bus team is happy to see London joining the growing list of communities across Canada investigating youth transit solutions, including Halifax, Orangeville, Belleville, Victoria, Toronto, and Grand Prairie. Free youth transit can transform students’ lives by providing access to unlimited opportunities.

The Get on the Bus team is proud to see youth across the country standing up for their right to access equitable transit options and is ready to provide expertise and support to any group interested in learning more about programming, resources, partnerships and more.

A decade ago, Dan Hendry helped lead a simple but powerful model to transform public transit in the City of Kingston, Ontario. The Kingston Transit High School Bus Pass Program was born when Limestone District School Board partnered with Kingston Transit to offer high school students in the City free bus passes.

This year, Get on the Bus has gained considerable traction with communities across Canada expressing interest in implementing similar initiatives and municipalities reaching out to hear more from our team. On June 6, 2023, Dan and Burkhard were invited to present the movement at a Planning and Works Committee meeting for Waterloo (ON) Region