From Kingston to the Capital – A Reflection on Youth Transit, Pilots, and Possibility
When I arrived at the Connecting the Dots symposium hosted by EnviroCentre at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, I had no idea the day would begin with such a full-circle moment.
I was checking in at the registration table, waiting to receive my name tag, when a young man sorting the name badges looked up at me.
“Are you from Kingston?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“You taught me how to ride the bus.”
His name is Sam. He now works for EnviroCentre in Ottawa. But when he's back home in Kingston, he rides the bus — something he started doing as a youth, through the very program I’ve been a part of building since 2012. Today, he continues to use transit in Ottawa.
I later shared that story from the stage — not just because it was moving, but because it represents the kind of impact that’s harder to quantify. It’s the kind of impact that sticks with people, changes their habits, and redefines their relationship with their community. It’s also exactly the kind of data we need to start tracking: longitudinal, human-centered stories that show what happens when you invest in youth mobility.
I was invited to share insights on youth transit programming, something I’ve been helping to develop and run in Kingston since 2012, and working on nationally for close to a decade. Over those years, I’ve seen fare-free youth transit, training programs, and deep youth engagement act as catalysts for positive change. And that change is measurable – through stories, data, and direct impact:
Increased ridership (Kingston went from 3.5M to nearly 6.9M rides annually)
Higher school attendance
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
More available time for parents
Greater mobility equity for youth and families
These are not just theoretical benefits. They're lived realities. And when we talk about the “cost” of programs like these, we must also talk about value. Investments in youth transit unlock long-term community value – improving lives, reducing emissions, and making cities more livable.
Pilots as Pathways
On the panel, I spoke about pilots – their importance as trust-building tools and their ability to bring together multi-stakeholder collaboration. Kingston’s program began as a pilot in 2012. It only became what it is today through sustained iteration and commitment from partners like Kingston Transit and both local school boards (Limestone and Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic). Importantly, both boards pay into the program – a testament to the shared value they see in youth access.
Kingston offers free transit to all youth 0–14 without fare cards or supervision – a policy formalized in 2017 and reconfirmed in 2022. And the high school program? It’s often referenced as a best practice in Canada. What’s less known is that the Limestone District School Board, not Kingston Transit, created and continues to lead the training program.
Youth Are More Than Students
Too often, municipalities refer to youth transit as a “student program” – which reduces young people to a budget line or a checkbox. But these are youth, children of taxpaying and voting parents, and future city builders. When we support them, we support families, equity, and generational inclusion.
At certain points, usage data from Kingston indicates that over 50% of youth ridership occurs outside of school commutes. It’s evenings, weekends, daytime – which tells us something important: they’re participating in community life. And when youth ride transit, parents notice. Perception shifts. A culture of public transit begins to take root.
From Kingston to Seattle
What’s been built in Kingston has not only shaped the local community – it’s helped inspire international work. Conversations that began in Kingston played a role in shaping youth fare-free policy in Washington State – a reminder that no city is too small to spark big change.
A Final Word – Inspired by Anna Zivarts
One of the highlights of the day was walking and connecting with keynote speaker Anna Zivarts, a powerful voice for transportation equity and disability rights. Her lived experience, tireless advocacy, and ability to reframe the conversation around who transit must serve is transformative. Anna reminds us that our infrastructure choices aren’t just policy decisions – they’re justice decisions. And that when we plan well, we build communities that work for everyone.
As we look to the future of transit, let’s not forget: we’re not just moving people. We’re shaping opportunity, inclusion, and the very rhythm of life in our communities.