The Latest

Keep up-to-date on transit issues with all of the latest news and events.

Groundbreaking U-Pass Announcement Celebrated by Students

June 9, 2010

Students are ecstatic that BC will be the first province in Canada to implement a standardised U-Pass Program for its post-secondary students. The new program will give Metro Vancouver students access to a $30 U-Pass, saving them over $50 per month and thousands of dollars over the course of their studies.

"Today the government made good on an election promise to students," said Nimmi Takkar, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-BC, The U-Pass is an investment in the next generation, in the economy and the environment. This program is going to make a major difference in students lives and will help Vancouver students make ends meet.

On October 21, 2009, the OnePassNow Coalition hosted the largest transit rally in BC History. The rally called for the BC government to implement a standardised and fair priced Metro Vancouver U-Pass and included a Proclamation from Mayor Gregor Robertson that October 21 will hereafter be "U-Pass Day" in Vancouver.

U-Pass programs are expected to begin throughout Metro Vancouver in January 2011.

Big News: 12,000 Strong

January 31, 2008

Think you're alone in your public transit frustrations? Think again... more than 12,000 British Columbians have signed the We Ride Call to Action in our first four months!

Just last week, the We Ride crew delivered 12,000 signatures to Minister of Finance Carole Taylor at the Victoria Legislature. Our demands for BC Budget 2008 were made clear:

    • late night bus and 24 hour Skytrain service;
    • reduce U-Pass fees and transit fares;
    • campus and community express routes; and
    • better transit service throughout the entire province.

Click here to check out the video coverage of the press conference.

City of Victoria Unanimously Endorses We Ride

January 31, 2008

Just last week, Victoria City Council unanimously endorsed the We Ride campaign and the Victoria-specific demand for a 2-cent gas tax increase to provide ongoing transit funding.

Congratulations to the We Ride Victoria crew for their outstanding efforts in building government and community support for better public transit.

BC Government Transit Plans (and Secrets)

January 22, 2008

You may have heard about the recent "good news" story: the long-awaited $14 billion dollar plan to increase public transit funding in British Columbia and increase ridership throughout British Columbia.

Well, here's the BC Government's Secret...

    • The BC Government will only fund 34% of the transit plan ($4.75 billion).
    • 74% of the transit plan is funding for Skytrain and light rail expansion
    • The ridership targets are pathetic. The plan calls for ridership to increase to 22% (which is the present rate in Toronto and Montreal) by 2030.  That's right, I said 2030.
    • There is NO plan for immediate service expansion in the transit plan!

Over here at the We Ride headquarters, we know that transit riders shouldn't have to wait until 2030, 2020, or even 2012 for better public transit service.