Transit passes
There are a variety of transit pass options available to enable access to transit for everyone in our community.
University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus
In 2007, students at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus voted for a mandatory U-PASS program that has provided them with a discounted semester transit pass, as well as significant improvements to transit, which has benefited the entire community.
On November 4 & 5, 2015, UBC Okanagan students voted in approval of a fare increase for their U-PASS. It was proposed that starting in September, 2016 the U-PASS would cost $63 per semester instead of the former $60.
Fare increases are necessary to fund transit improvements and better meet student needs. The approved U-PASS rate increase matched an increase in transit fares system-wide. Increasing fares from time to time helps to cover some of the increases in operating expenses and allows transit service expansions to keep occurring.
U-Pass is not currently in place at Okanagan College. Students may purchase a separate post-secondary semester pass or month pass through the students union.
For more information about the U-PASS, visit bctransit.com.
Pro-Pass is a discounted transit pass program for workplaces. When three or more employees sign up for Pro-Pass, your business or workplace is eligible for a 10-15% discount on transit passes.
Workplaces sign up at least 15 days before the start of a pass period: September 1, January 1 or May 1 and will receive four months worth of passes. Employees sign up for a minimum of four months to receive discounted monthly passes.To withdraw from the program you may do so up to 15 days prior to the start of the next pass period.
Is my workplace eligible?
Talk to your payroll department about signing up for Pro-Pass. You'll need the Service Agreement, Order Form and Terms & Conditions. For more information, contact 250-469-8566.
How do I sign up?
Talk to your payroll department and complete the Enrolment Application. Your payroll department will take care of all the details.
Questions?
The Class Rides Free Program provides youth with an opportunity to learn more about local transit through first-hand experience. By familiarizing them with the transit system at an early age it is more likely that they will consider transit as a responsible transportation choices into adulthood. The Class Rides Free Program is available to teachers in School District 23, and each class is permitted travel by transit for two class trips per year. Select trips are granted for organizations that provide out of school programming for youth.
Transportation is a leading contributor to green house gas emissions and is a major cause of poor air quality in our region leading to poor health and a reduced quality of life for all of us in the Central Okanagan. By choosing transit and other sustainable forms of transportation we can all do our part to protect the region we love.
How do I sign up?
To participate in the program, complete the online application form.
Class Rides Free Application Form
Applications must be received two weeks prior to the scheduled trip. Teachers are asked to plan their trip using the transit schedules and maps available on the BC Transit website.
Please note that travel approval will only be granted for trips taking place between the hours of of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Group sizes are to be limited to a maximum of 30 (including chaperones) for travel on routes served by full sized buses and 20 for routes served by smaller community buses. Further group size and travel time limitations may apply to trip requests for travel on busier routes (e.g. 1, 8, 97) during certain times of the day.
Questions?
If you have specific questions or concerns regarding scheduling, bus capacity or bus stop locations, please contact Transit Service Coordinator Mike Kittmer at 250 469-8531 or by email at mkittmer@kelowna.ca. Approved applicants will receive an email detailing their travel itinerary with an attached trip approval letter that is to be printed and shown to the bus drivers.
The Companion Pass program was created to allow designated caretakers/companions of a person with disabilities to ride conventional transit free of charge as a caretaker/companion for that individual.
The Companion Pass is only eligible for use on Kelowna Regional Transit when the caretaker is accompanying a person with disabilities. The person with disabilities is required to have a valid transit pass. The companion pass cannot be used on its own.
Who can apply?
Individual caretakers can apply for a companion pass.
Organizations can apply for companion passes on behalf of their employees who perform caretaker services.
Schools, public and independent, as part of a resource program to provide public transportation training for students
How to apply:
A companion pass can be obtained by filling out this online application form (preferred)
Organizations (caretaker services): If this is a first-time application, also submit a letter from the organization/company that you perform caretaker services for. This letter must verify your role/organization’s role as a trainer or companion of a person with disabilities. The letter is not required if this is a returning applicant.
Should your application be approved, staff will arrange for distribution of the companion pass which will be valid for one year.
For information on standard transit fares, visit bctransit.com/kelowna/fares.
BC Transit launched Umo in the Kelowna Regional Transit System in March 2024, introducing the Umo Mobility app, reloadable Umo cards, and improved fare products.
Riders who have not yet transitioned to a Umo payment method and fare product can visit bctransit.com/umo for a comprehensive introduction to adopting Umo. Fare products can be loaded in the Umo app, to a reloadable Umo card online at ca.umopass.com, at a BC Transit Umo retail vendor location, or through Umo customer service toll-free at 877-380-8181.