Several cities across B.C. celebrated Earth Day by offering free transit, but Metro Vancouver residents continued to pay regular fares. BC Transit suspended fare collection in Greater Victoria, West Kootenay, Penticton, and Whistler, while TransLink did not provide free rides in Metro Vancouver.
TransLink explained that offering free transit would contribute to its annual funding shortfall of $600 million per year by 2026. According to a TransLink news release, transit users can save up to $8,000 annually compared to owning and driving a car, considering the purchase price, maintenance, fuel, insurance, and parking costs.
Despite not offering free transit, TransLink encouraged residents to use transit as it can reduce transportation-related emissions by 80%. The company has a plan to add 460 battery-powered electric buses to its fleet by 2030 and aims to achieve zero emissions by 2040.
