Taking a bus in Kelowna is about to get even easier

• Easy and efficient way of bus riding
• Hopes of increasing ridership
• Over $23 million invested

The days of paper tickets or dreading after forgetting change before hopping on a bus in British Columbia will soon be a thing of the past.

Soon, riders will be able to pay with a debit or credit card, a mobile app, or reloadable smart card.

It comes courtesy of a partnership between BC Transit and Cubic Transportation Systems, called Umo.

Vice President of Business Development with BC Transit, Christy Ridout, told Kelowna10 it is critical to keep up to date with the latest technology to make a system that is easy to access.

“Throughout COVID-19, we certainly saw demand increase for those touchless digital payment options. Anything we can do to make accessing transit easier and remove those barriers, such as having to find cash or go down to the store and buy a pass or ticket is something we’re really excited to offer,” she said.

By introducing more tech friendly and convenient options, Ridout hopes more people will be encouraged to take the bus.

“We have students, people who commute, families, and I think that there should be an option for everyone through this new platform that works for their lifestyle,” she said. “This system is also going to better interregional travel. I know people in Kelowna and the adjacent communities travel between Kelowna and the towns and cities adjacent to them and this means you just purchase a single fare using the same mobile platform and it will make it that much easier.”

She said the fare structure will not change as part of the rollout and cash will still be accepted for those who prefer to use it.

The project is funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Fifty per cent of eligible costs will be covered by the federal government, the province of British Columbia is contributing 40 per cent, and the remaining 10 per cent will be through local government partners.

The entire project will cost over $23 million. The system is slated to start in Victoria this fall and make its way to other cities in 2023.