London on the Move: Youth Transit Revolutionizes East London
In the heart of East London, a transformative movement is underway—an initiative led by a committee determined to make a difference to provide free London Transit Commission (LTC) passes for high school students by Fall 2024.
On April 16th, 2024, as part of Small Change Fund’s Get on the Bus movement, I presented as a delegation at the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee Meeting to discuss this ground-breaking initiative. I shared my experiences from my involvement in kick-starting Kingston Bus Pass Program, where free transit passes were introduced for secondary students back in 2012. Through engagement with this program, I witnessed first-hand the positive impact of providing accessible transit on youth ridership, community connectivity and extracurricular engagement.
One key focus of our discussions was the importance of increasing ridership among youth. It's not just about the numbers; we ensure that every young person has the freedom to move around the city, regardless of their background or circumstances. By promoting inclusivity through increased ridership, we are building stronger and more independent riders who carry this newfound confidence in riding transit with them even after their student years have concluded.
This initiative has the potential to transform the lives of students and their families by providing access to opportunities that were previously out of reach and reducing stigmas around transit users. The initiative also has environmental benefits. By encouraging young people to choose public transit, we are taking significant steps towards reducing our carbon footprint and combating climate change, especially in a car-centred society where the cost of purchasing and maintaining a vehicle is continually going up in price, and youth are seeking economically smart alternatives.
In a recent article published in The London Free Press on April 16, 2024, it was reported that the city Council’s strategic priorities and policy committee voted 13-2 to move forward with the program plan. City Hall and the Thames Valley District school board were tasked with developing the implementation plan in collaboration with the London Transit Commission.
On April 23, 2024, at Council the motion passed regarding the establishment of a secondary school student transit pass pilot project, providing free transit passes to secondary school students at Clarke Road Secondary School in collaboration with the Thames Valley District School Board and the London Transit Commission. The project aims to begin in September 2024 for Grade 9 students, with plans to expand to Grade 10 in September 2025. The resolution emphasizes the need for an appropriate source of financing and metrics reporting for the pilot program, highlighting potential avenues for ongoing funding and provincial support.
If you want to learn more about integrating youth transit solutions in your community, please consider reaching out! I’m passionate about bringing new projects to life and helping others implement real change in their communities.