BC Seniors Transportation Benefit Guide
BC Seniors could enjoy substantial discounts of transportation including: 1. Concession Fares, 2.BC Bus Pass, 3. BC Ferries up to 100% discount.
1. General Concession Fares
Benefits: Substantial discounts on single rides, DayPASS, and Monthly Passes (e.g., TransLink Concession Monthly Pass is significantly cheaper than a regular adult pass).
- Eligibility: Anyone aged 65 or older.
- How to Access:
In Metro Vancouver (TransLink): Purchase an orange Concession Compass Card at Compass Customer Service Centres, select London Drugs, or designated outlets.
Other BC Transit Regions: Simply present a valid government-issued photo ID showing your date of birth (e.g., BC Services Card, CareCard, or Driver’s License) to the driver or vendor when paying your fare.
2.BC Bus Pass Program
Benefits: Unlimited, province-wide travel on all scheduled TransLink and BC Transit services for a non-refundable administrative fee of only $45 per calendar year.
Eligibility: Must live in a community served by public transit and meet one of the following criteria:
- Aged 65+ and receiving Federal Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
- Aged 65+ and meet the income criteria for GIS but do not meet the 10-year Canadian residency rule.
- Aged 60+ and receiving the federal Spousal Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor.
- Aged 60+ and receiving income assistance, or the spouse of a person receiving provincial disability assistance (PWD).
How to Apply:
- Online: Complete the “Online Request for Service” through the BC Government website.
- By Phone (Multilingual Service available): Call toll-free at 1-866-866-0800. When connected, you can request a Chinese interpreter (Mandarin/Cantonese) to help process your application over the phone.
- By Mail: Download the
Bus Pass General Enquiry Formfrom the official website and mail it to the BC Bus Pass Program office.
3. BC Ferries (Coastal Ferry Routes)
Benefits: receive a 100% discount on passenger fares Monday to Thursday, excluding statutory holidays on all routes, except the northern routes. For the northern routes, seniors receive a 33% discount on the passenger fare any day of the week. If you are driving, a vehicle fare will still apply.
Eligibility: B.C. seniors 65 or older
How to Apply: possessing either a BC Gold Carecard or a valid BC Services Card
FAQ
At what age do seniors get transit discounts in BC?
Seniors aged 65 and older qualify for General Concession Fares on both TransLink (Metro Vancouver) and BC Transit networks, regardless of income. For the low-income BC Bus Pass Program, eligibility starts at age 60 or 65, depending on the provincial or federal assistance received.
What is the BC Bus Pass Program for seniors?
The BC Bus Pass Program provides an annual electronic transit pass for eligible low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. For a non-refundable administrative fee of $45 per calendar year, users get unlimited travel on all scheduled BC Transit and TransLink routes.
Who qualifies for the low-income BC Bus Pass?
To qualify, you must live in an area served by public transit and meet one of the following criteria:
Be 65 or older and receiving the federal Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
Be 60 to 64 years old and receiving the federal Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor.
How do I apply for the BC Bus Pass? Is there multilingual support?
You can apply online via the BC Government website by submitting an “Online Request for Service,” or by calling toll-free at 1-866-866-0800. Free language interpretation services (including Mandarin and Cantonese) are available upon request during the phone call.