BCTransit

U-PASS : A FARE FOR ALL SEASONS ...… and a good reason to still be a student: 

U-PASS : A FARE FOR ALL SEASONS ...… and a good reason to still be a student Chris Foord, Marketing and Communications Manager, BC Transit, Victoria B. C. chris_foord@bctransit.com March 2003

Victoria, Myth #1: You know, where it rains all day, every day....sort of…. : 

Victoria, Myth #1: You know, where it rains all day, every day....sort of….

Myth #2: Everyone in Victoria is Old: 

Myth #2: Everyone in Victoria is Old The Truth: Nearly everyone is old. It’s where old people go to visit their parents. Youth means under 65. Therefore, we need all the young transit riders we can find.

TEN YEAR TRANSIT STATS VICTORIA 1991 - 2001 : 

TEN YEAR TRANSIT STATS VICTORIA 1991 - 2001 Ridership +27% Service Hours +38% Prepaid Fares 52% to 80% Bus Pass Price $40 to $55 (+37%)

% PREPAID FARES 2001: 

% PREPAID FARES 2001 20% pay cash 7% use tickets 73% use some type of bus pass We have been trying to move people into prepaid products

REVENUE to COST Ratio: 

REVENUE to COST Ratio Cost includes capital cost (debt servicing) Revenue includes advertising

Bus Pass Sales: 

Bus Pass Sales 1991 (October) 15,750 2001 (October) 38,350 (+144%) 18,000 of the 22,600 increase is a result of U-PASS, 2,000 is PROPASS

Results of a 50% bus pass subsidy at Camosun College 1992: 

Results of a 50% bus pass subsidy at Camosun College 1992 1st year +60% by year 2 +70% This 50% subsidy came from a $1 per day increase in campus parking rates

University of Victoria bus pass sales 1993-1997: 

University of Victoria bus pass sales 1993-1997 UVic began a 15% bus pass subsidy in 1994 17% of students used a bus pass in 1997

U-PASS began in Sept 1999 : 

U-PASS began in Sept 1999 For all full-time and part-time students Student Card is the semester U-PASS 1999 cost $47 2001 cost $51 2002 cost $54 2003 cost $55 88% approval 2002

U-PASS Impact on Students’ Usual Mode to University: 

U-PASS Impact on Students’ Usual Mode to University

A Few Observations:: 

A Few Observations: Former carpool passengers are now on the bus. We got more passengers out of the cars than cars off the road. Parking is still too cheap ($145 /year). Large off peak ridership increase. U-PASS ridership is still increasing. More popular now than when it started.

U-PASS Impact on MODE SHARE: All Trips to/from UVic: 

U-PASS Impact on MODE SHARE: All Trips to/from UVic

What’s next for U-PASS?: 

What’s next for U-PASS? Electronic validation at the farebox. Adding TDM and other components. Surveying students after graduation re: travel modes. We expect to get long term ridership gains from U-PASS. A High School U-PASS for all students. U-PASS in Kelowna, Kamloops, Nanaimo and other BC communities.

Getting U-PASS Started: 

Getting U-PASS Started Must sell the idea within transit first. Do your homework. Costing must be clear. Find a champion on Council. Interest the media, they will talk to the students. Students’ Society must be enthusiastic. University Admin must be on side morally and financially. Be prepared for opposition. Don’t take NO for an answer.