Peterborough Transit has launched a pilot program providing free transit to residents ages 13 to 18 during specified times.
Under the Youth Transit Pass Pilot Program, eligible young people can ride Peterborough Transit free on weekdays after school, on weekends and statutory holidays, and during winter break, March Break, and summer vacation.
Peterborough city council unanimously approved the pilot program in September 2025 as part of the city’s Transportation Master Plan.
“Although youth aged 13 to 18 currently represent a small share of total ridership, they hold significant potential to help shift travel behaviour, increase transit use, and build a culture of sustainable mobility within the community,” reads a city staff report presented to council.
The city says providing early and affordable access to public transit will help remove barriers for young people while improving access to employment, recreation, after-school programming, and other community activities.
“The Youth Transit Pass Program gives young people the opportunity to build confidence and independence while becoming more familiar with public transit,” said councillors Keith Riel and Don Vassiliadis, co-chairs of the city’s municipal operations portfolio, in a joint statement.
“By providing free transit access during key times along with rider orientation, the program will help reduce cost and access barriers for youth across Peterborough,” Riel and Vassiliadis added.
Councillor Lesley Parnell, council’s appointee to the Peterborough Youth Commission, said free transit was strongly requested by local high school students and members of the commission and its youth council.
“Free transit for youth enables their independence, mobility to participate in after-school sports, jobs, recreational activities, plus they learn to be comfortable with public transit and are more likely to become lifelong transit users,” Parnell said.
Eligible young people can register at peterborough.ca/youthtransitpass to receive a Peterborough Youth Transit Pass. Parental consent is required, and secondary school students must submit a copy of their school timetable or student card.
Passes issued during the pilot will expire in September 2027 and must be renewed at that time.
Students entering Grade 7 or 8 in September 2026 will receive transit orientation at selected schools in spring 2027.
