Free Transit for Seniors 65+ Starts June 3: Load a Free65 Pass onto a PRESTO Card

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ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTE: In its 2022 Budget, Burlington City Council made the free seniors' transit off-peak program permanent.

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Please see below a media release from the City of Burlington.Burlington, Ont. – Starting Monday, June 3, seniors, aged 65 years and older, can ride Burlington Transit for free, weekdays between 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The new 18-month Free65 pilot program, approved by Burlington City Council as part of the 2019 city budget, will run from June 3-Dec. 31, 2020.Seniors can get a new PRESTO card and the Free65 pass or load the pass onto a PRESTO card at the Downtown Burlington Transit bus terminal at 430 John St., or at a Free65 event (more details below).Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the Free65 pass cannot be loaded at Shoppers Drug Mart, at GO stations or online.Free65 passes have been available for loading since May 21 and can also be used for the specialized transit service (Handi-Van).

"With the introduction of this pilot program, we hope that seniors who do not currently consider Burlington Transit for their travels around the city will see how easy it is. Whether they are visiting family and friends or looking to shop for groceries and attend appointments, Burlington Transit can get them there with just the tap of a PRESTO card." — Sue Connor, Director of Burlington Transit

Information Sessions and PRESTO Card Giveaway

  • Throughout the summer, Burlington Transit staff will be hosting Learn2Ride information sessions for seniors at various locations in the city. At these sessions, seniors can learn more about the Free65 pass and the ins and outs of riding transit in Burlington.
  • Burlington Transit will be giving away free PRESTO cards to the first 1000 customers who obtain a Free65 pass. The free PRESTO cards are available at Learn2Ride sessions or the downtown Burlington Transit bus terminal at 430 John St.
  • Groups with 10 or more people 65 years of age and older, can request their own Learn2Ride session with Burlington Transit. Contact Burlington Transit by phone at 905-639-0550 or by email at contactBT@burlington.ca to arrange your own Learn2Ride session.

To help customers get a Free65 pass, the City of Burlington has set-up several Free65 events where staff will be loading the Free65 pass on PRESTO cards for customers.  The current list of the events includes:Learn2Tap sessions – PRESTO services and informationBurlington Centre (Mall) - Community Hub

  • June 3 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Seniors Centre

  • June 7 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • June 14 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • June 21 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Additional Learn2Tap sessions are being developed for the upcoming months.Learn2Ride sessions – PRESTO services, information and a bus for travel trainingTansley Woods

  • June 11 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Seniors Centre

  • July 17 - 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • July 24 - 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • July 31 - 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Related Posts, Links and Resources

MY TAKE:The singular, big dot we’re trying to get to in our city is moving towards increasing ridership on our Burlington Transit buses. Fares can act as a barrier to that. I want to eliminate as many barriers as possible to get more folks comfortable with using our local transit system and free transit does that. Also, making it easier for seniors to get around reduces isolation and increases their ability to participate in the life of the community – valuable goals that can’t be measured in dollars and cents.

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