Youth and seniors ride free effective May 1 2023

Oakville Transit is pleased to offer a new program for youth and seniors to ride free effective May 1, 2023.

To benefit from this free program, customers must have a PRESTO card and tap when boarding the bus.

Customers who do not have a PRESTO card when boarding will be required to pay a fare of $4, payable by cash (exact change only) or by credit card by tapping the card on the PRESTO device when boarding.

Customers can purchase PRESTO cards for $6 at the ServiceOakville counter at Town Hall, Oakville Transit or at any Shopper’s Drug Mart location in Oakville.

Youth and seniors can travel for free all day long, seven days a week on all Oakville Transit services: conventional fixed routes, care-A-van and Ride On-Demand (Home to Hub).

PRESTO card giveaway – coming soon!

A limited number of free PRESTO cards will be made available at a future date – stay tuned for further details.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a pilot program? Is there an end date?

No, free transit for youth and seniors will be offered permanently by Oakville Transit.

Do kids still ride free?

Yes! kids 0-12 also ride free by tapping on board with a PRESTO card or when traveling with a parent/guardian. This is also a permanent program.

Why do I need a PRESTO card to ride if it’s free?

Having a PRESTO card ensures that you are entitled to the free ride (as per your age bracket), and allows Oakville Transit to collect ridership data, which helps inform service improvements and future initiatives. The ride will be recorded on PRESTO as a $0 dollar fare.

For youth and senior customers who do not have a PRESTO card when boarding, they will have to pay the exact cash fare of $4.

What happens when a youth turns 20?

The PRESTO card will default to an adult card. No further action is required by the customer.

I have an adult PRESTO card now. What happens when I turn 65?

You will have to present your card at a service counter to have the correct age category (senior) set to the card with your birthdate. Please provide ID to show your birthdate.

What happens when I transfer to another transit agency, for example Burlington Transit or MiWay?

Each transit agency sets its own fares and pricing. We recommend checking with those agencies prior to traveling.

I have some paper tickets (purple special purpose tickets), will those be refunded?

No, Oakville Transit will not be refunding any unused/pre-purchased tickets.