The Universal Bus Pass (U-PASS)

The U-PASS concept puts an affordable four-month semester bus pass into the hands of UFV students. The program is designed to encourage more students to use transit, reducing the number of cars coming to campus each day.

Here's the deal… 
All full-time and part-time undergraduate students taking credit courses would have student cards validated for unlimited use of ValleyMax and Chilliwack Transit during the semester.

• The cost to each student would be $41.68 per four-month semester ($10 per month).
• All U-PASS holders will have free use of the Abbotsford, Recreation Centre, Matsqui Recreation Centre, and the Mission Leisure Centre, and the Student Union Society is working on getting a similar facility for Chilliwack.
• The U-PASS will provide access to the My Safe Ride Home Program, meaning students who find themselves in need of a quick, safe ride home can call participating taxi companies in Abbotsford, Mission, or Chilliwack and receive priority queueing and not have to worry about how to pay as the cost is covered by the card.
• The U-PASS program was approved by student referendum in November 2008.

U-PASS benefits 
U-PASS benefits all students – bus riders, cyclists and drivers alike:

• U-PASS offers affordable, safe and reliable transportation – the prepaid and convenient.
• U-PASS saves you money on travel costs.
• Provides 'rainy day' and long trip transportation for cyclists. ValleyMAX Transit's fleet is equipped with racks that can carry up to two bikes at a time.
• Students who live off campus will be able to choose accommodation without having to rely solely on an automobile for transportation.
• More students on transit will mean even better service to UFV in the future.
• U-PASS and monthly transit pass users can save by claiming a tax credit on their income tax return. Keep your receipts. For more information, visitwww.transitpass.ca .
• Students who have to drive or choose to drive also benefit. Less demand for parking means funding can be directed to more classrooms and equipment.

Affordable and environmentally responsible 
U-PASS helps the environment. Automobiles account for 25% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. We need creative solutions like U-PASS to reduce air pollution. Gas prices continue to change. One of the goals of this program is to reduce unnecessary traffic to and from campus. This will reduce the need for more parking as UFV grows, so the campus will not be paved over for parking lots.

Who else is using it? 
The U-PASS program began in Victoria in 1999 at the University of Victoria and Camosun College, resulting in a 100% increase in transit ridership among students. Since then U-PASS is offered at UBC and SFU (Vancouver), TRU (Kamloops), College of the Rockies (Cranbrook), UBC-Okanagan (Kelowna) and UNBC (Prince George). There are more than 100 similar programs at universities and colleges across North America.

Is it a good deal? You decide. 
The U-PASS gives UFV students unlimited access to ValleyMAX Transit any time during the semester.

Transit options 
ValleyMAX Transit buses run 7 days a week:

• 3 Clearbrook – UFV Go Line : Direct service from the areas of Peardonville at South Fraser Way, George Ferguson Way, Bourquin Exchange, Downtown Abbotsford and the McCallum and Marshall area.
• 12 UFV – Bourquin Commuter : During popular class times, the route runs between UFV and the Bourquin Exchange, where transfers to other routes can be made.
• 5 Hospital : Service on evenings and on Sundays via special evening and Sunday routing.
• An evening class drop-off service provides door-to-door drop offs for Abbotsford passengers attending night classes at UFV.

Our cities are interested in promoting cycling, walking, transit, vanpooling and carpooling to reduce automobile dependence and increase the carrying capacity of roadways. 

Check out the results of the BC Transit survey taken by UFV students to see what's important to them and how local transit can improve. (PDF document)

The Fine Print 
The U-PASS is your bus pass. Your U-PASS is not transferable to another person. Transit drivers may confiscate a U-PASS if it appears to be misused.

More information 
U-PASS Information: UFV Facilities or the Student Union Society office. 
Bus Information: www.busonline.ca and click Central Fraser Valley.