BC Transit says it will offer free transit on Saturday, October 17, voting day in the municipal elections, in communities across the province where local government partners agreed to participate. According to the release, the decision to offer free service was made by local partners in each participating community.
The participating list includes Central Fraser Valley and Chilliwack (both excluding the FVX express), Kamloops, Victoria, Nanaimo, Prince George, Kelowna-area West Coast Transit, and more than two dozen other communities, the release says. Free handyDART service is included in all applicable regions. In Smithers, free curb-to-curb service runs 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day, and in Dawson Creek free transit is also available on advance voting days, according to BC Transit.
One important note for Surrey voters: Surrey is served by TransLink, not BC Transit, and Surrey does not appear on the participating list. TransLink has not announced free rides for election day. Surrey voters should plan their trip to the polls as usual, with advance voting set for October 10, 14 and 15.
The free rides are aimed at removing transportation barriers on voting day, a point BC Transit makes in the release. For Fraser Valley readers in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission, local routes are free all day October 17.
Source: BC Transit release, Oct 8, 2026 (bctransit.com).
