Skip to content

Letter: U-Pass program penalizes university students who choose to walk or cycle to school

Editor; I am scheduled to attend a trades program at the Cloverdale KPU campus, which is 1.3 km from my home.

To the editor;

I have a serious problem that needs immediate attention. I am scheduled to attend a trades program at the Cloverdale KPU campus, which is 1.3 km from my home. I intend to walk or cycle to the campus. Kwantlen has a contract with TransLink that makes it mandatory for all eligible students to pay $50/month for a U-Pass.

They do allow for exemptions with six specific reasons. Since I do not require a U-Pass, I would like to be exempted from paying for the U-Pass. KPU will not allow me to apply for an exemption because living close enough to walk or cycle to campus is not one of their exempt reasons.

This impacts my decision to proceed with this program because TransLink contract forces me to pay for something that I will not need or even be able to use. The cost to me is $400 for this pass. Regardless of the fact that I am not even on a bus route, I still intend to walk.

This compulsory pass penalizes students who choose to walk/cycle.

I have already contacted the university department that handles the multipass and exemptions.

They refuse to cooperate on the basis of the fact that their contract terms with TransLink require the university to force me to pay.

The problem is now with TransLink. I am unwilling to pay based on the principle and therefore I will not take this welding program because of it. This impacts my career.

Bernadette Arcand

Cloverdale