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How-tos & FAQs

How-tos

1. Bike 'n' Bus

Frequently Asked Questions

General

1. Can I bring my pet on a YRT/Viva vehicle?

2. Can I bring my bike or other large items on a YRT/Viva vehicle?

3. Can I bring my stroller on a YRT/Viva vehicle?

4. Is it okay to rollerskate, in-line skate or skateboard on the YRT/Viva system?

5. Do YRT/Viva vehicles have air-conditioning?

6. How does YRT/Viva handle lost and found items?

7. Can I wait for my vehicle inside the shelter?

8. Can I board a YRT/Viva vehicle south of Steeles Avenue?

9. What is a "Flag Stop?"

10. Can I board or get off a YRT/Viva vehicle between stops? What is Request Stop?

11. What is Yield to Bus?

12. I operate a retail business and want to sell YRT/Viva tickets and passes.

13. Where can I get information on employment opportunities for York Region Transit?

14. What is your policy for personal and commercial filming/photography?

Accessibility

1. Are YRT/Viva vehicles accessible to people using mobility aids?

2. Can I ride YRT/Viva for free if I am visually impaired?

Business with YRT/Viva

1. How can I get information about advertising on YRT/Viva buses, bus shelters and benches?

2. Can I charter a YRT/Viva vehicle?

Schedules

1. How can I get schedule / real-time arrival information by email, web or phone?

Facilities/Maintenance

1. Who do I contact regarding installation of a bus stop?

2. Who do I contact regarding shelter maintenance, litter or snow removal?

Fares - General

1. Do I need to validate my ticket to ride Viva?

2. What happens if I don't validate my ticket?

3. What happens if my two-hour ticket expires while I'm still on the bus?

4. I received a fine on YRT/Viva because I didn't have a valid fare. Now what?

5. How can YRT/Viva Transit Enforcement tell where my ticket has been validated?

6. How do I validate/purchase my ticket when the VivaNow/fare machine is out of service?

7. When is next month's YRT/Viva Monthly Pass available for purchase at fare machines?

8. When is next week's GTA Weekly Pass available for purchase?

9. Can I get a refund on YRT/Viva tickets or passes?

10. When I ride YRT Express services, how much extra do I have to pay if I am using a regular ticket?

11. How do I find out more about Transit Enforcement, Fines and bylaws?

12. Can I still use YRT/Viva tickets purchased in 2011? 

Fares - Students

1. Can university and college students buy YRT/Viva student fares?

2. Does a child over 13, but still attending elementary school, still qualify for YRT / Viva Child fares?

Integration with other services - GO Transit

1. Does YRT / Viva have any discounts for GO Transit riders?

Integration with other services - Brampton

1. Will Brampton Transit fare media be accepted when boarding YRT Route 77 at Finch GO Bus Terminal?

2. Can I use YRT/Viva fare media when boarding any Züm service between Highway 50 and York University?

3. Where are Brampton Transit transfers accepted in York Region?

4. What is my fare if I'm boarding Züm in York Region?

5. Do I need a Brampton Transit transfer if I have a monthly pass?

Have a question that isn't answered here? Send an email to transitinfo@york.ca

General

1. Can I bring my pet on a YRT/Viva vehicle?

Guide dogs accompanying visually or hearing impaired passengers are welcomed on YRT/Viva.

You may also bring dogs on leashes and small non-exotic pets on-board outside of rush hours, at the discretion of the vehicle operator. Rush hours are 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday inclusive. Pets may not be allowed on-board during an emergency or at any other time that vehicles are heavily loaded.

2. Can I bring my bike or other large items on a YRT/Viva vehicle?

YRT vehicles have bicycle racks on the front of them. Each rack holds up to two bikes and is designed for easy loading and unloading. YRT bike racks are part of YRT's Bike 'n' Bus program.

You can also lock up your bike at one of over 150 YRT/Viva bicycle racks at more than 65 locations across York Region. For a list of YRT/Viva bike rack locations, please click here.

Bicycles, skis, toboggans or other large items that might bother or jeopardize the safety of passengers are not allowed on-board during rush hours and is at the discretion of the vehicle operator. Rush hours are 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. These items may not be allowed on-board during an emergency or at any other time that vehicles are heavily loaded.

3. Can I bring my stroller on a YRT/Viva vehicle?

Strollers are allowed on vehicles at the discretion of the vehicle operator, but the stroller must be folded if it will interfere with standing passengers or the safe movement of passengers. If you want to leave your child in the stroller, or if the stroller cannot be folded, you may be asked to wait for the next vehicle that has more room.

4. Is it okay to rollerskate, in-line skate or skateboard on the YRT/Viva system?

For safety reasons, you cannot rollerskate, in-line skate, or skateboard on any YRT/Viva property, including vehicles, stations, terminals and parking lots. Please carry these items with you.

5. Do YRT/Viva vehicles have air-conditioning?

Yes, all vehicles in the YRT / Viva fleet have air conditioning.

6. How does YRT/Viva handle lost and found items?

For information on lost and found items, please contact the following contractors (listed along with their service areas):

7. Can I wait for my vehicle inside the shelter?

You can wait inside the shelter but once your vehicle is in view, you must move to the curbside so the driver will know to stop and pick you up. Drivers do not have to stop for customers who are not waiting on the curb.

8. Can I board a YRT/Viva vehicle south of Steeles Avenue?

Boarding a YRT/Viva vehicle south of Steeles Avenue depends on your direction of travel.

Travelling northbound You may only board a YRT/Viva vehicle at a designated stop located on or south of Steeles Avenue if you are travelling north into York Region (this includes flag stops for YRT buses - see question #23). Please note that northbound YRT/Viva vehicles will only drop off passengers after crossing Steeles Avenue.

Travelling southbound Passengers on southbound YRT/Viva vehicles may be dropped off at designated stops located on or south of Steeles Avenue. Please note that southbound YRT/Viva vehicles will not pick up passengers after crossing Steeles Avenue. Passengers travelling within the City of Toronto must use TTC services.

9. What is a "Flag Stop?"

Flag stops are stops on or south of Steeles Avenue that have a YRT decal (that says 'Flag Stop') on the existing TTC pole or sign. If you'd like to board a YRT vehicle at one of these stops, you must flag the vehicle, allowing the driver enough time to stop safely. Please note that Viva vehicles only stop at vivastations and cannot be "flagged" the way YRT vehicles can.

10. Can I board or get off a YRT/Viva vehicle between stops? What is Request Stop?

In order to keep YRT / Viva services on schedule, you can only get on and off vehicles at designated stops. After 9 p.m., YRT offers Request Stop, a program that allows you to get off the bus between stops if the driver can stop safely. Please note that Request Stop is not available on Viva. Find out more about Request Stop.

11. What is Yield to Bus?

Yield to Bus is a new provincial law put in place to improve traffic flow. The new law requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to buses leaving bus bays to merge with traffic. Find out more about Yield to Bus.

12. I operate a retail business and want to sell YRT / Viva tickets and passes.

For information on selling YRT/Viva fare media, please click here.

13. Where can I get information on employment opportunities for York Region Transit?

You can call our Human Resources Department at (905) 895-1231 ext. 5506, or email them at yrkhr@york.ca. Job postings are also listed at http://works.workopolis.com/customers/york/

For YRT bus operator opportunities, recruiting is handled by the following contractors (listed along with their service areas):

For Viva vehicle operator opportunities, recruitment is handled by Veolia Canada:

14. What is your policy for personal and commercial filming/photography?

For personal use: Passengers are permitted to take photos or use recording devices for personal use provided the photos do not contain clear facial shots, flashes are not directed at vehicles in operation and there is no interference with the safe movement of both vehicle and pedestrian flow. Please note that any person taking photos of and/or filming transit infrastructure may be investigated by a proper authority, which includes transit special constables, local police, transit employees or contractors, to determine the intent and purpose of the photography/filming.

For commercial use: Photography and/or filming for commercial use on YRT/Viva transit vehicles and property is only permitted with written approval from YRT/Viva and/or The Regional Municipality of York. To obtain our complete commercial use policy and for details on how to make a request for commercial filming/photography on YRT/Viva properties, email transitinfo@york.ca or call our Contact Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978).

Accessibility

1. Are YRT/Viva vehicles accessible to people using mobility aids?

Yes, all vehicles in the YRT/Viva fleet are wheelchair-accessible.

2. Can I ride YRT/Viva for free if I am visually impaired?

Yes, with appropriate identification, members of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) or any other organization operating within York Region dealing with persons with visual impairments can travel free of charge on conventional YRT / Viva transit services, including TTC routes north of Steeles Avenue and Brampton Transit routes operating within York Region.

Business with YRT/Viva

1. How can I get information about advertising on YRT / Viva buses, bus shelters and benches?

See our Business with YRT/Viva page.

2. Can I charter a YRT / Viva vehicle?

Yes, YRT / Viva vehicles can be chartered. For more information, please download, complete and fax or mail our Customer Charter Request Form (PDF).

Schedules

1. How can I get schedule / real-time arrival information by email, web or phone?

Try RideNow, a convenient real-time tool for YRT/Viva riders on the move.

RideNow real-time schedules can be retrieved by entering or selecting your four-digit bus stop number through the Schedule Finder or RideNow pages.

For an email update, email your four-digit bus stop number in the subject line to ridenow@york.ca and the next arrival times will be sent your way. For information by phone, call 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978) and enter your four-digit bus stop number to hear real-time information for the next few buses at your stop.

Facilities/Maintenance

1. Who do I contact regarding installation of a bus stop?

You may call our office at 1-866-MOVE YRT (668-3978) to make a request. Or e-mail us at transitinfo@york.ca.

2. Who do I contact regarding shelter maintenance, litter or snow removal?

Please call our office at 1-866-MOVE YRT (668-3978) to speak with a Customer Service Representative. Or e-mail us at transitinfo@york.ca.

Fares - General

1. Do I need to validate my ticket to ride Viva?

Yes. If you have purchased a set of 10 tickets, you must validate your ticket at a vivaNow machine located at all vivastations and terminals. If you have purchased a single ride ticket from a oneRide machine, are using a monthly pass, GTA weekly pass or valid transfer, you do not need to validate your fare.

2. What happens if I don't validate my ticket?

YRT/Viva Transit Enforcement staff make random on-bus checks across the transit system to ensure correct use of tickets, transfers and passes. Customers without valid fares may be subject to a warning, $155 fine or criminal charge. Don't forget to validate!

3. What happens if my two-hour ticket expires while I'm still on the bus?

Your validated ticket or transfer indicates the time your trip expires.You have up to two hours to travel, but you must complete your entire trip and exit the bus before your ticket or transfer expires. If your time expires while you are still travelling, you could be subject to a fine. Plan your travel time carefully! YRT/Viva cannot revoke a fine once it has been issued. Make sure you always have a valid ticket or pass while travelling on YRT/Viva.

4. I received a fine on YRT/Viva because I didn't have a valid fare. Now what?

You have three options to pursue within 15 days of receiving your fine.

• Plead guilty and pay the fine by attending the court shown on your ticket, mailing in your payment or visiting http://www.paytickets.ca/

• Plead guilty with an explanation and speak to a Justice of the Peace at the court
  shown on your ticket

• Plead not guilty and request a trial by attending the court shown on your ticket

5. How can YRT/Viva Transit Enforcement tell where my ticket has been validated?

Each vivaNow validator prints a unique code number on your ticket. This code shows the location of the vivastation where you validated. Always remember to validate your ticket prior to boarding Viva and keep it with you at all times as proof-of-payment.

6. How do I validate/purchase my ticket when the VivaNow / fare machine is out of service?

If a oneRide or multiRide fare machine, or VivaNow validating machine is out of service, inform the driver and/or call YRT/Viva Customer Service at 1 866 MOVE-YRT (668-3978). Select option #4 to speak with a Customer Service Representative when calling Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 7:00pm or on Weekends/Holidays from 8:30am to 4:30pm. When calling after hours, select option #6 to reach our Transit Enforcement Dispatch office.

You may board Viva without a validated ticket but are requested to purchase or validate your ticket once you exit the bus at your destination. Do not hop off Viva to purchase or validate your fare during your trip as the driver will not wait for you.

YRT/Viva's control centre and Transit Fare Enforcement Officers are immediately notified of any malfunctioning machines. If you are approached by an Officer while on the bus, he or she will be able to confirm if the machine at your boarding location was not operating correctly and will ask you to purchase or validate your ticket upon exiting the bus.

7. When is next month's YRT / Viva Monthly Pass available for purchase at fare machines?

Monthly passes are available for purchase at ticket vending machines starting on the 18th of the preceding month.

8. When is next week's GTA Weekly Pass available for purchase?

Next week's GTA Weekly Pass is available for purchase by the Thursday of the preceding week.

9. Can I get a refund on YRT / Viva tickets or passes?

We do not provide refunds on tickets or passes, but you may exchange tickets in person at YRT / Viva's office (50 High Tech Road, 5th Floor, Richmond Hill, L4B 4N7) or by regular mail. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Please note that the value of exchanged tickets or passes will be pro-rated.

10. When I ride YRT Express services, how much extra do I have to pay if I am using a regular ticket?

You will have to deposit an extra 50 cents with your YRT/Viva ticket, or show your pass, transfer or GTA Weekly Pass when you deposit the extra 50 cents. The 50-cent Express supplement also applies to customers using an Express route for local short trips.

11. How do I find out more about Transit Enforcement, Fines and bylaws?

Visit the Transit Enforcement page.

12. Can I still use YRT/Viva tickets purchased in 2011?

Yes, you may continue to use 2011 YRT/Viva tickets in 2012.

Fares - Students

1. Can university and college students buy YRT/Viva student fares?

Only full-time high school students with valid student ID are eligible for YRT/Viva student fares. College and university students can take advantage of adult discounted sets of 10 tickets or monthly passes.

2. Does a child over 13, but still attending elementary school, still qualify for YRT/Viva Child fares?

Children 14 and over still attending elementary school no longer qualify for YRT/Viva Child fares. However, a letter from the elementary school principal confirming attendance at the school may be brought in person to the YRT/Viva office at 50 High Tech Road (5th Floor), where a student photo I.D. card will be produced for the child. This student photo I.D. card will allow for YRT/Viva High School Student fares.

Integration with other services

GO Transit

1. Does YRT/Viva have any discounts for GO Transit riders?

Yes, for only 75 cents you may take one of our YRT GO Shuttle services to most GO Train Stations in York Region. You can also take any local YRT/Viva route that connects at a GO Train Station for 50 cents. You can connect to GO Trains, Train-Bus services and GO Express services at most GO Train Stations. Learn more about YRT/Viva connecting services.

Brampton

1. Will Brampton Transit fare media be accepted when boarding YRT Route 77 at Finch GO Bus Terminal?

No, only YRT/Viva fare media is accepted on Route 77 at Finch GO Bus Terminal.

2. Can I use YRT/Viva fare media when boarding any Züm service between Highway 50 and York University?

Yes, YRT/Viva tickets, passes and transfers will be accepted.

3. Where are Brampton Transit transfers accepted in York Region?

Brampton Transit transfers are accepted at transfer points along Highway 7 in Vaughan, between Highway 50 and Interchange Way and at York University. Brampton Transit transfers are accepted on YRT/Viva and TTC.

4. What is my fare if I'm boarding Züm in York Region?

All YRT/Viva fare media or cash fare is accepted if boarding Züm within York Region east of Highway 50. There is a fare box on all Züm buses.

5. Do I need a Brampton Transit transfer if I have a monthly pass?

Yes, all passengers must ask for a transfer.