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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Vic chapter.

It’s the start of a new school year and BC Transit has decided to change the bus pass system. Instead of being about to use your OneCard (student ID) as your U-Pass, you are now required to either download the Umo app or receive a physical card, but not both. 

Therefore, I chose to get the physical card just in case my phone dies while I’m out, but also I’ve seen that scanning the QR code on the app doesn’t even work. However, as the app includes travel tools such as real-time information, maps, and alerts, it is BC Transit’s recommended fare product. Google Maps works just as well though.

According to the BC Transit website, Umo is currently only in Victoria. It will be rolled out to 29 other transit systems over time. The next locations to have Umo will be the Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, the Comox valley, Campbell River, and Port Alberni. 

An article by The Times Colonist revealed that Victoria is the first Canadian location of the $23.2 million system owned and operated by Cubic Transportation Systems Inc. Of that $23.2 million, 50 per cent was paid by the federal government, 40 per cent by the provincial government, and 10 per cent by the various local governments.

With that said, you are unable to pay with a card as you enter. If you don’t have a Umo pass, you can either download the app or pay with cash. Make sure you have $5 exactly if you or a friend are planning on getting that day pass as there’s no change.

If you want to receive a physical Umo card and not risk any dying phones, swing by the UVSS info booth in the Student Union Building to pick it up. For the app on your phone, search “Umo Mobility” within the app store and go from there.

Good luck and good transiting!

Paige has been with Her Campus since September of 2022 as both a writer and editor before deciding to take on a larger role as Chapter Leader for one year. As a former Campus Correspondents at the Her Campus at UVic chapter, Paige published content, managed the executive team, oversaw retention and recruitment, and hosted meetings, now she is back to simply writing and editing, what she truly enjoys. She has published a piece with the campus newspaper before deciding that she preferred to edit and publish articles instead. She has done media for a non-profit as well as collabing with local newspapers to promote the festival that the non-profit ran. As a fourth-year writing major at UVic, Paige is minoring in journalism with a focus in creative nonfiction. She received a scholarship for a short story she wrote in 2020. She has also received various academic scholarships for her grades. She hopes to go into either publishing/editing or working for a newspaper/magazine somewhere in Europe one day, ideally in the world of Formula One. In her free time, Paige watches and keeps up with the Formula One world. She also enjoys reading a good book, bingeing one of her favourite TV shows such as Criminal Minds, and visiting bookstores.