Ride with Us

Kingston Transit is proudly owned and operated by the City of Kingston. We provide inclusive and accessible public transit services seven days a week, serving urban areas of Kingston and local service to the neighbouring community of Amherstview. We operate 23 routes with additional services during morning and afternoon peak-commuting times.

Riding Kingston Transit is easy! Learn how to ride:

Paying your fare

To begin your trip you will need to pay your fare. You will need either a Kingston Transit smart card, cash, or a transfer. Tap your smart card, scan your transfer or insert your cash fare into the farebox. You can help keep the bus on schedule by having your fare ready before the bus arrives.
If paying by cash, ensure that you have exact fare as transit operators do not provide change. Check out our Fares and Passes page to learn more about our fare options and what may work best for you.

Transit Stop

All stops are marked with a bus stop sign. Some stops include shelters, benches and/or a garbage can. The bus stop sign indicates where you should wait for the bus.
Note: Not all transit stops are serviced by Express routes. If you are waiting for an Express route, please ensure that it is identified that it services the stop.
Review the information for bus-hailing kits to help persons who are blind or partially sighted easily and safely catch their bus.

Getting on and off the bus

Our transit buses meet the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) requirements, including:
  • low-floors (no stairs)
  • a kneeling feature to meet the height of the curb
  • a ramp that can be lowered for easy mobility aid access
  • two mobility aid spaces with securement devices
  • buses are also equipped with automated audible and visual stop announcements

Signalling for a stop

All buses have yellow stop pull cords above the windows, as well as red stop buttons throughout the bus. Pull the stop cord or push the stop button when you hear or see the announcement for your stop.

Courtesy seating

Every bus includes a clearly-marked courtesy seating area. The seats or space in the courtesy seating areas are required to be made available to customers using a mobility aid, walker, cane or who would otherwise benefit from a seat.
There are other passengers who may benefit from having a seat. In these instances, customers are asked to do the right thing and give up their seat to a passenger whose need is greater.
Operators are not expected to intervene in a courtesy seating dispute. Remember, passengers with invisible disabilities have the same right to access priority seating as passengers with visible disabilities. When a bus is full, or the courtesy seating areas are occupied, customers using a mobility aid may need to wait for the next bus.
Learn more on the Courtesy Seating Policy.

General safety tips

Safety is our top priority. We kindly ask that you stay alert and aware of your surroundings. 

Report anything suspicious to your operator, such as: 

  • Unattended backpacks or bags 
  • Suspicious behaviour 
  • Anything that appears to be out of the ordinary 

  • Never run for a bus
  • Please hold backpacks and other items to make room for others
  • Watch your step while getting on and off the bus, especially in winter conditions
  • If standing, always hold the grab rails or straps for balance
  • Keep the aisle clear
  • For your own safety, stand behind the yellow line at the front of the bus
  • Bare feet, skates or rollerblades are not allowed. Shirts must be worn at all times
  • Move to the back of the bus to make room for passengers getting on
  • Don't walk to the exit doors until the bus has come to a complete stop

  • Assist children when getting on and off the bus. 
  • Children must always be seated. 
  • Don't allow children to put their hands or head out of the window or play in the aisle. 
  • If your child is lost, frightened, hurt, or in trouble, an operator can notify emergency services to help. 

If you need assistance, speak to your operator as soon as possible. They will notify emergency services to assist. If lost, ask your operator for help. 

When customers express a safety concern at night (after 8p.m.), or when the operator determines that it's unsafe to serve a stop, the operator will attempt to stop at a different safe location to let customers off the bus. For Express routes stop requests are permitted at all regular and express stops only along the route. 

Let the operator know at least one stop ahead of where you would like to get off the bus and they will try to meet your request safely and smoothly. 

Customer policies and expectations

Respectful behaviour is expected of all customers and Kingston Transit employees. Acts of aggression, intimidation, or harassment will not be tolerated. Those who act in such a manner will be asked to leave Kingston Transit property, including transit buses. 

Pets are allowed on buses, but must be in a locked carrier designed to transport animals. Persons with disabilities using a service animal or a person training a service animal do not need to have their service animal in a carrier. 

  • Maximum size of an animal carrier: 28in long by 20.5in wide by 21.5in high. 
  • Cardboard boxes and cloth bags are not permitted carriers for animal transportation. 
  • The pet carrier cannot take up a seat or block the aisle or doors. You must always keep your carrier with you, either on your lap, under your seat or between your legs if standing.  

Learn more about our Transportation of Animals Policy.

Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside or within nine metres of transit vehicles, transit shelters and stops. This includes the use of electronic cigarettes. These rules are outlined in the Smoke Free Ontario Act and our Bylaw to Regulate Smoking and Vaping.

Customers must be properly clothed, including a shirt, with footwear to board the bus. If you are coming from the beach or pool, please make sure your clothes are dry when boarding. 

Ice skates, in-line skates, roller blades, kick scooters, skateboards and other similar devices must be carried on by the customer and not used on board the vehicle: 

  • Ice skates need to have skate guards on the blades. 
  • Foldable kick scooters need to remain folded. 
  • Skis and snowboards need to be in a case and remain upright. 

Alcohol and drug use is prohibited on Kingston Transit property. Toxic, flammable or hazardous substances are also not allowed. 

The transit network provides convenient travel options for students and faculty to St Lawrence College, Queen’s University and RMC. Use the trip planner, or a mobile application such as Transit, to plan your trip.

The transit network provides convenient travel options for youth and faculty to their respective high school. Use the trip planner, or a mobile application such as Transit, to plan your school related trip.
Kingston Transit does not provide dedicated service to high school students. Information about school busing can be obtained through your school board or school.

Video camera system

All Kingston Transit buses have a video camera for:

    • Help keep passengers and employees safe
    • Discourage vandalism or other criminal behaviour
    • Help us figure out what happened if there is a passenger complaint, vandalism or another incident
    • Help protect our buses and Transit property

We used these cameras according to the City of Kingston's Video Surveillance Policy. The policy identifies how we store the video and audio, who can access the recordings and how they can be used.

Cameras are not monitored all the time. During an emergency, authorized Kingston Transit employees may view the cameras in real time to provide information to first responders.

Advertising 

We move over 8 million customers per year on a fleet of 82 buses. To advertise with us you can book:

Contact

Kingston Transit
1181 John Counter Blvd,
Kingston, ON K7K 6Y8
Canada
contactus@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000
Fax: 613-546-7816

This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Privacy statement.