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FAQ

FAQs

  1. How can I get schedule / real-time arrival information by email, web or phone?
  2. How can I get information about advertising on YRT / Viva buses, bus shelters and benches?
  3. Can I bring my pet on a YRT / Viva vehicle?
  4. Can I bring my bike or other large items on a YRT / Viva vehicle?
  5. Can I bring my stroller on a YRT / Viva vehicle?
  6. Can I charter a YRT / Viva vehicle?
  7. Is it okay to rollerskate, in-line skate or skateboard on the YRT / Viva system?
  8. Do YRT / Viva vehicles have air-conditioning?
  9. Are YRT/Viva vehicles accessible to people using mobility aids?
  10. Can I ride YRT / Viva for free if I am visually impaired?
  11. How does YRT/Viva handle lost and found items?
  12. Who do I contact regarding installation of a bus stop?
  13. Who do I contact regarding shelter maintenance, litter or snow removal?
  14. How do I validate / purchase my ticket when the VivaNow / fare machine is out of service?
  15. When is next month's YRT / Viva Monthly Pass available for purchase at fare machines?
  16. When is next week's GTA Weekly Pass available for purchase?
  17. Can I get a refund on YRT / Viva tickets or passes?
  18. Does YRT / Viva have any discounts for GO Transit riders?
  19. When I ride the YRT Express services, how much extra do I have to pay if I am using a regular ticket?
  20. Does a child over 13, but still attending elementary school, still qualify for YRT / Viva Child fares?
  21. Can I wait for my vehicle inside the shelter?
  22. Can I board a YRT/Viva vehicle south of Steeles Avenue?
  23. What is a "Flag Stop?"
  24. Can I board or get off a YRT / Viva vehicle between stops? What is Request Stop?
  25. What is Yield to Bus?
  26. I operate a retail business and want to sell YRT / Viva tickets and passes. How do I become a ticket agent?
  27. Where can I get information on employment opportunities for York Region Transit?
  28. Does YRT / Viva have a Customer Code of Conduct?
  29. How do I find out more about Transit Enforcement, Fines and By-laws?
  30. What is your policy for personal and commercial filming/photography?

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 are available online at www.yrt.ca 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.

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

Please see our Advertise with Us page HERE

3. 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.

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

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.

5. 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.

6. 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. Download Adobe PDF format (84 KB)

7. 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 YRT / Viva property, including vehicles, stations, terminals and parking lots. Please carry these items with you.

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

By the end of 2010, all YRT / Viva vehicles will have air conditioning. As of June 2010, four YRT buses out of the entire fleet are not air-conditioned and are scheduled for retirement later in the year.

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

Appoximately 98% of YRT buses and 100% of Viva vehicles are wheelchair accessible. It is expected that 100% of YRT buses will be wheelchair accessible by the end of 2010, as older buses are placed out of service.

10. 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.

11. 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):

Miller Transit  (905) 475-1367, ext. 503
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.		 Markham / Richmond Hill
First Student
(formerly Laidlaw)		 (905) 895-6681
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.		 Newmarket / Aurora
Veolia (Southwest) Call or email the YRT/Viva Contact Centre at
1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978) or transitinfo@york.ca		 Vaughan
Veolia (Viva) (905) 760-2223, ext. 224
Hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm		 Vaughan/Markham/
Richmond Hill
TTC (416) 393-4100
Hours: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.		 Contracted TTC routes operating in York Region

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

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

Yes, for only 50¢ you can 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¢. You can connect to GO Trains, Train-Bus services and GO Express services at most GO Train Stations.
Click here for more information on GO connections

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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. Click here for more information on Request Stop.

25. 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. Click here to learn more about Yield to Bus.

26. 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.

27. 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):

Miller Transit (905) 475-1367 Markham/ Richmond Hill
First Group (formerly Laidlaw) (905) 895-6681 Newmarket
Veolia Canada (905) 760-2223
andreea.claici@veoliatransportation.com		 Vaughan


For Viva vehicle operator opportunities, contact Amy Foster, Human Resources Manager at Veolia Canada:

Veolia Canada (905) 760-2223 ext.235
E-mail: amy.foster@veoliatransportation.com

28. Does YRT / Viva have a Customer Code of Conduct?

Yes. It's posted on our Transit Enforcement page.

29. How do I find out more about Transit Enforcement, Fines and By-laws?

Visit the Transit Enforcement Section of the YRT / Viva website for more information.

30. 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).