Aubrey Provan issued a challenge to Whitehorse city councillors this week.

"Leave your vehicles at home and take the city bus for a week," said Provan, a Grade 12 student at F.H. Collins Secondary School, who wants the elected officials to see firsthand what it's like to use transit as their only mode of transportation.

Provan was one of several people who attended a city council meeting this week to talk about the local transit system, and a proposed fare hike. The city is looking to increase single transit fares from $2.50 to $3.50 for all user groups, starting in July.

Fees for monthly and yearly transit passes would also go up, for adults, seniors, students, and paratransit users. The city says the fare hikes are meant to help recover some of the increased operating costs associated with inflation and increased service.

However, several people told councillors this week that the fee hikes should be paused, and the service expanded further.

Provan said the current schedule doesn't work for students.

"Every student I know is busy with extracurriculars, jobs and other commitments after school," said Provan. "Students with activities spread around the city must rely on inconsistent, often behind-schedule buses."

Provan says that often results in students spending countless hours waiting out in the cold for buses that are running late.

She wants the city to have buses operating later at night, and more than once an hour.

"Many students with part-time jobs work closing shifts, finishing after the last buses," said Provan.

Provan says that forces students to either take a taxi or walk, which can raise safety concerns.

"It puts them in extremely vulnerable situations," she said.

Jane Robinson-Boivin, who works at the Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre, echoed Provan's calls for extended service.

"Reliable public transit isn't just about getting from point A to B," said Robinson-Boivin. "It's about access to a safe place to call home, to a job opportunity, and to dignity."

Robinson-Boivin says the current transit schedule, with service ending at around 9 or 9:30 p.m. on most weekday routes and earlier on weekends, means women are "put in unsafe situations."

"At the centre we hear from women and gender-diverse persons who are forced to walk home in –40 weather because they feel unsafe taking a taxi or simply can't afford one," she told councillors.

Affordability of transit is another issue, according to Keitha Clark of the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition. She wants city council to pause the planned fare hike.

"We are living in a time of increasing financial uncertainty," Clark said at Monday's meeting. "Not increasing bus fares is one small and straightforward way that we can address affordability for the people in our community, and often the people that need it the most."

Clark also wants more government support when it comes to distributing bus passes and tickets. She says demand for both jumped by 15 per cent in 2024 thanks in large part to a free public transit initiative from the Yukon government, intended to make transit more accessible for the city's most vulnerable.

Clark says the initiative has been well received by clients of the Anti-Poverty Coalition.

"In 2024 we gave out more than 4,100 bus tickets," said Clark.

The issue the coalition is facing is staff burnout and the additional burden being put on non-government organizations to fulfil a government contribution.

"To our knowledge, no City of Whitehorse facility is participating in the free transit program," said Clark. "And only two government spaces offer free tickets, and just the library offers passes."

Clark says that means distribution falls to people like herself.

"For us, it's really important to question why NGOs, who receive no financial support to administer the passes and tickets, are being relied on to manage transit access," said Clark. "This should be a government responsibility."

Clark says communication from the Yukon government and the city about access to passes and tickets has also been unclear. She says that means transit users are calling her office.

"Today alone I fielded 35 calls," she said.

Mayor and council are set to review transit matters further at city hall later this month.