The city of Montreal says public transit trips were up between 15% and 20% among people age 65 and over in the six months after it implemented free service for local seniors.

The program took effect on July 1, 2023, and offers residents 65 or older free fare for transit trips within Montreal and suburbs on Montreal Island.

The six-month results were released in a 2025 budget planning report which the city published earlier this week.

Montreal is also reporting that 47% of eligible residents had signed up for the program by the end of 2023.

One of those residents is 74-year-old Huguette Bergeron, who says she would have been able to afford the regular $97 monthly transit fare but feels the program is helping seniors socialize and enjoy more of their city.

Robert Martin says he is looking forward to registering for the program when he turns 65 next year, noting that as someone who has never owned a car, he expects it will enable him to become more mobile.