Enrolment for free PRESTO cards for kids reaches triple digits in Hamilton

The Hamilton Public Library has already rolled out nearly450free PRESTO cardsfor kids between ages six to 12 years old under the pilot program that began on Feb. 18.

Already, 435 kids have grabbed the cards, which allow them to ride on HSR for free, says Shelley McKay, HPL's manager of communications.

Of the kids who got free PRESTO cards, 298were already library members, McKay said, while 137 signed up just before getting the card.

"It's been great because it has encouraged library card sign-ups and PRESTO sign-ups, not only for kids but library card sign-ups for adults as well," saidMcKay.

To get their free PRESTO cards,kids have to first get a free library cardfrom any of their 23 branches or bookmobiles around town. The project isfunded by an anonymous donor and the Hamilton Community Foundation.

Hamilton's Emily Berkes,the mother of a seven-year-old, saidthe program is great. Thebus system already provides free rides to kids below the age of five, but Berkes said extending it to age 12 makes sense.

Feeling grown up

Her daughter Hazel, she said, goes to an out-of-catchment school that does not have a school bus. Her dad used to drive her, but has a new job and can't anymore.

"So I think we will be using the bus a whole lot," she said.

Berkessaid the card also means she doesn't have toworry abouther daughter having proper change. When her daughter got her free card from the library, Berkes said, she was so excited that she wore it around her neck for days.

"Shewas just so excited," she said."It makes her feel so grown up and important to wear that thing around her neck."

Kids below the age of 12 do not carry any proof of identification with them.So it might become difficult for the drivers to guess the child's age as he or she uses their free pass, saidMaureen Cosyn Heath, HSR's director of transit.

A problem incident

"We have implemented a free child ID card, available at the Hunter Street location ticket office, for families to pick if they would like to, for children that fall into that age group," she said.

The program has caused some friction.Denise Williams saidher11-year-old daughter, Annabelle, was on her way home from school when a driver asked her to either pay for the ride or step down from the bus. This happened twice with the same driver, Williams said.

Williams said her daughter calledher from abus stop, and was embarrassed and distraught as she waited for her. Williams said when she called HSR, the service apologized and said drivers unsure about the pass should contact the control room.

But when Annabelle got on the bus a week later, she said, the driver swore at her and told her to get off the bus.

'Everyone needs to be on the same page'

"She started crying obviously, got upset, got off the bus," said Williams.

"Everyone needs to be on the same page with this. This is huge."

Cosyn Heath called it "a very unfortunate incident" where the driver likely thought Annabelle was older than 12.

"Our consumer experience and innovationteam has already spoken to Annabelle's mother to apologize [and] the driver has been spoken with," she said.

She said HSR has briefed itsdrivers about the new pilot program, the library has also emailedvarious organizations and city councillorsincludedit in their newsletters.