Student Bus Pass
FAQ
How does the student bus pass work?
- Each quarter, you will receive a benefit code for unlimited rides on all Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) and Skagit Transit bus routes.
- To redeem your benefit code, follow these instructions.
- To ride, open the Umo Mobility app, tap 'code' at the bottom, and scan your code. Each student bus pass is solely intended for their personal use only. Sharing of a Umo benefit code to allow another person to ride the bus may result in a loss of quarterly bus pass.
- Students pay for their bus pass with the Active Transportation Fee (ATF).
- The ATF is automatically assessed to all campus-based students taking one or more credits. To view student fees based on credits visit the WWU Tuition and Fees page.
- Students have a bus pass every quarter the ATF is on their Western account.
- Fall quarter bus passes are active beginning September 16.
- Bus passes work during the intersession following any quarter in which the ATF was assessed.
- Each quarter, you will need to upload a new benefit code.
Who is eligible for a bus pass?
| Student Status | Bus Pass Status |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate students registered for 1 or more credits on campus | Automatic |
| Graduate Students | Automatic |
| Undergraduate students with 0 credits on campus and 1 or more credits off campus | Opt-in for Active Transportation Fee here |
What if I don't register for classes for a quarter?
You may purchase a bus pass directly from WTA. Do this online at www.ridewta.com or in person at the Downtown Bellingham Station on Railroad Ave.
What if my phone was lost, damaged, or dead?
Let the driver that your phone is not working and show your Western ID for a one-time ride. If you get a replacement phone, log into the Umo app using your same log-in credentials you created and your pass will be linked. If your phone often dies, consider bringing along with you an external battery.
What if I don't have a benefit code on Banner?
Banner automatically loads codes for each student who has been assessed the active transportation fee. Check your student account, if you have not been assessed the fee, you can opt-in.
What if I do not have a smartphone or my smartphone cannot support the Umo Mobility app?
A limited number of physical Umo cards are available to those who do not have a smartphone or their smartphone is not compatible with the Umo Mobility app. To request a physical Umo card, please visit Transportation Services or email the Associate Director of Active Transportation.
Qualifications for physical card:
- Your smartphone does not have NFC capabilities (iPhone 6 and newer and most Android phones are NCF equipped).
- Your phone does not support US based apps (for international and exchange students).
- You do not have a smartphone.
Where can I travel with my bus pass?
Your Western student bus pass is good on all WTA buses including the 80X to Mt Vernon and on all the Skagit Transit buses including the 90X to Everett.
Major destinations in the area include historic Fairhaven, Downtown Bellingham, Lakewood, Bellis Fair Mall area, Sunset Square, Lakeway Center, Lake Padden, Whatcom Falls Park, Lynden, Blaine, Ferndale, Mt Vernon, Anacortes, and Everett.
Using public transportation from Everett to Seattle/Tacoma costs only a few dollars.
Can I get a refund after opting in for a bus pass?
All transactions are non-refundable once purchased. Because you have access to an unlimited ride benefit code, that code cannot be tuned off once activated.
Paratransit Rides
Western students who are eligible for WTA Paratransit should contact WTA at 360-676-RIDE with their Western number to have their pass added to their paratransit account for the quarter., learn more on WTA's Paratransit site.