The mayor of Kamloops is sticking to his guns on scrapping transit transfers despite some push back from the public.

Ken Christian says with an electronic tap card system coming transfers were on the way out anyway, and he adds it will also drive transit users to other products.

“So like a day pass or a monthly pass for those people who use transit regularly so the day pass at $4 will take you anywhere in the city, all day long.”

Christian says the numbers made available to council show the changes, which include tweaking the fares, will have a net positive benefit.

“If we were to move to this system, they expect about an 11 per cent increase in ridership and about a 5 per cent increase in the fare box revenue.”

That said, Christian admits some people, what he called “down and back transit users”, will see their fare costs increase.

“Insofar as providing a subsidy for tourists, I don’t really think that’s the intent of the Kamloops Transit System. If you can afford to get to Kamloops, you can probably afford the $2 bus fare,” added Christian.

“But the people that will be affected are those down and back kind of people, and they had statistics about those and there is no doubt about it. They are going to have to pay $4 where they would have only paid $2.”

Council voted 6-2 to approve the bus fare changes; Councillors Dale Bass and Kathy Sinclair were opposed to the changes, citing concerns of eliminating the transfer system. Councillor Bill Sarai was absent for the vote.

The city expects the changes will be in place as of September.