What’s Umo?
Regina Transit’s New Fare System starts August 13, 2024.
Regina Transit will be transitioning to a new fare system called Umo starting on August 13, 2024. With Umo you can pay bus fare through the Umo mobile app or with a new Umo reloadable card.
If the app or reloadable card is not your preferred way to pay for bus fare, cash will still be accepted on all buses.
Why the Change?
The new system will be user-friendly, convenient and accessible. The current transit fare system has been in place since 2011 and has served the transit system well. However, a replacement of the system is required as the technology is no longer supported. If you still have a remaining balance on your R-card, visit the Transit Information Centre (2124 11th Avenue) before December 31, 2024 and they will transfer your balance to a Umo account.
How to Pay
There are two ways to pay for your fare:
- Downloading the Umo Mobility app from the App Store or Google Play or
- Picking up a reloadable Umo card
Umo App
To download the Umo App and create your Umo account:
- Search for the Umo Mobility App in your app store and download.
- You will need to agree to the Terms of Use, then click “Get Started”
- Optional – the app will request permission to access your location. This does not need to be enabled as the Trip Planning functions are not enabled in Regina.
- Select Allow Once – to allow the Umo App to determine your location initially.
- Select Allow While Using App – to allow the Umo App to always recognize your location while you’re using it.
- Select Don’t Allow – to block the Umo App from determining your location.
- Select Allow if you would like to get live updates and allow notifications. This does not need to be enabled as the Trip Planning functions are not enabled in Regina.
- Tap the country flag in the upper right hand corner and switch to Canada, and select Regina.
- Tap Sign in to set up your account to buy your fares.
To buy a Pass or rides:
- From the main screen of the Umo App, tap Wallet.
- Select Buy and then Add Pass.
- Select your pass or rides product you would like to purchase.
- On the Review Purchase screen, select Add Payment Method.
- On the Add Card screen, enter your payment method information and press Save Card.
- On the Review Purchase screen, tap Purchase.
Success! Your Pass fare product is now loaded to your account.
To buy a Cash Balance fare product:
- From the main screen of the Umo App, tap Wallet.
- Select Buy and then Add Money.
- Select the desired amount you want to add.
- On the Review Purchase screen, select Add Payment Method.
- On the Add Card screen, enter your payment method information and press Save Card.
- On the Review Purchase screen, tap Purchase.
Success! Your Cash Balance fare product is now loaded in your account.
When you’re ready to travel:
- Prior to boarding the bus, open your app and from the home screen, select Code to display your dynamic QR code.
- Present your QR code to the Umo digital validator.
- Look and listen for the validator’s confirmation signals. A checkmark and single beep means your fare has been accepted.
Using a Reloadable Card
Visit a Transit agent or the Transit Information Centre and pick up a card for free. Agents are listed under Transit Agents.
If at the agent location, make your initial fare product purchase to ensure your new Umo card is activated.
If at a agent:
- Tell the agent if you would like to buy a pass, rides or a Cash Balance fare product.
- Pay with cash, debit, or credit.
Success! Your Umo card is now loaded and ready for use.
If through ca.umopass.com:
- Visit ca.umopass.com.
- On the Sign In page, click Create Account.
- On the Let’s Get You Going page, click Register a Card.
- On the Register Your Card page, enter your Umo card number in the Card Number field and click Next. Your card number is on the back of your card.
- On the Create Your Account page, enter your preferred username, and create a password.
- (Optional) Enter an email address or phone number. This is helpful if you lose your card and are trying to recover loaded fare products.
- Read and confirm the Terms and Conditions, click Save.
- To load your fare product, visit My Wallet, click Buy, select your desired fare product, and proceed to Checkout.
- On the Order Details screen, under Payment Method, enter your payment method and click Purchase.
Success! Your Umo card is now loaded and ready for use. You can save your payment details to speed up future purchases.
When you’re ready to travel:
- Get your Umo card ready prior to stepping on the bus.
- Aboard the bus, hold your card up to the Umo digital validator.
- Look and listen for the validator’s confirmation signals. A checkmark and single beep means your fare has been accepted.
Paying with Cash on the Bus:
You can pay with coins to board the bus. Coins will be accepted in the farebox. If you need a transfer, ask the operator. When you board the next bus, scan this transfer on the farebox machine.
FAQ
Q: What is the new transit fare system called?
A: Umo, prounounced “You-mo”, was selected as the new transit fare system.
Q: Will customers lose their R-Card balance when the new system launches?
A: No, customers will be able to visit the Transit Information Centre (2124 11th Ave) to transfer their balance to a Umo account until December 31, 2024.
Q: Why is credit and debit not yet available?
A: Paying for transit fares with debit and credit cards will be available in 2025. The new fare system contractor is working with payment providers to have this available in 2025 after a successful launch of the new system.
Q: Will transit riders still be able to pay with cash?
A: Yes, transit riders can continue to pay with cash. Coins will still be accepted in the farebox. No change will be provided.
Q: Will these changes be applicable to Paratransit service?
A: Yes, the same fare system and fares will be used on Paratransit.
Q: Where do I go if I have questions?
A: Transit riders with questions can call 306-777-RIDE to talk to a customer service agent or visit the Transit Information Centre at 2124 11th Avenue open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Q: Can I use the Umo app and card at the same time interchangeably?
A: No, security features in the Umo system prohibit two payment methods to be linked to an account at one time.
Q: Can I share my Umo payment method?
A: Unless using cash, all riders are required to carry their own payment method. This includes individuals riding as a group.
Q: Can I change my Umo payment method from a Umo card to an app and vice versa?
A: Umo payment methods cannot be used interchangeably, and you must choose only one.
To swap from a Umo card to the Umo app: After funding a Umo card you are able to download the Umo Mobility app and follow the app’s instructions to transfer your card’s balance to the app. Once the transfer has been completed the card will be void and unable to be used again.
Q: Why can’t I find the Umo app in the app store?
A: The app can be found in both Canadian Apple App and Google Play stores by searching “Umo Mobility”. Please note that you must be connected to a Canadian app store to download the Umo Mobility app.
Q: Do I have to create an Umo account to use the app?
A: Yes, you need to create an account with a unique username like an email address or phone number to use the app.
Q: Do I need to use cellular data to use the Umo app?
A: No, as long as you are logged into the app and have a fare loaded to your Umo account, your app will make the connection and validate your fare product if you have cellular data turned off or in an area outside of cellular service. The mobile app does not need to use data to validate your fare.
Q: How much does a Umo card cost?
A: The Umo cards are free up until December 31, 2024. After December 31, cards will cost $5. If you lose your card and need a replacement the cost will be $5.
Q: What should I do if I lose my Umo card?
A: Please call the RIDELine at 306-777-RIDE. If your card was registered, you can pick up a new card from any transit agent and call to have your fare products transferred to the new Umo card. Once your products have been loaded to the new Umo card, your original card will be deactivated.
Q: If I replace a lost card and then find the missing card afterwards can I use the once lost card again?
A: No, once a Umo card is deactivated, the lost or missing card becomes permanently void and will no longer work.
Q: I’m having trouble validating my Umo app on the bus. What should I do?
A: Don’t worry, it can take a few times validating your app’s QR code before you get the hang of it. Transit Operators are aware of this, so please don’t stress. Three suggestions to speed up your app validation are:
- Have your app open to the QR code prior to setting aboard the bus.
- Turn up your phone’s screen brightness or turn off power save mode if your phone model does not don’t automatically brighten your screen when you click on the QR code.
- Hold your phone back from the onboard validator to display the entire QR code.
Q: How do I validate my Umo Card aboard the bus?
A: When you are ready to travel, please have your card ready prior to stepping aboard the bus. Upon boarding the bus, tap your card within two inches of the validator, under the “Scan Below” screen. The display on the validator will confirm your successful fare payment with a checkmark and audible single beep notification.
Q: How do I know if my fare was accepted?
A: The Umo validator will display a checkmark on the response screen and produce a single audible beep informing you that your fare has been accepted. It will also display your balance on the screen.
Q: Why did the Umo validator display a yellow checkmark instead of the green checkmark I’m used to seeing?
A: A yellow checkmark signals that your fare was accepted but your either your balance for rides is at two or fewer, your cash balance has dipped below $2.90 or your pass is set to expire within two days. This is just a visual notification to let you know your account is low.
Q: What is Cash Balance? How does it work?
A: Cash Balance is a new fare product Regina Transit offers through the Umo app or reloadable card. A Cash Balance is a sum of money loaded to a rider’s Umo account that gets deducted from as additional trips are taken.
Transit riders who use a cash balance can take advantage of fare capping rules. Each time you use your cash balance, $2.90 will be deducted from your balance. Once you have done three trips in one day, each additional tap will be free, so you will be charged a maximum of $8.70 each day.
If you use cash balance over the course of the month, you will not be charged more than $88 a month (capped at 31 rides a month).
Depending on how much you ride, using a cash balance may be an economical way to use Regina Transit! Transfers will work as normal (90-minute window) if you are using cash balance at no additional charge.
Q: How are transfers handled?
A: If using rides or cash balance, transfers will be applied automatically and an extra trip will not be charged. If you are paying by cash, ask your operator for a transfer which can be scanned on the next bus.
Q: How will Umo know the difference between a pass and Cash Balance fare products?
A: Both pass and Cash Balance fare products can be loaded to a reloadable Umo card or the Umo app at the same time. If you have both loaded, Umo will apply your fare to a pass first, saving your stored value funds for future use.
Q: How do I set my fare product to automatically reload?
A: There are two ways to set your Cash Balance or 30-Day Pass to automatically reload for your Umo app or Umo card.
Online:
- Log into ca.umopass.com with your Umo account credentials
- Visit My Wallet, click Buy, select your desired fare product select Autoload
- Complete your payment
Q: How does my U-Pass work with Umo?
A: All Regina Transit U-Pass institutions will have access to the Umo app or a reloadable card. U-Pass riders, just like standard riders, must choose one method and cannot interchangeably use the mobile app and card at the same time.
Prior to the start of your school term, your school will provide you with information about your school’s unique process that involves redeeming a Umo benefit code to a Umo account. Once redeemed, you will be able to ride Regina Transit by scanning your QR code on the bus.
Q: How do I plan my trip?
A: Transit riders can use transitlive.com or Google trip planner to plan your trips.
Q: Will Regina Transit charge credit card fees for loading a Umo card or mobile app?
A: No, Regina Transit and our fare vendors will not pass along payment processing fees.
Q: Can I use Umo if I am on a discount program like the discount pass, affordable pass or senior passes?
A: Yes, customers who are eligible for these programs will have to first visit the Transit Information Centre to have their account available to purchase those passes. Once set up, you will be able to buy these passes on your account through the app, website or at an agent.
Q: Can I use Umo if I buy post-secondary passes?
A: Post-secondary passes will be available for purchase for your account if you visit the Transit Information Centre (2124 11th Ave), The University of Regina Students' Union, Sask Polytech, or SIIT. You will have to bring confirmation of enrollment in post-secondary studies. Unfortunately, this pass will not be available through the Umo app or web portal.
Q. Can I purchase passes and fares on behalf of another rider, like family members or other dependents?
A. Yes, Account Linking allows you to link your Umo Card transit account with other Umo Card riders' transit accounts. Learn more about Account Linking here.
