TransLink offering free rides on New Year's

TransLink braces for busy New Year's Eve Fare gates at SkyTrain and SeaBus stations will be open and free from 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve until 5 a.m. New Year's Day.

TransLink is looking to help riders get home safely on New Year's by offering free transit.

The transit service will open its fare gates at SkyTrain and SeaBus stations between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

Compass Cards or the use of other payment methods will not be required.

TransLink says buses will operate on an extended weekday schedule, with 52 additional buses throughout the system and extra service on select routes. SkyTrain service will also operate on an extended weekday schedule and the last trains will depart shortly after 2:00 a.m.

The 5:30 and 6:20 p.m. West Coast Express trains leaving Waterfront Station will also be free to customers.

According to TransLink, this is the first time it has partnered with a sponsor to cover some of the costs of extra transit services on New Year’s Eve.

The service has teamed up with Captain Morgan, and the popular liquor company’s logo is visible on Compass Vending Machines, Compass Validators, platform screens, and other digital products across the transit system.

The initiative to offer free transit comes at a time when ICBC data shows that being on the road during New Year's can be dangerous.

Every year during New Year's, on average, 169 people are injured in 585 crashes in B.C., according to ICBC. Most of those injuries (114) and collisions (340) occur in the Lower Mainland.

Vancouver Island typically sees an average of 22 people injured and 80 crashes, while the Southern Interior has 25 injuries and 140 crashes.

The North Central region averages seven injured people and 47 crashes each New Year.