Surrey transit riders deserve better, Movement group says in 57-page plan
Published 12:38 pm Friday, March 13, 2026
As TransLink and City of Surrey begin work on new transportation plans, the Movement group of Metro Vancouver Transit Riders pitches what it calls a more community-driven vision for Surrey’s transit future.
This vision, based on feedback from Surrey bus riders, brings to light “the challenges people face daily and lays out clear steps to make transit reliable and more comfortable for everyone.”
A detailed, 57-page Surrey’s Transit Future report calls for new bus routes, expanded bus infrastructure and improvements for pedestrians, among other demands.
“Buses in Surrey are slow, indirect, overcrowded and sometimes downright unpleasant to ride,” the report charges.
“We believe Surrey transit riders deserve better.”
Buses in Surrey are slow, indirect, overcrowded, and sometimes downright unpleasant to ride. We believe Surrey transit riders deserve better, so we’re proposing 3 big ideas which could improve your ride: https://t.co/SHTLmfMuio
— Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders (@MovementYVR) February 17, 2026
Vancouver-based Movement, a non-profit said to represent the region’s one million transit riders, responds to TransLink’s recent launch of public engagement for its South of Fraser East Area Transport Plan, a 15-year vision for the region.
Every day 184,000 trips are taken on Surrey buses, Movement estimates, and another 51,000 board at Surrey’s four SkyTrain stations. Imagine how much more congested Surrey’s streets would be without its remarkably high rates of transit usage, the group wonders.
Surrey’s Transit Future “builds on the tremendous success of transit in Surrey today,” according to Ahasan Bhuiyan, organizer and project lead.
“Transit investments have already delivered results, such as the doubling of ridership in Newton after the R6 Scott Road RapidBus launched. But there are still many gaps to be filled, and we invite policymakers and planners to use this report to inform the next phase of transit expansion in Surrey.”
Every day, Movement says, buses connect thousands of people across Surrey, yet many find the experience frustrating. Riders describe crowded buses, slow trips and long transfers that make even short journeys feel exhausting.
“The RapidBus network has strengthened north-south service, but the rest of Surrey’s system has not kept pace with the city’s rapid growth and changing needs.”
East-west travel is difficult, buses often get stuck in traffic, night service is limited and bus exchanges are crowded and poorly located, according to Movement.
“Taking transit in Surrey can feel so undignified in some areas,” says Aman Chandi, director of programs and fundraising. “Long stretches without sidewalks leave you walking on the edge of the road, and poor lighting makes it hard for drivers to see you at night. This is a serious safety concern, one that we urge the City to address promptly.”
On March 23 Chandi will moderate a Movement-presented “Unpacking Transit in Surrey” panel discussion at City Centre Library, 5:30 p.m. start in Room 120, 10350 University Dr.
Major projects in Surrey are underway including the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along King George.
“Several key plans that envision the future of transit in Surrey are also in development, including the Surrey Transportation Plan, the Surrey Transit Vision, the Official Community Plan update, and TransLink’s South of Fraser East Area Transport Plan,” says a post on actionnetwork.org, which lists panelists Annie Ohana, Adrianna Spyker, Nicolas Tellez‑Espana and Sukhpreet Dhanjal.
“This event invites us to pause and take stock. What’s actually happening on the ground? How do all these moving pieces fit together? And most importantly, what kind of transit future transit riders want/need?”
Read Surrey’s Transit Future on movementyvr.ca/stf.