Last summer Medicine Hat tried something. A $50 pass that gave teenagers unlimited bus rides and free entry to every major recreation facility in the city for the whole summer. Over 600 youth bought one.
It is back.
The Rec & Ride Youth Pass returns for its second year starting June 26. The City of Medicine Hat's Parks and Recreation department, Medicine Hat Transit, and the YMCA of Southeastern Alberta are partnering again to offer the pass to youth aged 13 to 17. It costs $50 and runs through September 4.
Passes go on sale Monday June 15 at Big Marble Go Centre.
What the pass actually gets you
For $50 a one-time purchase for the entire summer pass holders receive unlimited access to Medicine Hat Transit and free admission to six recreation facilities:
Big Marble Go Centre. Crestwood Recreation Centre. Hill Pool. Strathcona Pool. Downtown YMCA. South Ridge YMCA.
That covers the full spread of what Medicine Hat offers for youth recreation indoor fitness, two outdoor pools, two YMCA locations, and transit to get between all of them without needing a parent to drive.
At full price, a single drop-in swim at a Medicine Hat pool runs around $4 to $5. A single transit trip is $2.25. A teenager who swims three times a week and takes the bus to get there would spend that $50 in the first two or three weeks of summer. Everything after that is free.
Why this exists
The pass was designed to solve two specific problems that keep teenagers from using recreation facilities in summer: cost and transportation.
Cost is obvious. A summer of drop-in swimming, gym visits, and fitness classes adds up fast for families watching their budget. But transportation is the less discussed barrier in a city like Medicine Hat where most things require a car, teenagers without a driver's licence depend entirely on parents or friends for rides. If nobody is available, the activity does not happen.
Unlimited transit changes that. A teenager with a Rec & Ride pass can decide independently to take the bus to Strathcona Pool on a Tuesday afternoon without coordinating with anyone. That independence matters in ways that go beyond recreation it builds confidence, social connection, and the kind of unstructured summer activity that is increasingly rare for teenagers.
"By reducing both cost and transportation barriers, the pass has helped more young people stay active, connected, and engaged, and we're hearing from parents and youth alike how much that access matters," said Scott Richter, Acting Director of Parks and Recreation.
What happened in year one
The 2025 debut was strong. Over 600 youth purchased passes. Participants logged thousands of facility visits and transit trips across the summer. The program attracted interest from families across Medicine Hat particularly those who could not otherwise afford regular recreation access.
The feedback from both parents and youth was positive enough that the city, transit, and the YMCA committed to bringing it back for 2026 without changes to the price or the structure.
"With the positive feedback from the Rec & Ride Youth Pass last year, we feel this program provides an affordable and accessible option for youth to participate in some of the wonderful activities this city has to offer," said Ken Bertelsen, Superintendent of Transit Operations with Medicine Hat Transit. "We hope to see this program continue to thrive in the years to come."
Who should know about this
If you have a teenager aged 13 to 17 in Medicine Hat, this is worth knowing about before June 15.
The pass covers the bulk of the summer June 26 through September 4. That is the entire school holiday period. At $50 it is less than most families spend on a single activity registration and covers unlimited use of transit and six facilities for ten weeks.
If your teenager wants to swim, lift weights, play basketball, take fitness classes, or just get out of the house and do something this is how they do it without a car and without a per-visit cost.
Passes are available starting June 15 at Big Marble Go Centre at 2000 Division Ave N. For more information visit medicinehat.ca/rec-and-ride.
Sources:
City of Medicine Hat, Rec & Ride Youth Pass returns for year two, June 9, 2026 (medicinehat.ca)
City of Medicine Hat, Parks and Recreation, medicinehat.ca/rec-and-ride
