Reminder: Utility bills were due on November 30. If you receive your bill by mail, it may be delayed due to the postage strike. To avoid missing a payment, register for eServices at Cochrane.ca/utilities.
Cochrane on Demand Local Transit (COLT)
Welcome aboard COLT!
COLT is Cochrane's local on-demand, "stop-to-stop", ride-sharing transit service!
When you want to ride with COLT, you can book a bus using the website, mobile app or by calling 403-851-5995. Multiple trips can be booked up to a week in advance. When your bus is on the way, check the stop you are assigned to, wait for pick-up and enjoy the ride!
The COLT bus shows up only when you book a ride. As an on-demand service, buses do not follow a fixed timetable or route, but goes to where rides are requested. Buses serve 149 designated stops within Cochrane.
Booking a bus:
Step 1: Create an account on the website or app, or call 403-851-5995 to book via the operator
Step 2: Enter a pick-up and drop-off location, time of travel, and search for rides. Once confirmed, choose your payment method
Step 3: Pick-up location is finalized 15 minutes before your ride time. Track your ride in real-time on the app or website, and check your phone for text message confirmations. If you booked via the phone, the operator will assign you a stop
Step 4: After boarding, show the driver your booking confirmation and enjoy the ride. Along the way, the bus will try to pick up other passengers as it delivers you to your destination
COLT Bus Stops
See the closest bus stop near you and regional transit services connecting Cochrane.
Adult Monthly Pass (Age 18-59): $50 - paper ticket
Senior Monthly Pass (Age 60+): $30 - paper ticket
Youth Month Pass (Age 6-17 or with Student / Post-secondary ID): $25 - paper ticket
Children (Age 5 & Under): Free
Paying By Cash
If paying cash for single trip fares, riders should pay by exact fare. The bus driver does not have access to coins or bills and can’t give you change.
Reduced Transit Fares
The Town of Cochrane offers discounted fares for eligible, low income residents. For details, please visit the Cochrane Connect Card program page.
Refunds, Expiry Date & Conditions of Use
All tickets, passes and fares are non-refundable; no replacement for lost, stolen, damaged or expired tickets/passes. Passes valid only for one calendar month; tickets valid until expiry or as directed. Passes and tickets cannot be sold, bartered, exchanged, transferred or given away. Use of COLT is regulated by Town of Cochrane Transit Bylaw (22-2019).
Paper tickets can be purchased at the following locations:
Cochrane Family & Community Support Services 209 Second Ave W | 403-851-2250 Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm
The Station at Cochrane Crossing 306 Railway St W | 403-851-7700 Mon-Fri: 8:30am-4:30pm
Cochrane Family Resource Network 127 First Avenue | 403-851-2265 Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm (closed 12-1pm)
Cochrane Administration Building 101 RancheHouse Rd | 403-851-2500 Mon-Fri: 8:30am-4:30pm
Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre 800 Griffin Rd E | 403-932-1635 Open Daily: 6am-9pm
FAQs
In the ranching world, a colt is a young horse, often spirited and feisty. Here in Cochrane, COLT: Cochrane On-Demand Local Transit is a bold new way to deliver transit. COLT uses technology to provide responsive on-demand service — where and when Cochranites want it. COLT’s dynamic logo acknowledges our past while riding into the future. The strong, vibrant colours and clean, modern typography make COLT recognizable from down the hill or up the street.
Launched in 2019, COLT is a five year pilot to gather ride data and make adjustments to transit service for our community. The service will continue to change and adapt to our community’s needs during the pilot. Currently, COLT has eight low-floor, 21-seat buses with accessible entrance ramps, one wheelchair space, and bicycle racks. If you have feedback on the COLT service, please rate your ride on the app.
COLT is an on-demand, ride-sharing transit service. Buses only show up rides are booked, and no transfers are needed. On-demand means buses do not follow a fixed timetable or route, but goes to where rides are requested. During the trip, the bus will try to group together passengers, but it can mean riders will sometimes travel in opposing directions before being droped-off. COLT uses a "stop-to-stop" model, with 149 designated stops within town.
An on-demand service was chosen instead of a fixed-route service when the Town considered its options to deliver public transit in 2019. Studies suggested on-demand could be more cost-efficient than fixed-route service, especially if demand is low as buses can be parked until requested. When demand warrants, on-demand service can further evolve into a regular fixed-route service. On-demand transit is also used by Calgary, Okotoks, and Airdrie.
The Town continues to monitor the performance of transit and will continue to make adjustments to fit the community's needs.
The Town negotiated a contract with Southland Transportation to operate the COLT
transit system. RideCo provides the booking software for the on-demand local service.
COLT operates on a first-come, first-serve basis and has proven to be highly popular. A failed search means no bus can accommodate your request during the requested ride time.
To have the highest chance of booking your trip at the desired time, we recommend the following:
Booking at least half a day early (and remember the return trip too!)
Re-search pick-up or drop-off locations at nearby stops or arterial roads
Broadening your requested ride time by +/- 30 minutes
COLT tracks failed searches and works to make service adjustments to better meet demand.
To address a high volume of cancelled rides that are preventing other customers from riding, we have updated our policy as follows. Effective March 1st, 2021, customers that have canceled late (within 5 hours of their booked ride) and/or no-show for 40% of their total rides within the last 30 days will be throttled. The policy will be applied to customers who have 5 or more total rides.
Throttled passengers will have a limited booking capacity of maximum 2 upcoming rides for a 7 day period. If no additional late cancellations or no-shows are incurred within this period, throttling is lifted.
We understand your plans may change and we appreciate when you cancel your trip in advance rather than no show. This program is meant to address account holders who show a pattern of late cancellations or no shows — this behavior unfairly reduces the level of service we can provide to our COLT riders. If the problem of no shows and/or late cancellations persists then the account may be suspended for up to 30 days in accordance with Transit Bylaw 22/2019.
Yes, COLT buses are fully wheelchair accessible; there is one wheelchair spot on each bus.
And if you have an attendant, they ride free.
You can also bring your child in a stroller onto a COLT bus. A child can remain in their stroller if the wheelchair space is available, otherwise the child must be removed from their stroller and please ensure the stroller does not obstruct passage of other riders.
You know your kids best; they can ride alone at your discretion.
No, COLT does not have enough vehicles to replace school buses. COLT serves the entire community and is a great way to get to before and after-school activities, your part-time job or occasional appointment.
Yes, each COLT bus has space for two bikes (including fat tire bikes), and when booking a ride you will reserve a space for your bike. Children bikes, scooters, and skateboards can be taken on the bus, but must be held for the entire duration of the ride. Please see our video: Ride COLT: How to put your bike on the bus
No, pets are not permitted on COLT buses. Service animals are an exception.
COLT only provides service within Town boundaries. Several intercity services are available:
On-It by Southland provides regional service between The Station in Cochrane, the Brentwood LRT Station and Downtown Calgary. On-It riders ride COLT for free to and from The Station, just present your On-it ticket.
SWIFT Mini Thni Transit provides service between four bus stops: Mini Thni (Morley), Chiniki Gas Bar, Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino, and The Station in Cochrane.
Rocky View Regional Handi Bus Societyis a rural charity that provides special transportation from Cochrane to locations anywhere throughout the Calgary area.
