Starting summer quarter, Western bus passes will be done entirely via the Umo App

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Starting summer quarter, Western bus passes will be done entirely via the Umo App

June 9, 2025

After nearly 20 years of using the Western Card as bus fare, Western riders will soon transition to a more modern mobile-based system.

Starting Summer Quarter 2025, all bus passes for Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) will be issued exclusively through the Umo Mobility App, as part of a new agreement between WTA and Western Washington University.

To ride the bus, students and employees will need to use the Umo Mobility app and redeem their quarterly benefit code to ride the bus. Redeeming your benefit code is quick and easy. Instructions can be found on Transportation Services' website.

• Students who have paid the Active Transportation Fee will receive an email with details to redeem your personal benefit code which is kept secure on Banner. For quarters you are not automatically assessed the Active Transportation Fee, you can opt-in online to receive a benefits code.
• Employees will receive a similar email with details to redeem their personal benefit code which is also kept secure on Banner.

This change comes in response to the university's decision phase out physical Western cards, which will no longer be supported by WTA's fareboxes.

For those without a smartphone, Transportation Services will have a limited number of physical Umo Mobility cards available.

For questions on how to redeem your quarterly benefit code or to get a physical Umo Mobility card, please visit Transportation Services Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Old Main 120, go to the Transportation Services website or email WWU Associate Director of Active Transportation Andrea Reiter at reitera@wwu.edu.