Translink has ended the free ride on buses for police officers, firefighters, postal workers, and others, effective July 1.
Spokesperson Jiana Ling says the decision was made so Translink could be more efficient.
She says it also didn't make sense to give police a free ride as Translink has its own law enforcement.
"We have transit police who are able to do that, so they are the ones to help us with security and safety on the transit system."
When a CKNW reporter says he has never seen a transit police officer on board as a bus, as a longtime transit user, Ling says: "They do come on from time to time."
The move comes on heels of Translink talking to the City of Vancouver about allowing the homeless free rides to local shelters, as the agency brings in its Compass Card program.
The head of the Vancouver Police Union says Translink's elimination of free transit for police is a mistake.
"The suggestion somehow that the decision was solely motivated by wanting to save money or somehow having a transit police force addresses all the security concerns is a bit ridiculous."
Speaking with CKNW’s Simi Sara, Tom Stamatakis says there should have been more discussion before the axe dropped.
“In this day and age where we want people to get out of cars and we want to encourage the use of public transit and there are issues around safety and security on our public transit systems, how do we continue to encourage emergency services personnel and postal workers or other people to ride public transit?"