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Lakehead Campus Guide: Thunder Bay U-Pass and Parking
At Lakehead University's Thunder Bay campus, your student ID is your U-Pass for Thunder Bay Transit. Undergraduates registered in at least 3.75 full-course equivalents by the September registration deadline are charged automatically; the 2026-27 pass costs $316 and runs September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027. A school-year general parking permit costs $288, taxes included.
Sources checked October 3, 2026. View sources
How the U-Pass works
- Tap your student ID on the reader when you board a Thunder Bay Transit bus.
- New students get their ID activated once by LUSU, the students' union, at its office or an Orientation activation station.
- If you had the pass in 2025-26 and are charged again, it renews on September 1 on its own.
- Check you were charged the "LUSU Student Bus Pass" fee on your statement of account.
- Part-time and graduate students who aren't charged can opt in at the LUSU office. From January 2027, a pass to August 31 costs $210.
- A lost ID means a new card plus a $10 reactivation fee for the first 2 replacements, $15 after that.
Who can opt out
Undergraduates can apply to opt out during September only if they live outside the Thunder Bay Transit urban service area, with proof of address, or have a disability that requires other transport. Don't activate the pass if you plan to opt out: an activated pass isn't eligible to opt out.
2026-27 parking
| Permit | General lots (G and Lot 1) | Specialty lots (P, A, 5, 7, MPL) |
|---|---|---|
| Full year (September 1 to August 31) | $432 | $456 |
| School year | $288 | $304 |
| 4-month term | $144 | $152 (summer only) |
| Monthly | $36 | Not listed |
- Prices include taxes. Parking is first-come, first-served, and rates apply weekdays 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Meters cost $1.50 an hour; a daily pass costs $6.50. Permits aren't valid at meters.
- Thunder Bay permits for 2026-27 went on sale August 10, 2026.
If you study in Orillia
Full-time undergraduates at Lakehead Orillia can ride Orillia City Transit by getting a U-Pass sticker from LUSU and showing their student card. Orillia parking permits are picked up from Security Services in Simcoe Hall.
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Sources and updates
This independent guide summarizes the official information linked below. Availability, access rules and application cycles can change; check the relevant university page before making a decision.