There’s a big change coming Sunday to how transit riders use the TTC.

That’s when the agency will introduce its new timed transfer policy, which will grant customers who use the Presto fare card unlimited travel on the city’s buses, streetcars, and subways for two hours after paying a single fare.

At event last month to mark the new policy, which the TTC board approved last November, Mayor John Tory said the so-called “hop on-hop off” transfer will “make transit more affordable and convenient” for Toronto residents.

Here’s everything TTC customers need to know about the new policy.

How will the TTC’s transfer policy change?

Currently, transfers are only valid if riders are switching vehicles as part of what the TTC calls a “one-way continuous trip.”

Riders who interrupt their journey to do something like buy a coffee, or who backtrack in the direction they came from, are supposed to pay a second fare.

Under the new policy, Presto card users can take any number of trips, in any direction, for two hours after they tap their card to pay a fare. After the two hours are up, riders will be charged another fare the next time they tap their card.

The old transfer rules will continue to apply for riders who use tickets, tokens, or cash.

Why does the new policy only apply to Presto users?

According to TTC spokesperson Heather Brown, the simple reason is “because we want people to transition to Presto.”

The TTC is phasing out older forms of payment in favour of the fare card, and will stop accepting tickets and tokens at the end of next year. The agency is hoping the two-hour transfer policy encourages people to adopt Presto ahead of the final transition.

Additionally, Brown said the electronic fare card allows the TTC to “accurately validate” when someone enters or re-enters the system within the two-hour time frame.

Why will riders still have to tap their Presto cards when they transfer?

Although payment is only deducted from the Presto card the first time it’s tapped during the two-hour window, the TTC says that riders must continue to tap their cards each time they board a new vehicle.

Brown said this is in part because by riders using their Presto cards at every phase of their journey the TTC can collect valuable data that helps it understand travel patterns and aids in service planning.

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Will the new policy increase transit ridership?

According to a November TTC report, the introduction of two-hour transfers will result in an additional five million customer trips each year.

Two million of those trips will be taken by existing customers who will add extra trips to journeys they would be taking anyway.

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Three million of the additional trips will be taken by new customers taking multiple trips on a single fare.

Who will benefit most from the policy?

Brown said the policy will “make transit more affordable and flexible for customers on a fixed or limited income.”

“Being able to hop on and off the TTC to shop, attend appointments or pick up children at school or child-care all on one fare is a great benefit for those who might not have been able to afford multiple stops before,” she said.

Anna Kramer, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s department of geography and planning, said women in particular could benefit from timed transfers.

She noted that women make up a majority of public transit users, are on average paid less than men, and are more likely to bear household responsibilities like taking kids to school or doing the grocery shopping.

“It’s generally a fairly progressive, gender-supportive measure,” she said of the policy.

Shelagh Pizey-Allen, executive director of transit advocacy group TTCriders, said timed transfers will also boost local businesses because they will encourage transit users to stop and shop on the way to their destination.

“We’re really excited that it’s finally here for people on Presto,” she said.

How much will the new policy cost?

The November report estimated the policy will cost the transit agency $11.1 million this year, and $20.9 million annually by 2020.

The bulk of the costs are foregone fare revenue as a result of riders not being charged for journeys they would have paid for under the old transfer policy.

The agency will also spend $3.6 million annually on additional service required to meet the ridership increase spurred by the policy.

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr

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