There are over 6000 summer students, researchers and workers in Hamilton every summer, I'd be willing to bet more than 452 of them do end up buying a summer pass or as is recently using a Presto card twice or more a day.

As for "evil ploy by the City of Hamilton"? RyanC, were you being sarcastic? What's evil about offering incentives for McMaster students to stick around, explore the city and perhaps be more likely to stay back in Hamilton? Aren't McMaster students supposed to be active citizens of the community?

That was actually the pitch by the MSU to the City in the leadup to contract negotiation and as an aftermath of the 2011 Your City Survey which demonstrated over 78% of students stating that Hamilton would not be the first place to live or work in after Graduation.

Most McMaster routes (even after accounting for some confusing assumptions about % ridership) don't make much revenue for the city and many lower level staff don't often understand why there is a heavily discounted Bus Pass and good deals like the one on the ballot this year being offered. They are because the senior city leadership is recognizing the significant importance of McMaster students and graduates to the local workforce and economy for a city with a much higher average age than many other GTA municipalities.

Is this the first time they've introduced HSR 12-month contract option?