Demand for Calgary’s new $5.05 monthly transit pass has exceeded expectations, with nearly 40,000 of the steeply discounted passes sold to Calgarians living in extreme poverty during the program’s first three months.

Advocates say while it’s encouraging that low-income earners can now get to appointments, job interviews, classes and the grocery store for just five dollars and five cents a month, the demand demonstrates just how much work remains to lift Calgarians out of poverty.

“(The numbers) speak to a much bigger problem out there . . . a lot of Calgarians aren’t doing well,” said Colleen Huston, a co-ordinator with Disability Action Hall.