Rewards

Commuting to or from San Mateo County? Earn rewards for transit, carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking, or remote work!

Guaranteed Ride Home

Carpool Vanpool

Bicycle
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Try Transit
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Rewards Store

Promotions

Guaranteed Ride Home

Your emergency ride is on us! 

If you commute to work or school in San Mateo County using a sustainable mode, the GRH program reimburses the cost of your ride home during emergencies, illnesses, or other qualifying events.

How It Works: 

  • Commute using a sustainable mode
  • Take public transit, ride-hailing (Uber/Lyft), car share, or taxi for your emergency trip home. 
  • Earn a $5 bonus for using public transit! 

Eligibility Details: 

  • Commute to a workplace or college in San Mateo County. 
  • GRH trips must start at your workplace or college. 
  • Reimbursements are capped at $60 per trip (maximum of 4 trips per calendar year; gratuities excluded). 
  • Participants must have an active CommuteStar account. 

Reimbursement Options: 

  • PayPal or e-gift card (Visa, Uber credit, or over 80 retailer options). 

👉 Program Rules & FAQs

Submit a GRH Reimbursement Request 

Carpool and Vanpool

Commuters who carpool or vanpool to work or college in San Mateo County can receive up to $100 in e-gift card rewards per year. Carpools and vanpools have the added benefit of accessing 101 Express Lanes for free or at a discounted rate.

How to participate in Carpool or Vanpool Rewards:

  1. Sign in to the CommuteStar App
  2. Use ‘Record’ to live track your carpool or vanpool
  3. Add partner(s) to trip
    • Carpool: Add at least one carpool partner
    • Vanpool: Add at least two vanpool partners
  4. Redeem rewards after 10 recorded days

1 carpool or vanpool day = 1 point. Collect 10 points to earn $25, up to 4 times a year ($100 total). Choose from over 80 retailers and nonprofits to redeem your e-gift card.

👉CommuteStar App | Carpool Program Rules & FAQ | Vanpool Program Rules & FAQs

A woman wearing glasses and a striped shirt is smiling while holding a coffee cup out of a car window. A man in a blue shirt sits beside her, also smiling, with his hand on his neck. Both appear happy and relaxed inside the parked car.

Vanpool Subsidy

New vanpools (formed on or after July 1, 2025) that lease a vehicle through Commute with Enterprise may qualify for up to $500 in monthly subsidies under the San Mateo County Vanpool Subsidy Program.

Three people smiling and laughing in a car, with text promoting a subsidy of up to $500/month for new vanpools to or from San Mateo County. TDM resources for employers and organization logos appear at the bottom.

Bicycle to Work

Ride your bike to work or college and earn up to $100!

Commuters in San Mateo County who bicycle to work or college in San Mateo County can receive up to $100 in e-gift card rewards and get to choose from over 80 retailers and nonprofits!  

Two ways to participate: 

  1. Register or login to CommuteStar app or at star.commute.org
  2. Use “Record” to live track your bicycle trip
  3. Redeem rewards after 10 recorded days

Or 

  1. Connect CommuteStar account with Strava account
  2. Track trips through Strava and allow trips to be shared with Commute.org
  3. Trips will automatically be logged in CommuteStar app and earn reward points
  4. Redeem rewards after 10 recorded days

1 bicycle day = 1 point. Collect 10 points to earn $25 e-gift card, up to 4 times per year ($100 total).

*Bicycle commuters must start and end within San Mateo County and be tracked using the Strava app. Ensure that Strava-tracked bicycle commutes are automatically reported to CommuteStar via the connected app option to count towards the reward.

Please note: There’s a limit of $100 per person per year or until funds are depleted.

👉 CommuteStar App | Program Rules & FAQs

A young woman with curly hair, dressed in a white jacket and red shirt, walks a blue bicycle across a crosswalk in a city park area on a sunny day, enjoying the rewards for commuters who choose cycling.
A SamTrans bus parked at a stop showcases an ad for Commute.org's guaranteed emergency ride home service.

Try Transit

Discover the convenience of public transit!

If you’re new to using public transit and live, work, or attend college in San Mateo County, get a $25 Clipper Card to try it out!

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Work, live or attend college in San Mateo County
  • Not currently using public transit or own a Clipper Card
  • Limited to 1 per person. (Maximum of 2 per household)
  • Complete home mailing address is required to mail the Clipper Card

Important Details: 

  • Provide a complete home mailing address to receive your Clipper Card. 
  • Clipper Cards are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to availability.

Try Transit Application Online Form

Try Transit Program Rules & FAQs

Questions? Contact us at support@commute.org or call (650) 588-8170.

The program is managed by Commute.org and funded by C/CAG of San Mateo County, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Rewards Store

Turn your CommuteStar logged sustainable commutes into points for rewards!

#1)  Track your sustainable commute trips (e.g., transit, shuttle, ferry, carpool, vanpool, biking, walking) via the CommuteStar app or the website version.

#2)  Earn 1 point per day for each trip.

#3)  Redeem points for:  

Learn More

Quarterly Promotions

Win Exciting Prizes All Year-Round!

Log your trips using the CommuteStar app on your phone or by using the CommuteStar website at star.commute.org to participate in seasonal promotions for chances to win e-gift cards, special prizes, and more!

Eligible Trips include:

  • Telework/Remote Work
  • Carpool
  • Vanpool
  • Biking
  • Walking
  • Public Transit/Shuttles
  • Ferry

2026 Promotions Schedule:

  • Winter Promotion: January & February
  • Spring Commuter Challenge: April & May
  • Summer Promotion: July & August
  • Fall Promotion: September Transit Month & October Carpool Month

👉 2026 Promotion Calendar 

Commuter Newsletter

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