Commuters
CommuteStar
CommuteStar is a free app and web tool that empowers commuters to plan, track, and coordinate sustainable commute options. By creating an account through the app or at star.commute.org, you can unlock rewards, participate in challenges, and see the positive impact of your commute with personalized stats like CO2 reduction and cost savings.
Key features include:
- Rewards and Challenges – Earn rewards and join challenges for your commute choices
- Carpool, Vanpool, and Bicycle Partner Matching – Connect with others to share rides or bike together
- Trip Planning – Discover efficient and sustainable routes for your commute
Provided at no cost by Commute.org and powered by RideAmigos, CommuteStar is your go-to tool for sustainable commuting. Ready to get started? Check out our CommuteStar Guide for Commuters (also available in Spanish: Guía para viajeros) for details on setting up your account and making the most of CommuteStar!
Bicycling
Bicycling is an efficient, low-cost commute alternative that relieves traffic congestion, reduces air pollution, and improves health and road safety. Biking is great for both you and your community!
Commute.org offers:
- $100 Reward for Bicycling to Work
- FREE on-site bike safety workshops led by a League of American Bicyclists certified instructor
- Guaranteed Ride Home program
- Celebrate National Bike Month in May with Bike to Work Day
Our partners the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition offer a wide variety of resources, programs, and events to support bicycling in the region. Check out the 5-part bike education online seminar series we produced with SVBC, covering topics such as rules of the road, how to pick the right bike, and family biking.
San Mateo County Resources:
– San Mateo County Bike Maps
– “Biking in San Mateo County” English & Spanish brochure (Courtesy of County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability)
– “Safe Bicycling in San Mateo County” Handbook
Other Resources:
- How to ride on Caltrain, BART, SamTrans and Ferry with a bike
- Secure bicycle parking at BART and Caltrain stations, including new BikeLink on-demand electronic lockers
- Tips for how to securely lock your bike
- 511.org Bay Area bicycle resources
Carpool and Vanpool
Carpooling and vanpooling help commuters save money on fuel and vehicle maintenance while reducing toll and express lane costs. They also ease traffic and parking demand, shorten travel times, and improve air quality.
Commute.org offers:
- $100 reward for carpool or vanpool
- San Mateo County Vanpool Subsidy Program
- Carpool and vanpool matching on CommuteStar
Other Resources
- Bay Area Vanpool Program through Commute with Enterprise – MTC will subsidize eligible commutes up to $600/month
- See how much lower your commute costs and C02 emissions could be with 511.org’s Carpool Savings calculator.
- Carpools and Vanpools have the added benefit of accessing 101 Express Lanes for free or at a discounted rate
Transit
Between BART, Caltrain, SF Bay Ferry, and SamTrans, commuters have a variety of transit options available to them in San Mateo County. Transit riders can count on Commute.org’s shuttles to connect to transit from home or to work from BART/Caltrain stations. Using public transit for your commute allows you to enjoy a relaxing ride to catch up on work, listen to music, and prepare for the work day ahead stress-free.
For schedules, parking policies, and general information about each transit agency, please visit their websites:
- BART
- Caltrain
- SamTrans
- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
- SF Bay Ferry
- SF Municipal Transportation Agency
- San Mateo County Shuttle and Transit Services (not managed by Commute.org)
Fares vary by transit agency, so use Clipper card as a convenient payment option. Clipper offers several discount programs:
- Clipper START (50% discount for low-income riders)
- Youth & Senior discounts
- RTC Clipper card for riders with qualifying disabilities
You have several payment options (cash, debit/credit card) for loading value onto your Clipper card. Please note that if you use some methods, like reloading online with a debit or credit card, you may have to wait a few days for the transaction to process before you can use the new value. Visit Clipper’s website for more information.
New to Clipper? Check out our Clipper guide for beginners:
Walking
No matter their primary mode of transportation, everyone is a pedestrian at some point. Replacing driving with walking for short-distance trips you’d normally use your car for can have many benefits for your physical and mental health, as well as for the environment.
Pedestrian Safety Tips from NHTSA:
#1: Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
#2: Walk on sidewalks whenever they’re available.
#3: If there is no sidewalk, walk on the side of the road, facing towards traffic.
For more safety tips and resources from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), click here.
Rewards:
If you walk to work, log your trips on the CommuteStar app to get rewarded with prizes from the CommuteStar Store. Plan your route in advance with CommuteStar’s trip planning tool, accessible at my.commute.org.
Resources:
San Mateo County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
Vision Zero Network resources
Remote Work
Remote work offers commuters more flexibility, while reducing transportation costs and the stress of commuting. If you have the option to telework, here are some resources to help you make the most of it. And remember, you can enter seasonal raffle drawings by logging your remote days on our CommuteStar app.
Personalized Commute Planning
We offer recommendations based on your work schedule, commitments before and after work, and other factors that are important to you. Fill out the questionnaire below to tell us about your commute and we’ll respond with your personalized plan.
Commuter Newsletter
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