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/Vanpool

Share the ride to save time – and earn up to $100!

Commuters who carpool 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!  

Unlock a $25 e-gift card reward for every set of 10 verified carpool or vanpool days to/from work or school, up to four times a year. *Please note: There’s a limit of $100 per person per year, or until funds are depleted. 

New vanpools (formed after July 1, 2025) may qualify for up to $500 in monthly subsidies under the San Mateo County Vanpool Subsidy Program. See below for program rules and eligibility requirement.

Carpools and Vanpools have the added benefit of accessing 101 Express Lanes for free or at a discounted rate. 

Carpool

How to participate: 

  1. Sign in to the CommuteStar App
  2. Use ‘Record’ to live track your carpool 
  3. Add at least 1 carpool partner(s) to trip 
  4. Redeem rewards after 10 recorded days   

1 carpool day = 1 point. Collect 10 points to earn $25, up to 4 times a year. ($100 total)

👉CommuteStar App | 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 Incentive (individuals)

How to participate: 

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

1 vanpool day = 1 point. Accumulate 10 points to earn $25, up to 4 times a year. ($100 total)

👉CommuteStar App | Program Rules & FAQs

Four adults are in a car, smiling. The driver is focused on the road while the passenger takes a selfie. The two people in the back seat are casually looking at the camera, with one giving a thumbs-up. The interior of the car is well-lit.

Vanpool Subsidy (groups)

Qualified vanpools can receive up to $500 in monthly subsidies by participating in the San Mateo County Vanpool Subsidy Program.

How to participate: 

  1. Express interest
    • Complete an online interest form or email support@commute.org
    • Attend a vanpool information session with Commute with Enterprise
  2. Gather your group
    • Recruit six or more commuters committed to regularly commuting together in a vanpool
  3. Work with Commute with Enterprise
    • Receive assistance forming a vanpool, calculating monthly costs, and coordinating vehicle delivery
    • Designate a vanpool coordinator
    • Assign at least one unpaid, licensed driver
    • Complete required agreements before vehicle delivery
    • Complete enrollment in the MTC Bay Area Vanpool Program
  4. Apply subsidies and split the cost
    • Apply subsidies (San Mateo County Vanpool Program, MTC Bay Area Vanpool Program, and any other applicable subsidies) toward the vanpool lease
    • Split the remaining costs among riders, which may be paid using pre-tax commuter benefits

👉Program Rules | Program FAQs (coming soon)

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 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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