Whether you commute to or from San Mateo County by transit, carpool, vanpool, bicycle, walking, or telecommute, there's a program for you. Check out the incentives we offer through our STAR platform and contact support@commute.org with any questions.
Save time and money by sharing the ride – and you can get $100
Carpools can also access 101 Express Lanes for free or at a discount
Those who live or work in San Mateo County can earn up to $100 when they carpool to or from work.
Every 10 verified carpool days to/from work will unlock a $25 e-gift card reward (up to 4 times per year for $100 total).
VERIFY YOUR CARPOOL TRIPS & GET REWARDED!
*When you and your carpool members log your group trips, your trips get verified and count towards rewards. See Carpool Rewards FAQ below for more information.
There is a limit of $100 per person per year, or until funds are depleted.
Bicycle to work and earn $100
Those who live or work (or go to school) in San Mateo County can receive up to $100 when they log their bicycle commutes on STAR. Bicycle commutes must start or end in San Mateo County and be tracked using the Strava app. Strava bicycle commutes must be automatically reported to STAR via the connected app option to count toward the reward. The STAR platform will only count Strava trips that start or end at the same work address that a commuter has saved in their STAR profile. There is a limit of $100 total per person, until funds are depleted.
How to earn rewards:
To learn more about how to participate in the Bicycle to Work Rewards program, watch this short video. Then, check out our resources page for helpful information about bicycling.
Bicycle Rewards Program Handout (English)
Bicycle Rewards Program Handout (Spanish)
Bicycle Rewards Program FAQ
Vanpool to work and get rewarded up to $100
Those who live or work in San Mateo County can earn up to $100 when they vanpool to or from work.
Every 10 vanpool days to/from work will unlock a $25 e-gift card reward (up to 4 times per year for $100 total).
How to earn rewards:
There is a limit of $100 per person per year, or until funds are depleted.
By logging your sustainable commutes on the STAR platform, you earn points that can be exchanged for items in the STAR Store. For every day that you log your commute to work or school using a mode other than driving alone, you earn 1 point. Redeem points for fun items or a donation in your name to one of 25+ non-profit organizations. To qualify, your commute must be to or from San Mateo County.
Step #1) Log your sustainable mode commutes on STAR by Commute.org
Step #2) Confirm your home mailing address is saved in your profile – including apartment number, if applicable
Step #3) Click on “Programs”, then “Rewards” to visit the STAR Store to either:
Four times a year, Commute.org offers those who live or work in San Mateo County the chance to win cash prizes. By logging your sustainable commutes (bike, walk, transit, carpool, vanpool, and telework) on STAR by Commute.org, you’re automatically entered to win one of three $100 e-gift cards. E-gift card options include 75+ retailers and 25+ nonprofits. Winners are randomly selected.
Quarterly drawings occur each year:
Try public transit as an alternative to driving alone
Commuters or students traveling to or from San Mateo County are eligible for free tickets to try SamTrans, Caltrain, or San Francisco Bay Ferry if they currently drive alone to work. To qualify:
Please note that due to the limited number of tickets available, there is a limit of one Try Transit incentive per household. To request tickets, fill out a short application form and we’ll send you tickets if you qualify. Tickets are subject to availability and may have usage restrictions. To apply, choose from one of the options below:
Try Transit Application Online Form
Try Transit Application Fillable PDF Form (download, complete, and return via email)
If there’s an emergency and you need to leave work early, your ride is on us.
If you commute to work or school in San Mateo County using a sustainable mode and an illness, emergency, or other qualifying event occurs, we’ll cover the cost of getting you home. Our GRH program reimburses the cost of your ride home using any form of transportation, including public transit, ride-hailing (Uber/Lyft), car share, or taxi. If you can use public transit, we’ll give you a $5 bonus. Not every situation qualifies for GRH, so please read the program rules carefully and contact us if you have any questions.
Watch a short how-to video to learn more about the GRH program.
Steps to Get a GRH Reimbursement
GRH Program Rules
GRH Program FAQ
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