4/24/25: 📈 Transit ridership is up across the Bay Area. And how we can keep this going! 💪
2025 has seen big gains in Bay Area public transit ridership. This is some much needed good news and now we have to keep this forward momentum going. Transit service cuts are coming if we can't find new funding sources – this would mean cutting routes, less frequent trains and buses, lower ridership, and worse health, mobility, environmental, and economic outcomes for us all. Read on to learn about the actions you can take to support public transit.
Plus there are fun events like a potluck in Lafayette and Silicon Valley housing advocates meet-up where you can meet other urbanist-minded folks.
April 25th, 8:00-10:00am – Rally for well-funded and accessible public transit (Oakland/San Francisco)
This Friday a special statewide taskforce is meeting in San Francisco to make recommendations to the legislature to fund and improve transit. On Friday, the task force is making important recommendations about:
fixing the state’s chronic underfunding of transit service
improving accessible transportation for people with disabilities and seniors
getting capital projects done faster and more cost-effectively.
This is a powerful opportunity to support strong recommendations supporting well-funded, frequent, accessible, cost-effective public transportation for the Bay Area and the state.
Join our rally before the meeting begins and sign up for public comment.
Two groups will meet separately in the East Bay and San Francisco before grouping up to head to the Task Force meeting.
April 26th, 2:00-4:30pm – Better Bay Area Transportation Potluck Picnic (Lafayette)
Want timely trains, better bus service & bike lanes, frequent ferries, and smooth sidewalks? Join like-minded folks from across the nine-county Bay Area for the “Better Bay Area Transportation Potluck Picnic” hosted by Transbay Coalition and East Bay Transit Riders Union.
Come get to know fellow supporters & advocates for better transit and more walkable/bikeable streets!
Update on Regional Transit Funding Measure
SB63, the bill authorizing a funding measure to help keep BART, Muni, Caltrain, AC Transit and other agencies running and improving passed the California Senate Transportation and Revenue and Taxation Committees this week, while agencies, counties and transit riders work out important elements of how the bill will work.
Want to see better Caltrain, SamTrans, and VTA service? Voice your support for San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties joining forces for regional transit funding!
New funding and policies promoting coordination will help usher in more frequent, fast, affordable, and accessible public transit in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties – both counties have till July 31st to opt-in to the 2026 funding measure.
Tonight: April 24th, 6:00-7:30pm – Gridlock to Green Trips (Palo Alto)
How can we create transportation options for workers and residents and address the housing shortage? Join this event where we will myth-bust the parking and traffic worries that are common barriers to addressing the housing shortage. We'll look towards local solutions and think about how transportation demand management measures can be implemented in our community, especially at new housing sites.
Co-hosted by Palo Alto Forward, Palo Alto TMA, Menlo Together, Seamless Bay Area, Friends of Caltrain, and 350 Silicon Valley.
Do you have friends and family who don't take public transit often? Get them to hop on board May 6th! We're hoping to break the post-pandemic ridership record on All Aboard Transit Day and show infrequent riders the new service and customer experience improvements transit agencies have made over the last several years!
Transit agencies will offer free stickers and other swag items to riders throughout the day to thank them for riding, while also soliciting their feedback.
Meet your local housing advocates, organizations, and groups at the annual Silicon Valley Housing Advocates Meet Up! Meet and mingle with leaders and volunteers fighting our region's housing crisis, and enjoy some snacks too. Co-sponsored by Palo Alto Forward, Livable Sunnyvale, South Bay YIMBY, and more!
Recent from our Blog
“If they can do it then why can't we,” said Zyjay Cruz, an undergraduate student at San Jose State University who is pushing for his university to join BayPass after UC Berkeley students recently voted to extend and expand their participation in the Clipper BayPass program. “It shows that a staggering amount of students want BayPass.”
Notes from Korea: Seoul’s World-Class Transit is Abundant, Cheap, and Integrated
Greater Seoul has built one of the world’s most extensive and seamlessly integrated public transit systems, with 23 metro lines, over 700 stations, and at least 7,000 buses. What lessons can Seoul and South Korea offer California? The first in a three-part blog series.
Electric bikes and scooters are a fantastic way to get around your city and the Bay Area! E-bikes and e-scooters are a much more affordable alternative to the high-cost of car ownership, are a sustainable and climate-friendly mobility option, and are a fun way to explore your area! However, they can still prove too costly for many folks.
Join us at Lytton Plaza on May 21st, 2025 from 5-7pm to learn about e-bikes and e-scooters including several programs in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties that can help you cover the cost!
Send a letter to your representative in Sacramento to support $2 billion in state transit funding through our tool here
Over 3,300 people throughout the state have already written to their reps to ask for the state to put $2 billion of its $300B annual budget into transit.
Involved with another organization like a club, non-profit, company, community of worship, etc? Have it join the 100+ organizations who have signed onto the support letter by filling out the form here. Want to help get flyers, stickers, posters about this campaign out to your community? Let us know!