September is Transit Month! Public transit is about more than just moving between locations. Each trip shares a story—whether it's a student heading to class, a family exploring a new local restaurant, or a commuter finding a stress-free way to get to work. Transit benefits everyone, even those who don’t ride regularly. It connects communities, opens opportunities, and fosters a sense of belonging.
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) invites you to celebrate Transit Month 2025 with the theme “Smart Transit, Connected Community.” It’s a month-long opportunity to ride, explore, and see how transit makes Santa Clara County thrive. Bay Area transit agencies and advocacy groups are celebrating the month with events, gatherings, and prizes! Scroll to find out more details about this month's events, who's participating, and where you can find them.
Throughout September 2025, VTA SmartCommute is hosting a fun challenge for a chance to win amazing prizes weekly. Just take transit (bus, shuttle, light rail, or train) and log your September trips in VTACommute app (available on iOS and Google Play) to be in the running to win.
- Week One (9/1-9/7): Bike Helmets (Five Winners)
- Week Two (9/8-9/14): VTA Hoodies (Four Winners)
- Week Three (9/15-9/21): $50 Gift Cards (Two Winners)
- Week Four (9/22-9/30): A pair of tickets to the Broadway SJ Musical Some Like It Hot on October 21, 2025 (20 Winners)
So, hop on board with the SmartCommute program today—whether you’re using the bus, train, or another public transit option. Just sign in to SmartCommute, log your trips, and boost your chances of winning!
Join the Bay Area-wide Ride Contest:
This year, VTA is thrilled to be joining SF Transit Riders and Seamless Bay Area to celebrate #TransitMonth2025! There are multiple activities that you can get involved with:
1. Bay Area-wide Ride Contest: This is your opportunity to win raffle prizes from some of your favorite transit agencies! Every ride is another entry into the Transit Month raffle, organized by San Francisco Transit Riders (SFTR).
Raffle prizes provided by VTA:
- 1st and 2nd Place: $50 gift card, VTA-branded YETI bottle, backpack, flask, and a choice of jacket or hoodie.
- 3rd through 6th Place: VTA-branded YETI bottle, backpack, flask, and a choice of jacket or hoodie.
- 7th through 10th Place: VTA-branded backpack and flask.
- 10th through 19th Place: VTA-branded flask
Have questions about the Ride Contest? Want to get started but don’t know how? See all FAQs here!
Sign up and log rides at the ride contest page.
2. Ride & Rally: Join SFTR for their annual Transit Month Kickoff Ride Along and Rally! On Thursday, September 4th, riders and local elected officials, transit advocates, and SFTR members at San Francisco City Hall will celebrate the official launch of Transit Month.
