Try Transit Month: Your Next Ride Is a Good Place to Start
RideFinders News
September is Try Transit Month, and if you’ve been thinking about taking the bus, joining a vanpool or finding another way to make your commute work better, this is a good time to give it a try.
No big commitment. No need to change your routine overnight. Just start with one trip.
And in the Richmond region, there’s an added reason to try transit: GRTC is fare free. If you’ve never taken the bus or it’s been a while, you can explore a route without paying a fare and see how transit might fit into your workday, errands or other everyday trips.
Make Your First Ride Simple
Trying something new is easier when you know what to expect. A little planning can make that first transit trip feel much more manageable.
- Start with a familiar destination. Try transit for a trip you already make regularly, such as your commute to work.
- Check your route ahead of time. Know where you’ll board, where you’ll get off and approximately how long the trip will take.
- Give yourself a little extra time. On your first ride, a few extra minutes can take the pressure off.
- Try it once before making any decisions. You don’t have to commit to riding every day. See how one trip works for you.
- Register for free with ConnectingVA or download the ConnectingVA app. Keep track of your greener trips in one place and see your impact!
You may find that leaving the driving to someone else gives you time to catch up on messages, listen to music, read or simply settle into the day.
Already Riding Transit? Make Those Trips Count.
If transit is already part of your routine, record your trips in ConnectingVA.
Logging your commute helps show the impact people across the region are making by choosing alternatives to driving alone. You can also collect points that can be redeemed for gift cards and other rewards.
And during Try Transit Week, those logged trips could give you even more chances to win.
Ride More During Try Transit Week
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s Try Transit Week challenge runs through September 14 – September 18, 2026. Participants who log eligible transit trips in ConnectingVA will be entered for opportunities to win prizes, including Amtrak tickets and Virginia Breeze tickets.
The more trips you log during the challenge, the better your chances of winning.
Winners will be randomly selected after the challenge and notified by email. Selected winners must respond within three business days to accept their prize and agree to Virginia DRPT’s requirements for sharing their name, photo and likeness. If a selected winner does not respond within that timeframe, another winner will be chosen. DRPT employees, employees of participating transit agencies receiving Commonwealth of Virginia grant funding, and their immediate family members are not eligible. All applicable federal, state and local laws apply.
One Ride Is All It Takes to Try
Try Transit Month isn’t about giving up your car or completely changing the way you travel. It’s an invitation to see what else is possible.
Take the bus to work one morning. Explore a route you’ve been curious about. Replace one drive-alone trip. Then decide what works for you.
With fare-free GRTC service, ConnectingVA trip planning and rewards for greener travel, September is a great time to make that first ride.
Explore your transit and vanpooling options and start planning your Try Transit Month trips today.