GO Santa Cruz Downtown Hosts Free Commuter Lunch and Learn Nov. 17
Published on November 09, 2026
GO Santa Cruz Downtown, Ecology Action and METRO co-host a free, transit-focused workshop in downtown Santa Cruz
GO Santa Cruz Downtown invites downtown employees to learn how to commute more sustainably this winter at a free Rethink Your Ride Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St.
GO Santa Cruz Downtown, a program offered by the City of Santa Cruz that incentivizes downtown employees to explore alternative commutes, is partnering with Ecology Action and METRO for the workshop. Attendees will learn how to combine taking the bus, riding a bike and walking for winter commuting.
“Riding the bus can be daunting for first-timers,” said Joanna Edmonds, transportation coordinator at the City of Santa Cruz. “With gas prices rising, there’s never been a better time to rethink your ride and try transit, even during rainy winter days with less daylight. This lunch and learn will cover the basics of getting to and from work by bus, bike, and walking.”
In addition to a presentation, the event will feature complimentary lunch from Pizzeria La Bufala and an opportunity to practice boarding a METRO bus. The presentation, given by Ecology Action, will cover how to access sustainable transportation options, GO Santa Cruz Downtown benefits, how to navigate bus routes, and the benefits of riding the bus. METRO customer service representatives will be available after the presentation to answer questions and guide attendees through the bus riding process.
“We’re thrilled that a METRO bus will be onsite and available for attendees to practice boarding the bus and finding a seat,” Edmonds said. “For bike riders, there will also be a demonstration of how to secure a bike to the front of the bus.”
“METRO is proud to partner with GO Santa Cruz Downtown and Ecology Action to help make sustainable transportation more accessible and approachable for everyone,” said Danielle Frost, METRO Chief Communications & Marketing Officer. “This workshop gives people a chance to build confidence using transit, ask questions, and discover how easy it can be to combine the bus with walking or biking for their daily commute.”
GO Santa Cruz Downtown users qualify for a free EcoPass, which covers METRO rides within Santa Cruz County. METRO bus routes connect Santa Cruz, Capitola, Watsonville and Scotts Valley, as well as the unincorporated areas of Aptos, Soquel, Live Oak, Bonny Doon, Davenport and the San Lorenzo Valley. With many METRO routes starting and ending at the River Front Transit Center in downtown Santa Cruz, transit offers a convenient way for downtown employees to get to work without the hassle of finding and paying for parking each day.
The City of Santa Cruz is committed to providing downtown employees with transportation options that save time and money, reduce parking demand and support a thriving downtown. GO Santa Cruz Downtown offers ongoing incentives, trip-planning resources and free events, while community members who work elsewhere in Santa Cruz County can access transportation benefits through GO Santa Cruz County, managed by the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission.
If you work downtown and want a healthier, more affordable and sustainable way to get to work, GO Santa Cruz Downtown is a great place to start. You don’t have to change everything overnight. Trying a new commute just one day a week can make a meaningful difference for you and downtown Santa Cruz. A better commute helps workers, strengthens businesses and keeps downtown Santa Cruz moving forward.
About GO Santa Cruz Downtown
GO Santa Cruz Downtown is part of the City of Santa Cruz’s ongoing effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and play an active role in addressing climate change. The program features an online commute management tool to claim transportation benefits and rewards, plan commute trips and log sustainable transportation miles. Downtown employees can register by visiting gosantacruzcounty.org/downtown.
Since launching in 2019, GO Santa Cruz Downtown has registered more than 3,100 members who have logged over 231,000 sustainable trips, totaling over 1.1 million miles and reducing CO2 emissions by 334 tons.