SamTrans passengers who board the bus later this year will be forgiven if they mistakenly believe they’ve climbed into a time machine.
That’s because SamTrans is launching its annual “Art Takes a Bus Ride” program, which allows students to display their creative visions aboard transit vehicles. This year’s theme is “The Future of SamTrans,” a motif that encourages students to imagine a world where flying buses, hi-tech gizmos and space-age designs inhabit the Peninsula transit universe.
As part of a collaborative effort with the San Mateo County Office of Education, students submit art, and the winning entries will be on display as a wrap on a SamTrans bus that will run through the service area for approximately one year. Student artwork will also be featured on adcards inside all SamTrans buses. The use of bold, rich colors and a variety of media, including water color, acrylic, crayon and collage, are encouraged.
The deadline for entries is Feb. 27. Winners will be revealed at the May 6, SamTrans Board of Directors meeting.
Past winners of the “Art Takes a Bus Ride” series can be found here.
For 11 years, SamTrans and the San Mateo County Office of Education have worked together to encourage local children to develop their artistic skills by displaying their art work on buses.
On a typical weekday, nearly 10,000 young people ride SamTrans buses, more than 21 percent of the district’s total ridership. In addition to a discounted youth fare, tokens and monthly youth pass, the district also encourages young people to ride the bus by offering deeply discounted rides during the summer months for youth 17 years old and younger.
