Big Blue Bus Provides 10 Million Rides for the Second Consecutive Year

September 15, 2026 10:05 AM
by Anthony Chabolla

For the second year in a row, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus delivered over 10 million rides to residents and visitors across the Los Angeles region. Reaching this major milestone for consecutive years underscores the strong and growing demand for reliable alternatives to driving and the importance of a safe, accessible public transportation network. From daily commutes to special events and connections to major regional transit hubs, Big Blue Bus supports how people live, work, and move through our community.  

The Road to Post-Pandemic Recovery

In 2019, Big Blue Bus provided 12.5 million rides. When the pandemic began, daily routines and travel habits shifted dramatically. With shelter-in-place orders, the need to social distance, and more people teleworking, life changed, and so did how our community traveled. Ridership fell sharply to around 5 million in 2020 as pandemic shutdowns began. Recovery remained slow through 2022 due to factors like the Omicron surge, remote learning at Santa Monica College, and a nationwide driver shortage. During this period, ridership hovered around 6.3 million, roughly half of pre‑pandemic levels.  

As work slowly returned to in-person, Big Blue Bus turned to its riders to understand what was most important to them amid evolving travel habits. With direct rider feedback in mind, Big Blue Bus launched several service enhancement initiatives to make riding transit more attractive. Reaching the 10 million rides milestone for two consecutive years post-pandemic reflects both the community’s recovery and a renewed need for reliable, affordable transit. More riders are returning to Big Blue Bus, and with their support, the agency continues to enhance and expand sustainable, accessible service for all.

 

Growing Ridership Through Service Enhancement Initiatives

A More Convenient and Flexible Transit Experience 

A major initiative Big Blue Bus implemented to enhance the rider experience is Brighter Blue, a five-year plan to improve service, increase bus frequency, expand operating hours, and connect more directly to key destinations and transit hubs. 

Brighter Blue was developed in response to post-pandemic travel behavior changes and the region’s expanding rail network. Implementation began in 2024, and significant service enhancements include:  

  • More frequent service with the introduction of Big Blue Bus’s network of high-frequency routes, which offer service every 15 minutes or better most of the day on weekdays. 
  • Expanded operating hours on several routes, starting service earlier in the day and ending service later in the evenings on both weekdays and weekends. 
  • More convenient connections to key destinations such as Downtown Santa Monica, UCLA, Metro Rail lines, the Culver City Transit Center, and the LAX/Metro Transit Center and SoFi Stadium shuttle. 
 

Prioritizing Accessibility and Comfort 

To improve the accessibility of its bus stops and make waiting for the bus more comfortable for riders, Big Blue Bus launched the Better Blue Bus Stops project. In 2023, Big Blue Bus surveyed riders to understand how bus stops could be improved and what features they value most. The survey found that riders prioritized real-time information, lighting, seating, and shelters to provide cover from weather. Since the launch of Better Blue Bus Stops in 2023, Big Blue Bus has installed or upgraded 190 bus stop amenities throughout Santa Monica, including over 130 seats, 34 new bus shelters, 96 lights, 32 real-time arrival signs, and 8 trash cans. Wider boarding areas are also scheduled to be constructed to improve accessibility.

Enhancing System Safety 

Big Blue Bus introduced Transit Safety Officers to ensure riders feel comfortable and confident on board.  Friendly Safety Officers ride on high-traffic routes and stop at select bus stops to assist riders with navigating the system, reinforce the Customer Code of Conduct, and help support the safety of both riders and operators.

 

Furthering their commitment to safety, Big Blue Bus became one of the few transit agencies statewide with the authority to issue Prohibition Orders to customers who have been routinely cited for policy infractions and/or arrested or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony committed on buses or at transit facilities. The Prohibition Order Program helps Big Blue Bus maintain a safe, secure, and welcoming experience for all. 

Big Blue Bus also partnered with the Santa Monica Police Department to launch the Automated Bus Lane and Bus Stop Enforcement (ABLE) Program. ABLE is designed to improve bus reliability and eliminate vehicle obstructions in bus lanes and at bus stops, which can create service delays and safety risks for riders upon boarding and exiting. Through the program, cameras mounted inside Big Blue Bus vehicles automatically detect and prepare citations for illegally parked cars in bus lanes and bus stops, keeping them clear for the thousands of people who rely on transit every day.  

Cleaner Air with Zero Emissions 

Underlying Big Blue Bus’s service enhancement initiatives are its efforts to transition to a fully zero-emissions fleet by 2032. Since purchasing its first battery-electric bus in 2019, Big Blue Bus has since rolled out an additional 33 battery-electric buses, with another 40 expected in 2027. By transitioning to a zero-emissions fleet, riders are enjoying cleaner, quieter rides and improved air quality, and can take pride in lowering their carbon footprint and helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Santa Monica and throughout the region.

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Success During the World Cup and Beyond

Santa Monica welcomed thousands of fans from around the world to take part in the 2026 World Cup festivities. As part of the region’s coordinated World Cup Games Enhanced Transit Service Network, Big Blue Bus operated direct service from Downtown Santa Monica to all eight matches held at Los Angeles Stadium, providing more than 12,000 rides with zero safety incidents. Through strong planning, regional coordination, and community partnerships, Big Blue Bus demonstrated its ability to manage major events while keeping transportation safe, reliable, and accessible for all customers. 

The World Cup also provided valuable preparation ahead of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Lessons learned from planning and operating enhanced service will help Big Blue Bus build on its success and prepare for the increased demand and mobility needs expected during LA28.

 

Give Big Blue Bus a Try & Your First Ride is FREE!

The service enhancements Big Blue Bus has made over the past two years have had significant impacts on its ridership, increasing nearly 100% since its pandemic low. “Providing 10 million rides for the second year in a row is a huge achievement for Big Blue Bus and speaks to the impact our investments in enhancing our service are making on our community,” said Director of Transportation Anuj Gupta. “We’re grateful to our riders for helping us reach this milestone and sharing their feedback along the way. We’ve listened, made meaningful changes to improve the rider experience, and will keep building on that progress to better serve our community.” 

If you’ve never ridden Big Blue Bus before, or it’s been a while since your last trip, you’re invited to plan a trip for a free ride or tasty treat. The Big Blue Bus team will be at the Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market during SoCal Transit Month to celebrate and promote sustainable transportation.  

Take Big Blue Bus Routes: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 18, & 43. Visit bigbluebus.com to plan your trip. 

Authored By

Anthony Chabolla
Transportation Marketing Coordinator

Categories

Community Events, Getting Around, Sustainable and Connected, Ways to Get Around