Mallon: How the VTA strike affected people who rely on public transit

The 17-day VTA union worker strike in March stopped Santa Clara County’s bus and light rail system for the first time in decades.

I primarily rely on VTA to get to work and everywhere else I need to go. When the sudden disruption hit, my simple commute turned into, at times, an 11-mile walk. Instead of taking Ubers everywhere, I saw the situation as an opportunity to highlight how vital transit is to our communities.

During the strike, I walked a total of 139.4 miles and 305,024 steps, using a mix of Amtrak, Caltrain, ride-shares, e-scooters and my own two feet to get around.

Every day was exhausting, and I had little time for anything beyond my commute. But it gave me the chance to show firsthand how crucial public transit is. I documented my journey through daily TikTok vlogs, sharing my story and connecting with other riders facing similar challenges, all while pushing for a resolution.

What struck me most during this time was the silence from leaders in the community, including elected officials on the VTA board. Board members failed to personally acknowledge the disruption riders faced during the first week of the strike. In response, I spoke up for better communication and transparency from VTA board members, who were not effectively reaching riders. The stories I told weren’t just about my personal struggles — it was about a community of 100,000 people who depend on VTA.

By telling these stories, I quickly learned I wasn’t the only one suffering. Thousands of riders across the county faced similar challenges. For many, spending hundreds of dollars per week on ride-shares, relying on family members for rides or walking long distances became their new reality. Riders who could afford alternatives such as Uber and Lyft were often frustrated by the lack of availability of ride-share services. Those who couldn’t afford to pay the extra costs were left with no choice but to walk miles to work.

But as much as I struggled during the strike, I learned a critical lesson: never take transit for granted. As a transit advocate, I’ve often talked about how transit is essential and described it as a lifeline. But experiencing life without transit for more than two weeks drove the point home in an unexpected way.

The strike was a wake-up call for all of us. It highlighted the vital role public transit plays in making our communities accessible and affordable, while also exposing significant gaps that exist without it. The reality is that we can’t afford to take transit for granted.

Ultimately, the strike ended due to a court ruling, and with no new contract in place between VTA and frontline workers such as bus drivers and light rail operators, one thing is clear: we cannot allow this to happen again. Moving forward, we need to come together, support transit and work to improve it.

San José Spotlight columnist Monica Mallon is a transit advocate and rider in Santa Clara County. Monica’s columns appear on the first Thursday of every other month. Contact Monica at [email protected] or follow @MonicaMallon on X/Twitter.