For nearly four decades, STA has been proud to play a meaningful role in one of the region’s most beloved events, Bloomsday. Since 1987, STA has helped thousands of racegoers and spectators get to the event safely and on time. Each year, STA buses are filled with joy and excitement for the race, and it’s something STA looks forward to.
“STA’s long and storied transportation support to Bloomsday is a fun way for us to show how transit is here for good,” said CEO Karl Otterstrom. “Every year, thousands of racegoers and spectators rely on STA to get them to and from the race, and it’s an honor to serve the community in such an impactful way.”
Bloomsday Shuttles
Similar to previous years, STA provided Bloomsday from satellite parking areas in partnership with public and private institutions, including Spokane Public Schools, Eastern Washington University, and private mall operators. A total of 66 buses operated by STA coach operators and approximately 20 vans operated by STA Paratransit van operators operated as “Bloomsday Shuttles,” and completed more than 500 trips and transported more than 16,500 riders, a 50% increase over last year’s Bloomsday.
Bloomsday Shuttle Lot Location | Riders to the Race | Riders from the Race |
|---|---|---|
Total | 10,383 | 6,215 |
EWU Red Barn (Cheney) | 292 | 201 |
Ferris High School (South Hill Spokane) | 1,433 | 1,164 |
Northtown Mall (North Spokane) | 4,802 | 1,752 |
Spokane Valley Mall | 3,498 | 2,870 |
West Plains Transit Center | 298 | 228 |
Transit Ridership Highlights
In addition to the Bloomsday shuttles, STA operated its regular Sunday service, carrying nearly 15,000 passengers across the region, including many Bloomsday runners and spectators who were able to catch a bus at over 1,500 bus stops serviced that day. It’s more than likely that over 25% of all Bloomsday finishers took transit to or from Sunday’s race. All told, STA carried over 31,000 passengers on May 3, 2026. This is more than double STA’s average Sunday ridership of approximately 13,000 riders.
Part of the success story of STA’s Bloomsday service is the longstanding partnership with Bloomsday organizers. Participants can pre-purchase a special-event-day transit pass when registering for the event. This is then printed on the race bib, simplifying boarding and ease of use. During the two-day trade show that takes place Friday and Saturday before the race, STA staff volunteers serve a prominently positioned booth, allowing participants to purchase passes after registering and to get help and information to prepare for their race-day commute. Over 8,100 transit passes were sold, either online, during race registration, or in person. Youth ages 18 and younger rode shuttles for free, just like with regular service.
Looking at data associated with approximately 5,700 event-day transit passes ordered online, it’s clear that commuting by transit to Bloomsday had global appeal. Pass purchasers reported 700 different zip codes on their purchases, from 32 different states and multiple foreign nations, including Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
Beyond Ridership
Beyond shuttle rides, STA also played a key role in ensuring participants who were unable to finish the race were able to leave the course safely. In previous years, STA dispatched Paratransit vans to assist with this task, but this year, a bus was also included in these efforts due to increased participation in Bloomsday. In all, nearly 60 racers who were unable to complete the race were transported off the course efficiently and safely.
New this year was the involvement of STA’s Transit Ambassadors. STA’s Transit Ambassadors began serving the community in the second half of 2025 and play a key role in helping STA coach operators in the field. As regular service was detoured away from the core of downtown, Transit Ambassadors helped Bloomsday participants and regular riders navigate alternate boarding areas around 2nd and 3rd avenues, several blocks away from the STA Plaza. Many passengers complimented them for their helpfulness and navigation support.
“This sort of event is a testament to the expertise and enthusiasm of our workforce,” said Otterstrom. “Countless employees tell me this is their favorite working day of the year, and it showed! Thousands of jubilant runners and riders make for a great atmosphere for serving the public. I’m proud of our workforce and their dedication to serve the community.” All told, 142 employees volunteered to work the event outside their regular work hours.
Reflections and Forward Thinking
Just days after the event, Staff have already begun meeting on how to improve upon this year’s success as STA looks forward to Bloomsday races to come.
“People are at the core of both community and public transportation,” Otterstrom reflected. “This year’s Bloomsday was clear evidence that where transit goes, community grows.”
