VIA is committed to promoting positive relations and outreach in the community. A number of programs are offered to engage the community in public transportation and create partnerships with those we serve.
Programs
BiblioTech and VIA Metropolitan Transit have partnered to bring Bexar County’s all-digital public library to the traveling public with the new “Ride & Read” program.
This new partnership brings VIA on board with BiblioTech’s mission to enhance education and literacy, promote reading as recreation, and equip residents with necessary tools to thrive in our modern landscape.
Kiosks and ADA-accessible wall-mounted screens will be installed at VIA transit and information centers throughout the service area.
Bibliotech Kiosk Locations
The new BiblioTech freestanding kiosk and ADA-compliant wall-mounted screen are available at the following locations:
- Downtown Information Center
- Centro Plaza
- Ellis Alley Transit Center
- Medical Center Transit Center
- Crossroads Park & Ride
- North Star Transit Center
About Bibliotech
TBiblioTech Digital Library is the first all-digital public library in the United States, located in Bexar County, Texas.
Since the doors of the first branch opened on September 14th, 2013, BiblioTech has actively worked to bridge literacy and technology gaps in San Antonio and surrounding areas by establishing a community presence at the physical locations as well as an online presence through the digital collections and resources.
Visit a kiosk, download the mobile app or go to the BiblioTech website.
Register for a free digital library card
Login to your account.
Begin selecting and reading your favorite titles.
THIS PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY NOT ACTIVE
Would you like to take your students on more field trips? VIA can help you get there!
VIA would be happy to help you plan the transportation for your next field trip. There are many places to explore within San Antonio and Bexar County that are fun, exciting, and provide a beneficial learning experience. Riding VIA to these places can add to your adventure by giving your students a sense of independence.
You can show them how important public transportation is in keeping their environment clean and how VIA can help them save money when they get older – in parking, gasoline, vehicle insurance and wear and tear on vehicles. Ride VIA to your next field trip for the educational adventure, cost savings, and convenience. Please note, this is not a charter service.
THIS PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY NOT ACTIVE
VIA holds an annual Youth Art Contest that kicks off the first Monday of March for school children of all levels (Pre-K through 12) in the San Antonio area. That is when official poster boards provided by VIA are available for teachers/parents to pick up at VIA headquartes. Any medium may be used.
Each year, VIA provides a theme for the children to illustrate for the contest. First and second place winners are chosen from each grade level from the thousands of entries that are received. A Best of Show winner is also chosen, and all the winners have their art works displayed inside the Classroom on Wheels bus for an entire year. The winners are also honored with an awards luncheon, and each of them receives a trophy and special prizes.
In years past, the Best of Show design has been used by VIA for various youth education program materials, including book covers distributed in the public schools, posting on the sides of VIA buses, and even as the design for the Classroom on Wheels.
All entries are put on display throughout VIA’s bus fleet for a period of one month. Entries cannot be returned.
THIS PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY NOT ACTIVE
VIA Metropolitan Transit holds an annual poetry contest each fall called “POETRY ON THE MOVE”. The winning poems are placed on our buses and vans for passengers to enjoy during April, which is National Poetry Month. The contest is held early to allow time to coordinate with local teen youth art programs to create illustrations for the poems.
Poetry submissions are accepted once the contest is officially announced. The contest is open to poets from South and Central Texas who are at least 18 years of age. One to three poems may be submitted, and each poem should be no longer than 10 lines, including title and spaces. Further details are available at the time of contest.
To get the youth involved, an additional ten poems are selected from the San Antonio Public Library’s “Young Pegasus Program”. These poems are also displayed on our fleet in April.
The winning poets are recognized at a VIA Press Event, and they perform a reading at a local book store. You can view the 2018 winning poems here.
THIS PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY NOT ACTIVE
VIA has over 1600 shelters throughout Bexar County. The Adopt-A-Bus-Shelter Program helps VIA provide immediate attention to maintenance concerns, graffiti removal, urgent repairs, and security issues.
VIA encourages local organizations and businesses to participate in the program by adopting a VIA shelter in their area to assist in keeping our community cleaner and safer.
Benefits
The Adopt-A-Bus-Shelter participants contribute to keeping our community and environment cleaner and safer, benefiting everyone in the community. In appreciation of the organization’s participation:
- A plaque recognizing the organization will be placed on the shelter
- The organizations will have an opportunity to receive recognition in VIA’s Rider Reader, web site, and other media materials
Responsibilities
Being a participant is an easy process. Upon signing up as a participant, the organization or business will be asked to:
- Assist in the removal of debris (at least once per week) between VIA scheduled cleanings
- Report the need for repairs or graffiti removal
- Report the need for security
Call VIA’s Chief of Staff / Community Relations Office at (210) 299-5869.
If you do not have a specific shelter site in mind, a VIA representative will let you know which shelters are available in you area.
A VIA representative will mail or fax an agreement form to you.
Upon receipt of your completed agreement form, your organization will be on board VIA’s Adopt-A-Bus-Shelter Program! So sign up today so that your organization or business can do your part in making our community and environment cleaner and safer.