Waymo launched a transit rewards program Sept. 22 that lets San Francisco Bay Area riders link a Visa card to the Waymo app. When riders use that card for a Waymo trip and public transit within two hours of each other, they automatically receive $2.85 in Waymo Cash. The program applies to all 27 Bay Area transit agencies that accept contactless Visa payments and begins with Waymo employees before rolling out to the public.
The program points toward a broader role for payments inside connected transportation. Customers can use a credential to connect activity across a journey rather than simply paying for each piece separately. The program uses the linked Visa card to determine whether qualifying Waymo and transit activity occurred within the two-hour window and then issues the reward.
One Credential, More of the Trip
Other mobility payment systems are assembling more of these formerly isolated actions.
In March, Paythru Visa developed a white-label fleet wallet through which drivers can pay at Visa-accepting electric vehicle chargers and make employer-approved payments for parking and tolls PYMNTS reported March 19. Fleet operators can control permitted spending and view payment data in one place…