For San Francisco Visa cardholders, Waymo is offering a small reward to riders who pair public transit with one of its robotaxi trips.
Here's what to know
After testing the concept in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Waymo has made the offer available to all riders in San Francisco. As Electrek reported, riders can get a $2.85 credit when they take a public transit trip and a Waymo trip within a two-hour window.
To qualify, riders need to link a Visa card in the Waymo app and use that same card to pay for both the transit ride and the Waymo ride. The credit is returned as "Waymo Cash," which can be used on future rides.
The amount matches a separate $2.85 Bay Area discount for trips that include both BART and SF Muni.
More background
Getting around a city without owning a car can save money, reduce traffic stress, and eliminate parking hassles.
However, oftentimes, public transit does not take riders all the way to where they need to go, leaving the final leg between a stop and a rider's home, job, or other destination unresolved. This is a great incentive by Waymo to encourage public transportation by covering portions of a journey that buses and trains do not.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Waymo says more than half its riders in its most established markets — San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix — also use public transit.
What's being done?
While the offer is currently limited to Visa cards, Waymo has said it wants to expand the program to other payment processors in the future.
Where can I learn more?
Waymo's transit credit is part of an initiative to make getting around cities cheaper and more flexible. Here are some more articles that cover the company's expansion, competing ride services, and transit programs aimed at lowering commuting costs.
• Last year, Waymo began testing in New York as the self-driving race expanded.
• In Tampa, DASH began offering rides for as little as $2 in Tesla vehicles.
• In Seoul, a transport program helped residents cut commuting costs and emissions.
• In 2024, Tesla and Uber launched a combined program worth $2,000 for eligible drivers.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
