Waymo Riders to Get $3 Credit for Public Transit Trips

Self-driving taxi company Waymo is launching an innovative pilot program in the San Francisco Bay Area that encourages people to use public transit.

Starting now, riders using its Waymo One ride-hailing service to connect with certain transit stations will receive a $3 credit for future use on Waymo’s robotaxis.

The accounts will be credited when they hail one of the company’s cabs to travel to or from one of eight stations.

Four BART stations – Glen Park, Balboa Park, Daly City and Colma – are included in the pilot alongside two on the MUNI network, West Portal and Third Street & Revere. The final two are Caltrain stations, 22^nd Street and Fourth and King.

According to Waymo, a recent survey found that 36% of its riders claimed to have used one of the company’s zero-emissions electric Jaguar I-Pace SUVs to connect to BART, Muni or Caltrain services.

While the pilot is the first of its type in the United States, it is starting off on a relatively small scale, given the limited number of stations involved.

It is also set to run for quite a brief period of time, with riders able to accumulate one $3 credit a day until Nov. 15. The credits will have to be redeemed by the end of December.

Nevertheless, the idea is an interesting one, with Waymo using the initiative to push its environmental credentials.

Related:Waymo to Offer Hyundai Self-Driving Taxis Starting in 2026

“Connecting people with sustainable transportation is at the heart of Waymo’s mission to build the world’s most trusted driver,” said Adam Lenz, Waymo’s head of sustainability and environment at Waymo.

“By offering electric rides on demand and improving access to public transit, Waymo One is making daily travel more sustainable and convenient. Our riders consistently tell us they value sustainability, and we’re proud to offer it as a core benefit to the communities we serve.”

While BART, Caltrain and MUNI are all aware of the pilot, none are actively involved with it. However, local media in San Francisco reported that the public transit operators are supportive of the plan.

According to Waymo’s latest figures, it is now providing more than 100,000 driverless rides a week to the public across San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix. This, it claims, prevents an estimated 135 tons of carbon dioxide emissions weekly.

Earlier this month it confirmed it sealed a deal with Hyundai to add another EV to its fleet in the shape of the South Korean automaker’s IONIQ 5. It is set to come on board in 2026.