Transit Mobile Rewards Programs

Loyalty and rewards programs are something that everyone loves; who doesn’t like sale items, discounts, and sometimes even free stuff? What if I told you that people are getting rewarded with gift cards and other promotions just for using public transportation? It may sound too good to be true, but with the Miles app, it all becomes a reality.

What is Miles and how does it work?

Simply put, Miles is an app that tracks users and determines what form of transportation they’re using; they use machine learning to find out if the user is walking, biking, driving a car, taking the bus, or other modes of travel. Don’t be freaked out, this is how they reward you with points! If the user is driving, they get points based on the number of total miles they’ve traveled. On the other hand, taking public transit yields a bonus in that they’d get triple the amount and walking would give them a huge 10x multiplier applied to the total distance they’ve walked. With all those “miles” racked up, users would then be able to cash out for Amazon, Starbucks, and other gift cards from major retailers. 

How does the app benefit?

Although it may seem surprising, the app charges the companies (who give out rewards) a fee. The companies benefit in having their offers available through the app since they would attract more customers; it draws more attention to their products or services.

Which transit agencies currently use Miles?

As of now, there are a variety of transit agencies around the Bay Area that offer the mobile rewards app to their passengers. Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and 511 Contra Costa partnered with Miles in 2018 to promote eco friendly travel choices around the county. CalTrains and SamTrans were also two transportation companies who recently teamed up with the mobile app, establishing the partnership in June of this year. Although it is only a one-year pilot program, both companies hope to gather insightful information that would allow them to plan for future transportation options and encourage environmentally friendly choices for commuting.  

Does SolTrans offer this reward program? 

Although we currently have no rewards or loyalty programs available, our Clipper serves as a convenient all-in-one transit card for traveling in and out of Solano County. On the other hand, Solano Transportation Agency (STA) offers commuter rewards called RideAmigos in their Solano Mobility Program. RideAmigos works similar to the Miles app in that it offers incentives to commuters who utilize public transportation. I’m sure you’re eager to take advantage of this program, so here is the link to sign up for STA’s program. 

Did you know? Buses are far more fuel efficient compared to a typical automobile, using 8.7% less energy per passenger mile. Try to keep that in mind the next time you’re deciding between a rideshare service and public transit.