Waymo, a self-driving taxi company, will provide ride credits to passengers who use its robotaxi service in conjunction with public transit. It aims to encourage riders to use robotaxis as a means of getting to stations, rather than as a substitute for buses and rail.

Waymo announced on Sept. 22, local time, that it was starting a public transit rewards program in the San Francisco Bay Area. It will offer it to employees first, then expand to the general public over the coming weeks, and later introduce it in other cities.

Participation is simple. If a user registers a Visa card in the Waymo app and uses Waymo and public transit within 2 hours with the same card, Waymo will automatically provide $2.85 (about 3,850 won) in Waymo Cash. The amount matches the base fare for a San Francisco bus, and it is a credit for future Waymo rides rather than a cash refund. The program applies to 27 Bay Area transit agencies that support Visa contactless payments.

Waymo said that in user surveys in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, more than 50 percent also use public transit. That figure does not mean all users transfer between robotaxis and public transit in a single trip. Waymo plans to link the program with the Bay Area's regional transfer discounts and contactless payment system launched in December last year to reduce commuting costs and travel inconvenience.

Waymo will also make train transfers easier. It plans to work with commuter rail operator Caltrain to lease 40 parking spaces at stations as dedicated vehicle waiting areas. The move is intended to make it easier for passengers to take a robotaxi after getting off a train, or to switch from a robotaxi to a train.