Loyalty programs work for credit cards and retailers, airlines and rental care companies. Now Metro Transit is taking Ride to Rewards - a loyalty program for bus and light rail riders - out for a test ride.
Ride to Rewards members earn half a point for every ride taken with a qualifying transit pass and can also earn points for making purchases at participating retailers. The points can be redeemed for transit cards or converted into Visa gift cards. Metro Transit says this is the first transit-based rewards program in the country.
It's a great idea, but don't expect to earn rewards quickly. You need 250 points to receive a $5 gift card and 500 points to receive an $11 Go-To Card. That means it would take a commuter who rides back and forth to work each week about a year to earn that gift card, unless they are also racking up points with partner merchants. But if you're a frequent rider, why not give the program a spin? And spread the word: Existing members receive 10 points for every 1,000 new members throughout November.
You can follow the program on Twitter too @ride2rewards
