Two EZfare Agencies Launch Transit Ticketing Rewards Powered by Masabi and Velocia in the Transit App
NEORide Collaborates with Industry Partners to Introduce Rewards Program to the US’ Largest Regional Ticketing System
CINCINNATI, OH & NEW YORK, NY – Two transit agencies from the EZfare regional ticketing system, TANK (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky) and Cincinnati Metro are launching EZfare Rewards. The innovative new program, powered by Masabi and Velocia and available through the Transit app, rewards riders for using public transit.
EZfare Rewards is designed to encourage ridership, enhance rider engagement, and improve the overall public transit experience across EZfare agencies. Riders can earn points simply by using public transit and sharing feedback about their transit experience within the Transit app. These points can then be redeemed for free mobile bus passes, making it easier and more affordable for riders to use transit services.
“We are always looking for ways to make transit more accessible and attractive for riders across the region,” said Katherine Conrad, Executive Director at NEORide. “With EZfare Rewards, we’re not only giving back to loyal riders but also incentivizing engagement to help us better understand their needs. This is a major step forward in how we interact with and support our community.”
NEORide, the council of governments behind EZfare, has been at the forefront of modernizing transit payment solutions. EZfare was launched in partnership with Masabi, the global leader in fare payments, to provide seamless, digital ticketing across multiple transit systems. In addition to mobile ticketing, EZfare is currently launching Account-Based Ticketing across its network and plans to introduce Open Payments in the future, further enhancing flexibility and convenience for riders. The introduction of EZfare Rewards builds on this foundation by further integrating technology to create a more dynamic and user-friendly transit experience.
“At Masabi we have always worked to make taking public transit quick and simple, to make it an easy choice for riders. We are proud to support this groundbreaking initiative which provides further incentives to switch,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO at Masabi. “EZfare Rewards is one of the first transit agency-led rewards programs in the U.S., and the first covering multiple agencies. We believe it can play a significant role in driving adoption of mobile payments while increasing rider engagement.”
Riders can participate in EZfare Rewards by simply using the Transit app, where they can purchase fares, plan trips, and now, earn rewards. By encouraging more riders to use digital payment options, transit agencies can streamline operations, reduce boarding times, and offer a more efficient public transit experience.
“If we want to increase ridership, public transit needs to be easy and affordable,” said David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer at Transit. “Rewarding riders for engaging with public transit while also gathering their in-the-moment feedback is fantastic for both riders and agencies.”
“Integrating rewards into the apps transit riders already use creates a seamless, plug-and-play platform that makes it easier for transit agencies to engage their riders,” said David Winterstein, Chief Executive Officer at Velocia.
