Commuters can earn rewards and avoid traffic with new incenTrip mobile app

From a press release

Commuter Connections and the Maryland Transportation Institute at the University of Maryland, with technology development funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Project Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), will launch incenTrip, a new mobile app that allows commuters in the Washington D.C. region to save time, money, and fuel, while earning rewards for planning trips.

The incenTrip app recommends the best travel mode, departure time, and route based on both real-time traffic prediction data and user personal preferences to help commuters avoid both day-to-day congestion and traffic jams caused by accidents, work zones, special events, and adverse weather conditions.

With the app, commuters can earn rewards, including gift cards and cash, every time they plan trips to and from work, avoid traffic, or use alternatives to drive-alone commuting, such as carpooling, taking transit, walking, and biking. The app provides users a fun and game-like environment, where they can accomplish customized weekly goals, win challenges, and invite friends to participate.

The launch event of the app will include an overview of the app development, demonstration of key features, and discussion of regional impacts, such as reducing congestion and vehicle emissions. Reporters will have the opportunity to ask questions and be among the first users to try out the app.

Here's more from the Washington Post back in 2018.

I haven't yet used it, but I wonder if it lets you combine metrorail with biking, or bike sharing or is it like Google Maps and if you choose transit it assumes you can use the train or bus or walk but that's it. 

Comments

[hlinak]

I have been using it for over a year now and love it (go beta testing!). I am excited that they added the cash outs and to automatically log trips.

That being said route selection can be a little buggy and doesn't really improve upon google maps (actually I use google maps to select the best route when taking bus/metro and then select the route in IncenTrip.

But really, this is the first time in 15 years of bike commuting there is something that supports the choice to bike with your own bike to work every day financially. It looks like you can get a 50 check every month for biking to work every day and that is awesome!

[Shalom Flank]

Does anyone know why the permissions for the app include access to *all* of your contacts on your phone?

And/or, does anyone know who runs the app and has access to the data from it?