Frequent rider miles: Uber, Lyft starting loyalty programs

DETROIT — Uber and Lyft are rolling out loyalty programs similar to airline frequent flyer miles.

Uber Rewards starts Wednesday in nine U.S. areas and will spread nationwide during the next six months.

Riders get points for every dollar spent on Uber rides or food deliveries. For every 500 points, they get $5 to be used for rides or deliveries. Other goodies come with more points.

The areas are Miami, Denver, Tampa, New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Diego and all of New Jersey.

Lyft says its program starts in December in several cities it wouldn’t identify. The company plans to make it available to more riders next year but would not give details.

Riders also get points for every dollar spent that can be used for rides and upgrades.

Ford, Walmart test self-driving grocery delivery service

Ford and Walmart are teaming up to test a self-driving grocery delivery service.

The pilot program in Florida’s MiamiDade County will incorporate Postmates, a logistics company that operates a network of couriers, to deliver groceries and more. The vehicles will collect data on consumer preferences to help the companies understand what people want. Ford said Wednesday that it’ll also look at different vehicle configurations or modifications that may be needed to accommodate orders such as perishable goods, or when a vehicle is making multiple deliveries on a single trip.

Ford will work with Walmart over the next couple months to determine what goods it can feasibly transport and figure out any issues that may need to be addressed to successfully deliver orders via self-driving vehicles.