Uber and Lyft’s Austin return doesn’t faze Fasten

Fasten, the Boston-based ridehailing company that became an Austin favorite when Uber and Lyft absented themselves from town for a year or so, announced Friday that it’s launching Fasten Karma, a rider-rewards program that’s a first for the industry.

The program, which is already in effect, automatically get $5 deducted from their next ride after completing 10 trips. There are no blackout dates or other restrictions.

The company’s announcement included a statement by CEO and co-founder Kirill Evdakov that the program’s name alludes to rewarding customers who have been using Fasten, which he said pays drivers more than the industry’s giants. The company contrasted its promised “steady and uncomplicated commitment to its most frequent riders” to what it called “subsidizing rides upfront or at irregular intervals.”