- The BetterPoints app rewards sustainable trips with vouchers for local businesses
- The scheme, trialled at the University of Sheffield for the past four years, has now been rolled out across the city
- Over 2.5 million sustainable commutes were recorded on BetterPoints in the last year
The BetterPoints app rewards commuters who walk, cycle or use public transport to get around Sheffield with vouchers for local businesses in the city.
The University of Sheffield piloted the BetterPoints scheme for the last four years with more than a quarter of University staff now choosing to walk or cycle to work.
Over 2.5 million sustainable trips have been recorded in the last year as well as 3,500 vouchers redeemed at University catering outlets. The University has over 4,000 regular users amongst its staff and students.
Green and healthy trips earn BetterPoints, which can now be exchanged for Sheffield City Centre Gift Cards, spent at participating local businesses, or donated to local charities. Regular drivers can use the app to help them switch any shorter trips that can be made by other means.
Darren Hardwick, Sustainable Travel Manager at the University of Sheffield, said:
"We've found that the app is a great way of not only rewarding sustainable travel, but also of encouraging people to make other sustainable or healthy choices.
“For example, rewards include vouchers to shop local, take free swims and have free drinks in reusable cups, while we also award points for taking part in other community building campus activities like litterpicks.
“We know that Betterpoints isn't a magic bullet and that not everyone is able to travel exclusively by walking, cycling or public transport, but even if you can replace some of your car journeys with a more sustainable way of travelling it has a positive impact, and BetterPoints will reward that.
“Encouraging more sustainable travel is an ongoing process that involves lots of incentives to help people keep going, even in the snow and rain and up and down Sheffield's hills!"
BetterPoints Sheffield now aims to scale up this success across the city to make an even bigger impact. The app is free to join for anyone who lives, works or studies in Sheffield and is now supported by the Sheffield City Council, as well as the University of Sheffield.
Jack Windle, BetterPoints Sheffield Manager, said: “We know people who walk, cycle or take public transport to work are happier and healthier, but what we also know is that those people pass and visit local shops, cafes and other businesses to spend their money locally.
“BetterPoints Sheffield will reward people for making healthier journeys – and those rewards can be spent at local businesses or donated to fantastic local causes like The Children’s Hospital Charity.”
Betterpoints is just one of the ways the University encourages staff and students who are able to make sustainable transport choices. Campus has over 2,600 cycle parking spaces, while the University also provides subsidised cycle repairs for staff and students, as well as second hand bike sales and a staff cycle to work scheme.
In recent years, the University has invested heavily in making campus easier and more pleasant to walk around through pedestrianisation schemes, new planting and pocket parks.
You can join Betterpoints and start recording journeys made on foot, by bike, in a wheelchair, or by public transport by downloading the free BetterPoints app.
