WOKINGHAM Borough Council is encouraging residents to make healthier, and more environmentally friendly travel choices.
Walking, cycling or using public transport can earn them points to win prizes.
Anyone over 13 living, working or studying in the Wokingham borough can enter the MyJourney challenge.
To take part, residents download a free app that uses the tracker in their phone to detect how far they’ve travelled, and by which mode.
The app then awards points called ValleyCoins, and virtual medals for using greener transport methods.
ValleyCoins can be redeemed for vouchers with high street retailers, including supermarkets, or donated to a preferred charity.
Users can also earn ValleyTickets when using public transport, to enter weekly and monthly prize draws worth anything from £2.50 to £100.
Promotions also mark special initiatives, like Car Free Day, which took place in September.
Wokingham Borough Council is encouraging the app’s use as part of its efforts to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, tackle the climate emergency and make it easier to live healthily.
The app logs the amount of time the user spends travelling actively, the number of calories they burn and the weight of carbon emissions saved.
It also offers them personalised suggestions on how to increase their sustainable travel.
Since the My Journey challenge was launched in March, users have travelled 148,276 miles sustainably.
This includes 134,432 miles running, cycling or walking, equivalent to more than 76 return journeys from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
It has resulted in about 13.4 million calories burned, about 17,000 Cornish pasties’ worth, and up to 32,243 kg of carbon saved.
Previous challenge, Cycle September, was organised by Love to Ride Wokingham, and saw a local resident win the top prize of a new electric bike worth £2,499.
The council hopes to encourage as many people as possible to enjoy cycling, and to discover other types of active and sustainable travel.
App users have responded positively.
Many say they drive less and enjoy more time outside with their families while getting fitter.
Some say they are losing weight by walking 10,000 or more steps a day.
Cllr Paul Fishwick, executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said: “Residents can get started straight away on Innovation Valley Rewards, which is easy to set up and also recognises walking or taking the train or bus.
“Once it’s installed, you don’t have to remember to do anything except head out of the door and start earning points.
Innovation Valley Rewards app is available through both the Apple App and Google Play stores.
For more information about the challenge visit: www.myjourneywokingham.com
