Hull City Council has launched a new app that rewards people for using public transport and active travel.
BetterPoints, a free-to-download app, lets users convert everyday walks, cycle rides, and public transport trips into daily points, which they can use as digital currency to redeem for high-street shopping vouchers and charitable donations. Users can also win prizes, such as a European City Break draw taking place this month.
Participating businesses include high street shops, local independent businesses and online retailers such as Costa, Tesco and Amazon.
Following a successful pilot with its own staff, the council is launching the app publicly, allowing anyone who lives, works or studies in Hull to start earning points.
The app is designed to encourage people to become more active and choose healthier travel options, which the council says will help the local community by reducing noise pollution and carbon emissions, improving health and wellbeing, and saving money.
Cllr Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, said: ‘BetterPoints is a really simple idea – you can earn rewards or support charities just by walking, cycling or using public transport whether that be for work, leisure or for trips locally. Even changing one journey a week will earn you points.'
Jack Windle, chief sustainable transport officer at BetterPoints, added: ‘We are thrilled to be supporting Hull City Council, who have already made great strides in their goal of reducing single-occupancy car journeys and encouraging greener and healthier travel habits.
‘We look forward to rewarding Hull residents for making different travel choices and seeing the positive effect this has on the city.'
