The i-Travel York BIG Challenge started on Monday 1 June and offers prizes to those who clock up the most journeys using different modes of sustainable travel during the six-week period, plus weekly prize draws for taking part.
This can include walking, running, cycling, scooting, skating, bus, train, park & ride, park & pedal, car sharing, electric car, teleconferencing or working from home, so almost everyone should be able to join in.
Some of the city’s largest employers have joined, including York College, The Vangarde Shopping Park and Aviva.
Registering is simple via: www.itravelyork.info/bigchallenge
The BIG Challenge is being run by Sustrans, the national sustainable transport charity, in partnership with i-Travel York.
Over 1,385 journeys have already been logged by over 270 participants in the first three days of the BIG Challenge. Most journeys so far have been on foot or cycling, burning an estimated 213,000 calories the equivalent to nearly 850 donuts.
i-Travel and Get Cycling have also given 10 people the opportunity to borrow a bike for free for the duration of the BIG Challenge to help them try cycling to work and for leisure, with a 10 further bikes available to hire for 6 weeks on a “try before you buy” basis. Full details of how to apply if you’d like one to try cycling to work is on the BIG Challenge website.
David Short, i-Travel Programme Manager, said: “There has already been a great response to the BIG York Challenge with many businesses and residents already logging their sustainable journeys. I hope throughout the next five weeks even more people will consider changing their travel habits for more sustainable options.”
Bryony Holroyd, Challenge Co-ordinator at Sustrans, said: “It’s great that already hundreds have joined in the first few days of the BIG Challenge: some already travel by walking, cycling, bus, train, park & ride, car sharing or working from home, while others are trying out more active, fun, often faster, and less stressful ways to travel for the first time. Why not join in, get your workplace promoting the Challenge, and have a chance to win some prizes?”
i-Travel York’s FREE online journey planner is on-hand to help residents, businesses and visitors get around York more easily during the challenge.
Available at http://www.itravelyork.info and accessible via smartphones, tablets and desktop computers, the planner provides the best walking, cycling, public transport and driving routes in or through York at the touch of a button.
Residents can even sign up to MyTravelYork on the website to receive information updates, promotional offers and the latest news on their travel options. For more information follow @itravelyork or like at www.facebook.com/itravelyork