The aim of the initiative was to encourage residents and employees in Arbroath to get physically active by rewarding walking, running and cycling through an app-based campaign. The BetterPoints app allows users to earn points for their active travel activities which they can donate to charity or exchange for high street vouchers. We undertook a programme of engagement in the local area to promote the initiative which included engaging with workplaces, schools, traders and community groups.
By the end of the six-week BetterPoints programme, over 7,000 active travel miles had been recorded by residents and employees in Arbroath, which equated to almost 800,000 calories being burned, and 2.4 tonnes of CO2 being avoided. In the exit survey, 64% of respondents said that the challenge had encouraged them to think about how they travel, with 41% increasing the frequency with which they walk during the week and 23% reducing their car use. 98% of respondents said they would like to take part in a similar challenge in future.
