A new smartphone app called Re:route, currently available only for Apple’s iPhone, will help London’s cyclists and pedestrians, as well as those who use public transport, to rack up ‘loyalty’ points that can be exchanged for discounts and other offers at businesses including retailers Marks & Spencer and Planet Organic, Champneys health spas and travel firm Haven Holidays.
Re:route has been launched by US-based business Recyclebank, which encourages consumers to take simple, everyday ‘green’ actions that can earn them benefits through the scheme while also helping make a difference to the environment.
Full details of how the scheme works, plus a link to download the app, can be found on the Recyclebank website – you may need to click the ‘Switch to UK’ link on the top right of the homepage.
According to the official description of the app on Apple’s iTunes, users can:
- Input your route’s start and end points to discover ways that mix and match public transport, walking, cycling, calories burnt, carbon offset, bonus points and more
- Choose the route that’s right for you
- Complete your journey and get rewarded with Recyclebank points
- Redeem your Recyclebank points and track your achievements, like time saved, carbon offset and calories burnt .
Other features enable users to:
- View current weather, community carbon impact and total bikes in use
- Earn Recyclebank points for completing milestones
- Browse the Recyclebank rewards catalogue
- See your route progress by map and by time .
Commenting on the app, which also enables users to share their journeys through Facebook, Ben Plowden, director of planning for Transport for London (TfL) surface transport, said "More people cycling and walking will help to reduce congestion on our roads and on our busy public transport network. An initiative like re:route is a great way to help TfL achieve these goals.
“We're particularly excited about the potential for this app to motivate people to cycle and walk during the London 2012 Games, when London's roads and public transport network will be at their busiest," he added.
It is not clear whether similar apps will be developed for other platorms, not whether it will be extended beyond London.
Born in Scotland, Simon moved to London aged seven and now lives in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds with his miniature schnauzer, Elodie. He fell in love with cycling one Saturday morning in 1994 while living in Italy when Milan-San Remo went past his front door. A daily cycle commuter in London back before riding to work started to boom, he's been news editor at road.cc since 2009. Handily for work, he speaks French and Italian. He doesn't get to ride his Colnago as often as he'd like, and freely admits he's much more adept at cooking than fettling with bikes.