Rewards for Residents Who Leave the Car at Home

Published on: 7 Mar, 2022
Updated on: 7 Mar, 2022

A free app launches in Surrey this week (ending March 12) to reward residents who clock up their miles by walking, cycling, running, scooting or using public transport.

With 41 per cent of emissions in Surrey coming from transport, the BetterPoints app encourages residents to become more active whilst also helping the environment by reducing car travel for local journeys.

The app tracks journeys and awards points in return which can be translated into high street vouchers or charity donations. It also shows the user how far they have travelled and how many calories they have burned in the process.

Points earned caned be turned into vouchers or donations.

Matt Furniss (Con, Shalford), Cabinet member for Transport and Infrastructure said, “We’re trialling this app in Surrey over the next three months to encourage people to incorporate more walking and cycling into their daily routines. From cycling to work, walking to the gym or taking the bus to the shops, every journey counts in our bid to reduce harmful carbon emissions from vehicles.

Cllr Matt Furniss

“We’re also investing over £6 million in more walking and cycling routes to help people get around easier and safer. We do not expect to eliminate car use, but we hope to make other methods of travel more appealing and accessible for certain journeys, whilst also improving the health and wellbeing of our residents.”

Surrey County Council has recently agreed the procurement of 34 hydrogen fuel cell buses worth £16.4 million. The buses will help create a greener and more sustainable transport network for residents, accelerating the introduction of ultra-low and zero-emission buses in Surrey. This will also provide a real alternative to the car, which residents can use and get rewarded for their car-free journey.

The BetterPoints app can be downloaded from App Store or Google Play. Information on how to get started using BetterPoints can be seen in the YouTube clip below….

Responses to Rewards for Residents Who Leave the Car at Home

J Holt Reply

March 8, 2022 at 11:33 am

I downloaded the app thinking it would support a worthwhile idea. However, when I started to register I was expected to agree to both a set of terms and conditions which were completely unreasonable (especially since this was an app suggested by Surrey County Council) and an unreasonable email condition.

I immediately cancelled the registration. I wonder whether Surrey CC should be supporting this app.
Mark Stamp Reply

March 11, 2022 at 7:19 pm

Given that I walk most places, I thought it might be worthwhile downloading this app. Unfortunately, it fails to recognise any walking activity that I do.

How much has the country council wasted on this which could have been put towards infrastructure investments for which they are expecting the boroughs to pick up the tab?
Martin Elliott Reply

March 12, 2022 at 5:31 pm

The app is hardly suitable even for the semi-rural nature of Guildford. There is no indication of what the points rate will be, even towards a coffee to recover in the town centre after a three-mile walk nor from a bus ride.

The ‘trial’ of hydrogen buses is actually based in East not West Surrey. As the buses bought (with grants?) by SCC and leased to the bus company cost twice a conventional one, I assume this is a trial for further practicability. There is no mention of depot and storage costs, or even if a sufficient plant for hydrogen manufacture by renewable or grid electricity or maybe bought from existing suppliers.

On reliability, we have already had electric bus failures in Guildford Park & Ride. Will Surrey Fire & Rescue Service be trained in handling these hydrogen gas vehicles?