People in Brighton can earn discounts at stores in the city by walking, cycling and taking public transport.

The BetterPoints app has been launched by Brighton and Hove City Council as part of the Move For Change scheme, aiming to encourage people to choose active and sustainable travel options.

More than 100 people have signed up for the scheme this month logging 1,500 activities and 2,500 travelled miles.

They can now earn points for walking to work, using active travel options on the school run, cycling around the city, taking part in leisure and exercise activity, using the city's buses and riding on BTN BikeShare bikes.

These can be exchanged for discounts and vouchers at shops across Brighton and Hove.

These stores have signed up for the scheme:

  • HISBE
  • Infinity Foods
  • Organic Earth
  • Rhythm & Bikes
  • Cranks
  • Bike Shed
  • BN3 Bikes
  • Cycle Wand
  • Baker St Bikes

App users can also earn or win BetterPoints or BetterTickets (for monthly online raffle prizes) by taking part in surveys and competitions.

Chairwoman of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee Amy Heley said: “Using BetterPoints is a great way of being rewarded for something that already has so many benefits.

“If we’re to meet our goals of being a carbon neutral city, we need to do everything we can to encourage more of our residents and those who work in our city to travel actively and sustainably.

“I’d also like to thank those local businesses who have signed up to offer rewards. If we can get more people walking, cycling, scooting and using public transport while supporting our local economy at the same time, then it’s win-win."

The Move for Change initiative is funded through government grant funding from the Access Fund for Sustainable Travel and the Active Travel Fund which the council successfully bid for through the Department for Transport.

It has been introduced as more people choose to walk or cycle short distances during the coronavirus pandemic, Brighton and Hove City Council said, with the increased number of people working from home also lessening the number of journeys that need to be made each day.

"We are also facing a climate emergency," a council spokesman said.

"The council has pledged to become a carbon neutral city by 2030 and encourage more people to choose active and sustainable transport means we can further reduce toxic emissions and improve the city’s air quality.

"Active travel also has many proven mental and physical health benefits."