Rewards app could offer perks for green travel

Walking, cycling or using public transport could be rewarded with free coffee, discounted food and passes to local attractions as part of a new rewards app.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is looking for a company to develop an app that would encourage people to live healthier lives and promote local businesses.

The contract could be worth up to £450,000.

The authority hopes the app would lead to a "25% increase in the number of journeys being made on foot, by bike or using public transport among users".

WYCA is seeking an external organisation to deliver an "off-the-shelf app-based platform" that "tracks journeys made by the user and offers rewards for travelling on foot, by bike or on public transport".

The tender document said: "Rewards offered should be localised as much as possible within West Yorkshire and suppliers should aim to promote local business growth.

"Rewards should also be relevant to the audience and should promote reasonable changes in travel behaviour."

WYCA said the scheme would be funded using money from the City Region Sustainable Travel Settlement – a pot of cash awarded to West Yorkshire by central government in 2022 to encourage people to use their cars less.

It said the app's rewards could include "hot drinks and treats at local coffee shops, discounted meal vouchers at local food establishments and free or discounted passes at local attractions".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, companies have until 17 January to bid for the contract.

Work is expected to start in March and run until March 2027.