Residents of North Somerset can now log cycling journeys and be rewarded for choosing to travel sustainably with Love to Ride – a friendly online cycling platform that launched its dedicated North Somerset site this November.
Love to Ride encourages cycling as a way to travel actively. It underlines the council’s commitment to carbon reduction. During the Covid-19 pandemic, choosing to travel by bike can also help individuals to social distance and can relieve pressure on public transport.
North Somerset’s first bike challenge, Light the Night, is now underway, with prizes to be won when users log bike journeys and upload their own stories and images to encourage others to ride. Registration for December’s Winter Wheelers campaign is also open with a £750 bike voucher prize available to one early-bird registrant. With daily draws to win prizes like an electric bike; Proviz hi-vis clothing; lights from Beryl; and all-weather gloves from Loffi, it’s like an advent calendar for adults.
North Somerset Council’s executive member whose portfolio includes transport, Cllr James Tonkin, said:
Love to Ride is a fantastic way to help North Somerset residents improve their physical and mental health during these challenging times. Over 475,000 people globally use it – over 25% of whom were new to cycling. The simple app syncs with Strava and Map My Journey for ease of logging trips.
Figures show that more people than ever have been motivated to cycle since lockdown in March. The Guardian reported 60% increases in monthly sales figures and electric bike sales increased by 50% in April.
We want to encourage and incentivise existing, returning and new riders of bikes to keep them cycling throughout winter and beyond.
The Love to Ride website and app are used by over 8,000 organisations globally. Through regular events and prize draws, it encourages existing (51%), new (30%) and occasional cyclists (19%) to ride more for commuting and leisure purposes.
By encouraging staff to join and log journeys via the Love to Ride community, employers can show a commitment towards their carbon reduction, team-building and staff wellness goals.
Join Love to Ride to take part in Light the Night or to register for December’s Winter Wheelers now.