Beginning in the spring of 2012, Londoners can participate in a new program that will reward them for bicycling and walking the city. Transport for London (TfL) and Recyclebank have teamed up with the Mayor’s approval to create this groundbreaking program. The program will undergo a trial phase in these last few months of 2011, after which residents can join in to help reduce pollution, ease congestion and boost fitness.
Millennium Bridge Walk. Credit: Walk London.org
Members of the green program will collect points for every journey they make on foot or on a bicycle. Points will be redeemable for offers and discounts ranging from home and office items, to entertainment and restaurants, to apparel and automotive services and more from 3,000 Recyclebank reward partners in both the U.S. and the U.K.
London offers hundreds of possible walk and cycling opportunities, with 40 miles along the Thames; 18 along the Lea Navigation Towpath; or a stretch from St Paul’s to Buckingham Palace and beyond. The Capital Green Walk is a 79 mile route through London’s greenest suburbs, divided into 15 shorter walks, including Richmond Park, Wimbledon Common and Eltham Palace. The Walk London website, funded by TfL, lists many popular walking routes from which to choose.
The city also offers numerous bicycle hire and docking stations throughout central London, from Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel to Kensington Olympia Station, and from the Zoo to Chelsea Bridge. Bikes are available 24 hours a day, year-round. Purchasing a key to release the bicycle from its dock can be made in advance online or by phone, or at the docking station terminal with a debit or credit card.
“Walking and cycling are the healthiest and greenest ways to travel and we are truly inspired by the excellent work TfL has done to encourage people to make greener transportation choices in London. We are excited to partner with TfL and look forward to motivating Londoners to take greener actions,” said Jonathan Hsu, CEO of Recyclebank. “Our hope is that this program becomes something that other cities can emulate to reduce their environmental footprint, realizing the collective impact of individual green actions.”
Cyclists at High Wellington Arch. © Transport for London 2005
Recyclebank is built on the idea that environmental solutions provide economic opportunities. Through partnerships and innovation, the company aims to increase recycling rates, curb energy and water consumption, encourage smarter transportation, strengthen local economies and help people realize the financial benefits of making greener choices every day. It launched a rewards-for-recycling program in the Royal Boroughs of Windsor and Maidenhead in June 2009 and has since expanded to other boroughs, including the Lambeth neighborhood of London.
By educating, engaging and empowering its community online and offline, Recyclebank hopes to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle by increasing household recycling, reducing household energy usage and motivating individuals and communities to take environmentally preferred actions.
The organization is recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme, and for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Headquartered in New York City, Recyclebank has close to 3 million members in more than 300 municipalities, and is working to create a culture that encourages people to take simple steps toward green transportation and greener lifestyles, tying together sustainability, social networking and real-world actions.
