A new app that will reward people in West Yorkshire for walking, cycling or using public transport could soon be rolled out.
The app could see people offered free coffee, discounted food and free passes to local attractions for ditching the car.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority aims to introduce a free app that will get people living healthier lives as well as promoting local businesses.
Details of the new measure are included in a tender document that has been uploaded on the Government’s Contracts Finder website.
It is seeking a company that can develop and roll out an app that can be used by as many people in West Yorkshire as possible.
The contract could be worth up to £450,000.
The tender document says: “We are looking to commission an external organisation to engage with local communities to promote active and sustainable travel through a rewards-based platform.
“The successful delivery organisation should be able to offer an off the shelf app-based platform which works for all mobile operating systems, which can successfully track journeys made by a user and offer rewards for travelling on foot, by bike or on public transport.
“Rewards offered should be localised as much as possible within West Yorkshire and suppliers should aim to promote local business growth. Rewards should be relevant to the audience and should promote reasonable changes in travel behaviour.”
It says the scheme will be funded using money from the City Regions Sustainable Travel Settlement – a huge pot of cash awarded to West Yorkshire by Government in 2022 to help shift people out of their cars.
Documents included in the tender give more detail about the proposed app. It says it will “allow a user to accrue points based on journeys made by foot, on bike or using public transport.”
It would: “offer a range of rewards that are available to the user once they have accrued enough points.
“Rewards should be relevant to the user based on their location within West Yorkshire and should be achievable by those who do not usually walk, cycle or use public transport.
“This may include hot drinks and treats at local coffee shops, discounted meal vouchers at local food establishments and free or discounted passes at local attractions.
“Where possible, rewards should be provided by local independent businesses to help support their growth.”
WYCA hopes the app will be used by 10 per cent of the adult population of West Yorkshire, and lead to “a 25 per cent increase in the number of journeys being made on foot, by bike or using public transport amongst app users.”
The contract is expected to start in March, and run until March 2027.
People have until 17 January to bid for the contract.
