FAQS
What is the challenge?
It is a challenge focusing on saving you time and money, reducing pollution and congestion and boosting your energy. Individuals and business can register on the website to start logging their sustainable journeys to and for work. These journeys might include running, cycling, using public transportation, sharing a journey with a friend, or even deciding to opt for a teleconference instead of traveling to a meeting or working from home to save you from traveling to the office.
How do I win?
The Personal Challenge is judged by the number of walking or cycling journeys you make over the competition period. The individual making the most journeys on foot or by bike wins the challenge.
The Group Challenge is judged by the overall rate of participation, so you must encourage your friends and colleagues to get involved if you want to win the competition!
Which journeys count?
Any journey that means you’re traveling smarter to and for work counts! This includes walking, cycling, using public transport, skateing and car sharing. If you work from home or join a teleconference instead of traveling to a meeting, this will count too!
What if active travel isn't the answer for me?
There are so many other ways of sustainable travel modes you can try! Some include:
- Web-conferencing, Skype meetings or teleconferencing
- Working from home
- Car-sharing for business journeys as well as commuting
- Public transport buddies for late night shift-workers/pool cars etc.
Do I have to be part of a team to take part?
No. You can take part as an individual, group, department or organisation. The website is customisable and flexible to your personal requirements.
If the Challenge has already started. Can I still join?
Absolutely! You can sign up anytime during the challenge.
What does the challenge hope to achieve?
We are trying to raise awareness of the benefits of sustainable transportation to your health, your budget and our environment. By choosing to run or cycle, or choosing public transport or a teleconference instead of travel, you will save time, money, reduce carbon emissions and congestion as well as boost your energy and burn calories! The challenge will also save businesses money and is proven to reduce absence by 2.4 days per year!
Check out this further reading on how switching to active travel can improve your health while doing your bit for the environment.
An online challenge really works. Read the facts here!
Who’s running the challenge?
The challenge is run by Sustrans, a leading UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys we make every day. To find out more and join the movement, please visit www.sustrans.org.uk
How do I contact the Challenge Team?
If you have any questions about the Challenge, please contact the Challenge Team at XXXXXXXXXX@sustrans.org.uk.
How are the carbon, calorie and cost savings calculated?
Carbon calculations are based on data from the Defra document “2010 Guidelines to Defra / DECC’s GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting: Methodology Paper for Emission Factors” and use approximate figures based on the average car.
Calorie savings are based on NHS figures for average walking and cycling activity.
Cost calculations are based on AA data regarding the cost of running a car, and use approximate figures based on the average car.
What will you do with the results?
The overall results will be used to demonstrate the impact of the Challenge and the data may be used for improving future Challenges. None of your personal information will be shared or accessible to anyone besides the Challenge Team.
Does a short walk or cycle ride really make any difference?
Making just one short journey on foot or by bike can save around 2kg of carbon compared to driving. There are also significant health benefits if journeys are made regularly.
Isn’t cycling dangerous?
The Department for Transport has found that the danger posed by cycling is broadly comparable to that of being a pedestrian. If we consider the health benefits, it seems not cycling may be more dangerous than cycling!
If you’d like to boost your confidence on the roads and don’t know where to start check out your local council website for training opportunities.
Why not try a free Sky Ride Local ride? They are guided by a British Cycling trained ride leader and vary in distances and levels of experience. To find a ride near you, visit Go SkyRide
Also be sure to wear reflective gear or bright colours especially if you are cycling at night!
There's plenty of great advice for cycling safely from Sustrans here.
I don’t have a bike, but would like to get one that suits me
There are a whole range of bikes to suit every need – the trick is to match your bike to the regular journey you want to make. Check out this advice on the Sustrans webite.
Visit www.sustrans.org.uk and enter your postcode on our mapping to find your local bike shop – they’ll be able to match you to your perfect bike.
Some employers offer the Cycle to Work Scheme as a way of enabling employees to access new bikes at a discounted rate and paid for in instalments, check to see if your employer offers this.
What type of bike should I buy?
Road bikes are fast and light, but new riders can sometimes find the seating position restrictive. A mountain bike may be sturdier and has a more sit-up-and-beg riding position, but be sure to put on slick tyres if you’re riding on the road! A hybrid is a compromise between the two – a lightweight frame but an upright riding position.
Folding bikes are increasingly popular, and modern versions are comfortable and efficient. The smaller wheels can make hills hard work though! At the other end of the scale, electrically assisted bikes take the effort out of even longer commuting trips.
Check out this advice on the Sustrans webite.
My bike has been in the shed for 5 years! How can I get it up to scratch?
Bike maintenance isn't as difficult as you would imagine. There's lots of great pointers here.
I don’t know where to find bike paths
Easy! Click here for help planning your route. Enter your home postcode and a map will appear showing you local walking and bike routes, bus stops and stations, so you can find your way.
It’s worth remembering that you will rarely have to bike down that really busy road you drive along – there’s always another way. Weekends are a good time to get out and trial a route – it’s less busy – or call that friend of yours who cycles (you’re bound to know one) and ask them to come on your path-finding mission with you.
What would I wear?
Wear whatever you want, as long as you’re comfortable. Contrary to popular belief, head to toe lycra is not a requirement for travelling by bike.
It’s too far for me to walk or cycle to work!
You may be surprised how far you can comfortably cycle. If the trip still seems daunting though, why not compromise by walking or cycling to a bus stop or train station? This is a great way of incorporating some active travel into your daily commute. Check out this great advise on combining cycling and rail travel or this general advice on cycling your commute.
I need to take the kids to school!
Nearly 50% of children would like to cycle to school, but only 4% do. If your kids are old enough, why not try out walking or cycling together? You could even contact other parents to organise a walking or cycling 'train'.
There is also plenty of advice on the Sustrans website.
I've got the active travel bug. What can I do next?
First of all that's great news! Why not pass your new found enthusiasm on to more people. Check out this info on things you can do in your community or with the family.
Sustrans also host loads of events that you can get involved in. Search for events in your area here or perhaps check out our volunteering opportunities near you.
If you'd like to help Sustrans make a difference to people's health and the environment check out the current campaigns or support their work by doing some fundraising. Get involved, spread the word and join the movement!
How is the challenge funded?
The Big Cycle and Walk Challenge is funded by Defra and the London 2012 Inspire programme. The challenge has been granted the London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.
The Inspire programme is run by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is an opportunity for everyone to be a part of the London 2012 Games – a broad participation programme spanning sport participation, education, sustainability, volunteering, and business opportunities & skills. New opportunities are being created to inspire young people and encourage the whole of the UK to join in.
I selected the wrong team when I registered. How do I change it?
Just go to your profile page and then scroll down to the bottom. You'll see your contact details and an 'edit details' button (no-one else will be able to see this and you'll need to be logged in for it to work). Click on this and you'll be able to select a different workplace to join and edit your contact details.
I don't seem to be part of a team. How do I join my workplace team?
If you registered but didn't click the 'join workplace' button then you'll need to edit your profile and try to join the workplace team again. Just go to your profile page and then scroll down to the bottom. You'll see your contact details and an 'edit details' button. Click on this and you'll be able to select your workplace team to join.
If your workplace isn't registered you'll also be able to register it here.
How do I edit my profile?
Just go to your profile page and then scroll down to the bottom. You'll see your contact details and an 'edit details' button (no-one else will be able to see this and you'll need to be logged in for it to work). Click on this and you'll be able to edit your contact details.
If you need to edit any of your journeys just click on the 'view journeys' button which you'll find under the journey totals of your profile.
How do I amend my workplace profile?
If you set up the workplace originally you will have admin rights for the workplace profile page.
If you are the workplace administrator:
Log in and then go to your workplace profile page. If you scroll down to the bottom of the profile page you'll see the 'edit details' button. Click on this and you'll get the option to edit team details (including adding or amending departments). You'll also be able to find more team details by clicking the 'more details' button. This will enable you to see who has registered for the team and to get their contact details if you need to contact them.
For more detail on this Click here
If you are not the workplace administrator:
Scroll down to the bottom of the workplace profile page and you'll see the name of the person who has this roll.
How do I find out who the workplace administrator is?
If you need to find out who your workplace administrator is just scroll to the bottom of your workplace profile page and you'll see the name of your administrator.
How do I contact everyone in the workplace team to remind them to join in?
This is something that you'll need your workplace administrator to do this for you. They'll be able to access all of the teams email addresses. They can also add new departments by editing the workplace details.
If you are the workplace administrator. Click here for more information on how to do this.
Can we keep an eye on our competitors? We'd like to do better than them.
Yes you can. We call this the 'Nemesis Challenge'.
You'll need your workplace administrator to set this up for you but it is very straight forward.
- Get your workplace administrator to log-in.
- Get them to go the profile page of the workplace you want to 'watch' (find all competing teams on the team leader boards on the results pages).
- Just underneath the workplace name they'll see a 'Watch this workplace' button.
- Click the button
Now go back to your own workplace profile and you'll see a section showing the workplaces you are watching. You'll see how they are doing and how far ahead or behind them you are.
I want a bespoke challenge for my organisation. Is this an option?
Yes, we can offer a more bespoke Challenge. Please contact ruth.mcnab@sustrans.org.uk to discuss your needs.