A CHALLENGE is to be launched in York next month to get more people cycling and walking during the winter.

The initiative is a seasonal first in the city, following a number of similar schemes during the summer months.

The “winter challenge”, running throughout February, will pit businesses and other organisations against each other to see which has the employees taking the healthiest travel options.

It also includes a points scheme based on individual journeys, events held in workplaces and bike loan offers.

Elements of the scheme were unveiled during a breakfast briefing at York’s Best Western Monkbar Hotel yesterday. Martin Higgitt, of sustainable travel and transport company Systra, said people could download a free BetterPoints smartphone app which rewarded them for active travel,with points that could be cashed in for vouchers or donated to charity.

Workplace support would also be provided, including roadshows and “Dr Bike” sessions.

Derek McCreadie, programme manager for i-Travel York, said there was a noticeable drop-off in people cycling or walking to work in the winter months.

They wanted to see whether some of the objections people had to healthier travel in winter could be overcome relatively easily and safely, perhaps through events where bikes were looked over by qualified mechanics or providing safety-related items such as high-visibility clothing or back-up lights.

“We want to see if we can build up some momentum for the year,” he said. “It’s something new, it’s a trial for us and we are interested to see what the effects are.”

One of the groups taking part in the challenge is York Bike Belles, a community cycling charity, whose chair, Sheridan Piggott, spoke about the importance of getting “workplace champions” to spread the word to their colleagues.

She said the best people to do this were those who already took healthy travel options. “The passion is there already; all we need to do really is engage with that, to encourage people to encourage more people to walk and cycle.”

Go to itravelyork.info/about/winter-challenge/ for more information and how to get involved.