Cymru Travel Challenge

What is the Challenge?

The Challenge is focused on helping you get healthier by building physical activity in to your daily routine. Reducing car journeys will also save you time and money plus, reducing air pollution and traffic congestion and boosting your energy. So taking part in the Challenge is both good for you and is also good for the environment.

Individuals and business can register on the website and to start logging their sustainable journeys for work, leisure or everyday life. These journeys might include running, cycling, using public transportation or sharing a journey with a friend.

The Challenge is open to any workplace in Wales.

When is the Challenge?

From 01/07/17 to 31/07/17

How do I contact the Challenge Team?

If you have any questions about the Challenge, please contact the Challenge Team at CymruTravelChallenge@sustrans.org.uk

Which journeys count?

Any journey where you’re travelling by sustainable transport counts! This could be for your commute, journeys to meetings or between offices, or leisure journeys such as going to the shops, a night out or just for a stroll. Sustainable transport modes include walking, cycling, using public transport and car sharing.

Do I have to be part of a team to take part?

No. You can take part as an individual, as well as part of an organisation team or department.

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 walk or cycle, or choosing public transport 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 our facts sheet about the Challenge here!

Who is running the Challenge?

The Challenge is hosted by Sustrans in partnership with the Welsh Government, using funding from Health Challenge Wales voluntary sector grant scheme.

Sustrans is 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/cy/wales.

How are the carbon, calorie and cost savings calculated?

Carbon calculations are based on data from the Defra document '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.

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.

What will Sustrans 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 Sustrans Challenge Team.

Isn’t cycling dangerous?

There's plenty of great advice for cycling safely from Sustrans here.

Many local authorities in Wales offer cycle training for school children, and some offer it for adults too. For more information click here

In terms of road accident statistics, Department for Transport has recorded that the danger posed by cycling is broadly comparable to that of being a pedestrian.

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.

What if active travel isn't the answer for me?

There are many other ways of reducing your car journeys! 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.

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!

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 selected the wrong workplace 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 Team Captain/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 Team Captain/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 team captain/workplace administrator is?

If you need to find out who your Team Captain is just scroll to the bottom of your workplace profile page and you'll see their name..

How do I contact everyone in the workplace team to remind them to join in?

This is something that you'll need your Team Captain to do this for you. They'll be able to access all of the team's email addresses. They can also add new sub-teams/departments by editing the workplace details.

If you are the Team Captain. 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 Team Captain to set this up for you but it is very straight forward.

1. Get your Team Captain/administrator to log-in.
2. 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).
3. Just underneath the workplace name they'll see a 'Watch this workplace' button.
4. 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 challenge@sustrans.org.uk to discuss your needs.