Beat the Street, Swindon’s giant walking and cycling initiative, is off to an incredible start with residents travelling more than 93,000 miles within the first few weeks of the game.
Determined to beat last year’s record total of 313,000 miles travelled in the six-week challenge, more than 10,000 people have signed up for this year’s game.
Taking place until Wednesday 6 November, Beat the Street is transforming Swindon into a giant game with players tapping special sensors called Beat Boxes dotted across the town.
This year, the game is bigger than ever, with more Beat Boxes, new locations and a total of 16 leaderboards, meaning there are more opportunities to win great prizes.
Schools, workplaces and teams in Swindon are competing against each other to see who can journey the furthest and win hundreds of pounds worth of prizes.
Haydonleigh Primary School is sitting on top of the total points leaderboard while WHSmith is on top of the highest average points leaderboard. However, with more than four weeks left, it is still all to play for!
Beat the Street is delivered by Intelligent Health and funded by the National Lottery through Sport England and Swindon Borough Council.
Last year’s winners Ferndale Primary School, who topped the total points leaderboard in 2018, were keen to get going with this year’s challenge and received a visit from Mayor Kevin Parry on launch day.
Ten-year-old pupil Alfie said: “We really enjoyed Beat the Street last year. We explored new places near my house that we didn’t know were there.”
Florence, aged 11, added: “It was a fun way of getting fitter and meant we walked to school every day instead of using the car.”
Councillor Brian Ford, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said: “Swindon currently holds the record for the most miles travelled during a Beat the Street game and we’re determined to beat that record again this year.
“The game is off to a running start in Swindon and we are delighted to see so many people walking, running and cycling for the competition. Swindonians are made of sterner stuff as we are on track to beat last year’s record despite the weather. There is still time to get involved – pick up a card and start tapping!”
To find out more, including where your nearest distribution centre is, visit www.beatthestreet.me/swindon.
