TfL to Reward Cyclists With Discounts

[Titan yer tummy]

A scheme has been devised to reward cyclists for certain journeys by using smartphone technology. Here is a link to the BBC report. There are links to other reports on the page.

I hear Marks & Spencer have made a bid to be part of it, I imagine other big outlets will want a piece of it.

What would you consider to be a worthwhile benefit for getting on your bike (apart from the health and pleasure benefit which we all enjoy anyway)?

 

[MissTillyFlop]

A scheme has been devised to reward cyclists for certain journeys by using smartphone technology. Here is a link to the BBC report. There are links to other reports on the page.

I hear Marks & Spencer have made a bid to be part of it, in I imagine other big outlets will want a piece of it.

What would you consider to be a worthwhile benefit for getting on your bike (apart from the health and pleasure benefit which we all enjoy anyway)?

Free cake, chips and beer.

 

[mcshroom]

Free cake, chips and beer.

I think this thread is now complete

 

[Jezston]

Londoners get all the fun

 

[Mozzy]

Install super hi-tech security to park yer bike; that'll make life less worrying.

Mozzy

 

[cyberknight]

Londoners get all the fun

I am still waiting for the AA to start dishing out helmets up here

As you say the scheme should be nationwide or not at all.

 

[Willo]

As you say the scheme should be nationwide or not at all.

Know what you mean, but TfL is part of a local authority (GLA) and, within the context of the local government structure, surely it's better they lead the way with this type of stuff to develop a model that other cities/towns/counties can then mimic, rather than not at all.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Hmmm...can't help thinking

Where did you go?
Where did you stop?
What shops did you go into?
What relevant advertising can I send you?

 

[pshore]

A scheme has been devised to reward cyclists for certain journeys

They haven't yet revealed how they will discourage certain journeys. Electric shock therapy for drivers ? Great idea !

 

[subaqua]

Hmmm...can't help thinking

Where did you go?
Where did you stop?
What shops did you go into?
What relevant advertising can I send you?

not just me then . where do you buy your tinfoil hats or do you make your own like i do

 

[apollo179]

Difficult to see how they can do it but on the basis of miles covered using your smartphone as some kind of tracking system they could say 1 tesco clubcard point per mile so £1 per hundred miles , which is quite measly but i cant see them being overly generous.
I cant see how they could tell if you are doing the journey by foot or bike rather than car unless they guage it by speed , whatever seems like lots of unanswered questions to me,

 

[subaqua]

Difficult to see how they can do it but on the basis of miles covered using your smartphone as some kind of tracking system they could say 1 tesco clubcard point per mile so £1 per hundred miles , which is quite measly but i cant see them being overly generous.
I cant see how they could tell if you are doing the journey by foot or bike rather than car unless they guage it by speed , whatever seems like lots of unanswered questions to me,

yeah cos in london it could be easy to confuse walking speed and car speed as the are about the same .

 

[BikeLiker]

I think this is good thing and it has inspired me to write to my Local Authority transport head honcho. I would encourage other Merseysiders to do the same.

If anyone's interested this is my email to Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel.

mark.dowd@councillors.sefton.gov.uk


Dear Mr Dowd,
I am writing to you after reading an article on the BBC News website regarding cyclists being rewarded by Transport for London via smart phone monitoring. http://www.bbc.co.uk...london-15331557
As a resident of Wirral, I have long been frustrated by the barrier to cyclists posed by the Mersey crossings: it is cheaper for me to commute the 12 miles from my home to Liverpool by motorcycle than by cycle. My understanding is that the tolls for the Mersey Tunnels generate net revenue for public transport on Merseyside and I feel that some of this money should be used to encourage cross-river cycling. I realise that any blanket discount for cyclists using public transport to cross the Mersey may result in abuse and train overcrowding by those using a cycle as a means of securing discounted travel. However, the initiative by TfL offers the opportunity for Merseytravel to adopt a similar scheme to enable those traveling substantial distances by cycle, with the associated reduction in congestion and harmful emissions, to be rewarded by discounted (or, dare I suggest, free?) public transport for those sections of their journey which cannot be completed by cycle.I would be grateful for any comments you may have on this suggestion. Best Regards

 

[cyberknight]

Know what you mean, but TfL is part of a local authority (GLA) and, within the context of the local government structure, surely it's better they lead the way with this type of stuff to develop a model that other cities/towns/counties can then mimic, rather than not at all.

Looking further into the article you also need a smart phone to be able to qualify for the scheme , not everyone can afford to own such a phone so the scheme is flawed from the start as it unfairly stops people who fall into this group from being able to claim the benefits even if they are eligible.

Yes i know you can get one from £10 but to some its a lot of money.

 

[snailracer]

Looking further into the article you also need a smart phone to be able to qualify for the scheme , not everyone can afford to own such a phone so the scheme is flawed from the start as it unfairly stops people who fall into this group from being able to claim the benefits even if they are eligible.

Yes i know you can get one from £10 but to some its a lot of money.

Well perhaps the impoverished is not the target demographic for what is effectively targetted marketing by businesses trying to sell more products.