We've recently featured a start-up called GymPact, an app that encourages people to live a healthy lifestyle by hitting the gym regularly, and in the process earn some money.

Re:route is a somewhat similar app that encourages people to commute either by foot or cycle; for those who do, are rewarded.

With the London Olympics just around the corner, Recyclebank, with support from Transport for London have created re:route app for iOS. Users are rewarded with points for every journey they take, by either walking or cycling.



















The app tracks the progress of its users through GPS, after downloading the app, the users have to choose their route and enter their journey on re:route.

One can choose whether he/she will be walking or cycling to the destination, once the journey is completed, the users are rewarded points.

These points can be redeemed for various discounts and offers from Recyclebank partners like Marks & Spencer, Macy's, Planet Organic, Champneys and many more.

The app also displays the calories burnt, and how much carbon dioxide was saved by taking a healthier and cleaner mode of transport.

Here's what Jonathan Hsu, Recyclebank's CEO shared with Wired.com:

"Re:route takes the digital assets that already exist for London's transport network to create a digital platform that deepens and broadens user engagement while helping London achieve important sustainability goals through the development of smarter infrastructure.

We've worked hard to make Re:route an easy-to-use app so that people can easily travel around London on foot or on bike, and get rewarded for it."

If more and more Londoners opt for walking or cycling, it will make things a lot easier during the Olympics. One can imagine the chaos when London will be filled with media persons, sports-persons, diplomats and loads of tourists, in such a scenario walking or cycling might turn out to be the fastest mode of transport.

According to Ben Plowden, Transport for London's planning director, "We’re particularly excited about the potential for this app to motivate people to cycle and walk during the London 2012 Games, when London’s roads and public transport network will be at their busiest."






































Download the app from the App Store, or visit their website for more information.

Source