Win £10 by inspiring others to switch to healthier and greener travel habits
The Choose How You Move challenge allows everyone who lives, works or studies in Warwick District to earn BetterPoints and win prizes for walking, cycling and using public transport. One such prize is the 'Ditch the Car Star'. Malvina was chosen as our latest winner and received 10,000 BetterPoints (£10) for sharing her story.
For your chance to win £10 and other prizes, download the app via the the App Store or Google Play or QR code at the bottom of the page!
Malvina works at Warwick Hospital and found out about the Choose How You Move challenge through a staff email. She kindly took the time to tell us about her experience with BetterPoints and how switching her commute from car to e-bike has done wonders for her mental health.
What were your travel habits like before joining Choose How You Move?
“It was all car to be fair. It is an 11 mile journey to work from my home in Southam. I’d automatically jump in the car for every sort of journey really.
I do a 10 hour shift at the hospital. I’m pretty much on my feet the whole time, it’s full on. I would drive home and just completely flop when I got there. I didn’t think I had the energy or time for an alternative. I tried the route on a regular bike, but it nearly killed me as it is so hilly around here.
Things changed when money was getting a little tight. I was trying to cut the mileage I was doing in the car. At this point I had an e-bike, but I only used it for leisure rides.
So I decided to give the commute another go on the e-bike. The power boosts really helped me with the hills, and after a couple of journeys I really started to enjoy it. Now, I absolutely love my commute. It makes me feel fulfilled.”
What do you like about the BetterPoints app? How has it motivated you?
“The app is great. I live in Stratford District, so I wasn’t initially earning rewards. However, when I realised that I could join the Choose How You Move challenge as someone who travelled into Warwick regularly, I was thrilled!
Today I jumped on the bus to go to Leamington, something I never used to do. Knowing I could earn rewards provided the encouragement I needed to leave the car at home.
I’m saving up my points to put towards some vouchers for wet weather cycling gear. Now that I’m into cycling, I don’t want to stop for the winter.”
How have your travel habits changed?
“My car use has gone way down and I’m cycling into work most days.
On the way home I will stop off in Warwick to do a bit of shopping or pick up a prescription. I can carry it in my panniers along with my work stuff.”
What benefits have you noticed as a result?
“I am getting exercise and saving a lot of money. It costs me 3p a day to run my e-bike. I used to fill up the car fortnightly, but the last time I bought petrol was 5 weeks ago.
I tell you, for my mental health it has been amazing. I arrive at the hospital awake and feeling good about starting work. And even if I end up having a bad day, I get on my e-bike and by the time I get home I’m feeling fine. Completely stress-free.”
Not yet earning rewards for walking, wheeling, cycling and taking public transport? To join Choose How You Move Warwick District simply download the free BetterPoints app via the buttons or QR below and tap Challenges to get started.
If, like Malvina, you don't live in Warwick District but travel in regularly, enter the code CHYMWDO when registering an account to join the challenge.
