2.19 million sustainable journeys recorded as Step Up Sheffield reaches 10,000 users
Staff and students recorded more than 2.19 million active and sustainable journeys through Step Up Sheffield last year, as the University’s BetterPoints community has now grown to 10,000 people.
51ݶ’s sustainable travel rewards programme has reached 10,000 registered users following its most successful year yet for journeys recorded and estimated carbon savings.
Between July 2025 and June 2026, staff and students using the BetterPoints app recorded 2.19 million journeys by walking, wheeling, running, cycling and public transport. Around 1.46 million of these are estimated to have replaced car journeys, avoiding approximately 563 tonnes of CO2.
The programme also added more than 1,300 new participants during the year, taking registrations to 9,668 by the end of June. That growth has continued into the new academic year, with Step Up Sheffield now welcoming its 10,000th member last week.
There is also evidence that taking part is helping people to change how they travel. Among participants who completed surveys at both the beginning and end of the year, 78% of those who had previously driven to the University said they were driving less often. Fourteen per cent reported walking to campus more often, while 11% were travelling more by bus and 11% more by bike.
One participant, Luke, said the programme had transformed the way he gets around:
“I used to get a lift to work every day until I started this app. Now I walk everywhere... I feel a lot healthier... It’s actually changed my life and I enjoy walking now.”
Step Up Sheffield has been running since 2019, rewarding members of the University community for choosing active and sustainable travel. Participants earn BetterPoints for eligible journeys, which can be exchanged for rewards including food and drink at University and Students’ Union outlets.
James Merryclough, Sustainability Programme Lead at the University of Sheffield, said:
“BetterPoints is about making it easier and more rewarding for people to choose active and sustainable ways to travel. Every journey that shifts away from a car helps us reduce carbon emissions, but the benefits go much wider than that - fewer cars on the road means less congestion and better local air quality, while walking and cycling can support people’s health and wellbeing too.
“Reaching 10,000 users shows what can happen when lots of people make small changes. We want to keep building that community and give staff and students another reason to try a different way of getting to campus.”
The programme supports the University’s wider plans to reduce the environmental impact of commuting, with the University’s Commuter Travel Plan committing to using incentives and behaviour change initiatives to help make active and sustainable travel an easier everyday choice.
Help build the next 10,000
To celebrate reaching the milestone, the 10,000th person to join Step Up Sheffield has won 10,000 BetterPoints.
And the celebrations do not stop there. Over the next ten weeks, ten more people will each win 10,000 BetterPoints, with a new prize draw taking place every week.
At the beginning of December, the campaign will culminate in a special GeniUS prize draw, with:
- one £200 prize
- two £100 prizes
- five £20 prizes
This term, staff and students are also being encouraged to build their Step Up teams and invite colleagues and friends to join using Refer a Friend.
Team challenges were successfully piloted during 2025/26. The student Black, Gold & Green Sustainable Sports Cup attracted 348 participants who recorded more than 122,000 journeys, while staff competed through the first Step Up Cup.
Building on that success, the focus for the new academic year will be on growing those communities - encouraging more staff and students to join together, build their teams and support each other to choose more sustainable ways to travel.
Already using BetterPoints? Use Refer a Friend to bring someone new into your team. If you have not joined yet, download BetterPoints, register with your University email address and start earning rewards for your journeys.