The Beat the Street game aims to encourages people to walk, cycle, run, wheel and scoot by introducing a competitive element to exercise with prizes for the teams that travel the furthest.  It last took place in the area in early 2020 when the game unfortunately had to be cut short owing to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Beat the Street will return to East Kilbride from Wednesday 14 September and will continue for six weeks until Wednesday 26 October.

Beat the Street not only has a significant impact on increasing low levels of physical activity amongst adults and children, but also helps reduce congestion, improves air quality, and helps families spend time in green spaces together. 

The previous game saw more than 12,066 people get involved – 17% of the local population - and together clock up an active travel total of 124,000 miles. Organisers also donated £500 to Kilbryde Hospice when the community managed to exceed the target of 100,000 miles.

A post-game report into Beat the Street East Kilbride 2020 showed:

• a 13 per cent decrease in adult inactivity
• a 28% increase in adults getting active (achieving the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of 150 minutes or more of physical activity per week for adults)
• an 8% increase in cycling
• a 15% increase in children getting more active (achieving the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of 60 minutes or more of physical activity per day for children)

The game is open to anyone of any age who would like to take part and this time, both adults and children will use cards. Participating primary schools will provide children with a card and a map, plus a card for an accompanying adult. The wider community can pick up a free card from one of the distribution points listed on the Beat the Street www.beatthestreet.me/eastkilbride website. 

Players then find their nearest “Beat Box” which will appear on lampposts around the town. These sensors are contactless so that you don’t need to touch them – simply hover your card over the Beat Box and it will beep and flash to record your points.  

Your first visit to a Beat Box registers the journey; then walk, cycle or roll to the next Beat Box within an hour to score 10 points. 

Beat the Street East Kilbride is being delivered by Intelligent Health on behalf of South Lanarkshire Council with support from South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, Smarter Choices, Smarter Places and the Scottish Government.

Councillor Robert Brown, the chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, said: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing Beat the Street back again. Despite the game being curtailed last time, we really saw the community enjoying the game and working hard to leave the car at home and to walk or cycle where possible.

“It’s free to take part in Beat the Street and it’s open to everyone regardless of age, ability or background and whether you took part in a previous game. Let’s spread the word, get as many people as we can signed up and see if we can beat the previous mileage tally!”

More information will be available at www.beatthestreet.me/eastkilbride and on social media at @BTSEastKilbride