Picture from Lisbon Cycle Chic.

After the successful establishment of the new highway code in Portugal, B-Track-B will organize a symposium and demonstrate ‘How to use modern technology to get more people cycling’ at an international event in Lisbon on Friday, October 25^th. You will learn about the technologies used, behavioural change and how you can become a partner in this project.

The new road code will increase cyclist and pedestrian safety and propel Portugal’s legal road framework into the 21^st century.  The successful passing of the code also illustrates for others the substantial gains that can occur when governments listen to cycling advocates and work cooperatively. Read more at ECF News: Victory for Cycling in Portugal. 

After the successful cooperation between advocacy groups and the Portuguese Government in introducing the road code, B-Track-B wishes to promote cycling among families as a fun, sustainable and healthy mode of transportation. The project smartly combines an understanding of social marketing, behavioural change and modern technologies to get more people cycling, reaching out to groups that are not typically reached by conventional cycling promotion.

This fun concept sets up virtual and real ‘checkpoints’ across cities to promote, reward and encourage families to cycle more. Each time a cyclist passes a checkpoint they can participate in a lottery and are thus encouraged to cycle more often. In addition, business owners can offer prizes to their cycling customers and create a personalized relationship. Cycling clients live nearby and are therefore more likely to come back if encouraged to do so. 

In its first campaign B-Track-B has attracted more than 1200 cyclists from 8 cities in 7 different countries. In Germany, one family completed 500 bicycle trips.  In Portugal, the project has started in the Algarve, with both TIS and AREAL as the Portuguese partners in the project. Since June this year B-Track-B is looking for new partners to join: Amsterdam IJburg is the first new partner and has started their campaign in September 2013.

The project attracts more and new cyclists to newly constructed infrastructure – for example a bike trail along the river in Lisbon. In Helmond, the Netherlands, the system is used to encourage cyclists to park in built parking facilities instead of anywhere in the streets. In Venice, Italy, the municipality has chosen to focus on encouraging cycling among schoolchildren. Rewarding cyclists for positive behaviour is a strong encouragement for behavioural change.

As a new partner of B-Track-B you can adjust the project to the needs of your town and target group.

For more information, please consult the event program (www.btrackb.eu/alarve and www.tis.pt). The event is free of charge but registration is mandatory. Please send your application form to filipa.cunha@tis.pt before October 17^th. Late registrations will not be accepted.