FAQs
Here you will find answers to common questions about the challenge.
Still having trouble? You can get in touch with us here:
What is the Challenge?
The Big Nottingham Travel Challenge is a friendly competition encouraging individuals and workplaces to walk, wheel and use public transport for more of their commuting and everyday journeys throughout May.
When is the challenge?
The Big Nottingham Travel Challenge will take place from 1st May to 31st May 2026.
What counts as a 'journey'?
Any journey to work, for work, to your local shops, to a leisure activity, the school run, or your daily exercise all count.
A full list of ways to move about is listed on the Home page of the Challenge website. If your travel mode is not listed on the Home page, get in touch and we may be able to add it for you challenge@sustrans.org.uk.
I'm working from home, can I still take part?
Absolutely! If you are working from home we want you to take part by logging all the exercise you are doing to get outdoors and get active.
Select "Daily Exercise" when you are logging a journey for your lunchtime walks, runs or cycles and these will be added to your total. This same box gives you the option to log your active trips to the shops, school run or leisure activities. So you can challenge yourself to get more active with other regular journeys you are making too.
If the Challenge has already started. Can I still join?
Definitely! You can sign up at any point during the challenge up until the 30th May.
It's too far for me to walk or cycle to where I want to go.
You may be surprised how far you can comfortably cycle. Commutes of five miles or more are often manageable, even for relatively inexperienced cyclists. If the trip seems daunting, why not compromise by walking or cycling to a bus stop or train station to incorporate some active travel into your daily commute. For more tips visit the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust website for help and advice.
Does a short walk or cycle ride really make any difference?
Making one short journey on foot or by bike can save around 2kg of carbon compared to driving. There are also significant health benefits if journeys are made regularly. One journey today is a great way to start.
Why are electric vehicles not included as a category?
In this challenge we are focusing on reducing the level of single occupancy car trips. Whilst it's great that electric vehicles reduce emissions, they don't have the benefits to health and congestion that other forms of sustainable travel do.
Car-sharing or taking the bus, for example, would benefit emission levels as well as congestion, and has an additional benefit of reducing isolation.
If you are using your electric car as a car-share please log these journeys as car-share.
How do I win?
There are prizes for the workplaces with the highest percentage of active participants, and prizes for individuals making the most journeys.
Winning workplaces are judged by the overall rate of participation, so you must encourage your colleagues and friends to get involved if you want to win the competition!
In the event of a draw the winning workplace will be the one logging the greatest number of journeys proportional to the number of people who work there.
We rank the individual leader board by the number of journeys you complete rather than by the distance you've travelled or the type of travel mode you used.
We'll be giving out spot-prizes along the way for taking part, so if you log just one journey you're in with a chance of winning some great prizes!
How do I edit my profile?
Click on My settings that can be found under the Me button on the top right hand corner of the website and you'll be able to edit your details.
If you need to edit any of your journeys click on the view journeys button which you'll find under the journey totals on your Personal profile.
Do I have to be part of a workplace to take part?
No. You can take part as an individual.
How do I set up my workplace?
When you are registering, you will be taken to a page where you can join or create your workplace. If you create one, you automatically become the captain (although this can be changed simply to another person at a later date) and your workplace will be recorded on the platform for colleagues to also sign up to.
If you want to join a workplace after registering, go to the Homepage and select Me at the top of the page then My Settings then click Change your workplace and/or control how they contact you
You can select a team already entered from the drop down list then click the Join Workplace /Team button. Or click on Create a new team to register a new one.
Once registered, others in your workplace will be able to join your team.
Please contact challenge@walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk if you need any help with this.
How do I amend my workplace profile?
If you were the first to set up your workplace then you will have admin rights to its profile page.
If you are the workplace administrator
Log in and then go to your workplace's profile page which you can find under the 'Me' button on the top right of the website. Scroll down to the bottom of the profile page to the 'edit details' button under the heading 'Workplace details'. Click on this to edit your workplace's details (including adding or amending workplace departments).
You can find more workplace details by clicking the 'more details' button. This will enable you to see who has registered for the organisation as well as their contact details if you need to contact them.
If you are not the workplace administrator
Scroll down to the bottom of the workplace profile page (see above for how to find this) and you'll see the name of the person who has this role.
What should I wear for cycling?
It's important to feel comfortable when riding your bike, so above all it's a personal choice. Most people wear regular clothes, as you are unlikely to get any sweatier than walking, unless you are going fast, long distance or scaling long hills. You may want to bring a change of clothes in case you get splashed or muddy in wet weather.
If you are cycling faster, sports wear will enable you to move freely, while loose fitting clothing in the summer might help you to feel cool. A good set of waterproofs is recommended in the wetter months, although you can get by with just the jacket.
Can I count the miles I pedal on an exercise bike?
No, not with this Challenge. Rather than logging activity in a gym or exercise class we are encouraging you to leave your car at home and challenge yourself to make more local walking, wheeling and public transport journeys.
Can I count jogging or running journeys?
Yes absolutely. Put them all down as running.
How are the carbon, calorie and cost savings calculated?
Carbon calculations are based on data from the UK Government GHG Conversion Factors report 2020 [Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2020].
Calories burnt and cost savings are all based on industry practice and data, while car cost calculations are based on RAC Motoring Services data. These figures are based on running an average sized car, with 10,000 average annual mileage with an average fuel price.