Go Travel week in Beat the Street

A NEW community game which launched last week has smashed its target for players on day one. 

Beat the Street began on Wednesday, March 13 in Harwich and Dovercourt. 

The free, interactive game, which is running for six weeks, aims to get residents more active by getting them outside and tapping boxes located on streetlamps and signs around the town to gain points. 

The aim was to encourage 1,900 people to join and play, which is around 10% of Harwich and Dovercourt’s population. 

But the game has already proved to be a big success, with more than 2350 people signing up to play in the first few hours, and 3877 in the first week covering more than 27,511 miles. 

Game Co-ordinator, Becky Dowling, physical activity capacity building officer for Community Voluntary Service Tendring (CVST), said: “We’re so pleased at the take up so far. 

“It’s great to see so many people joining up and getting outside to start tapping and earning points. 

“We smashed our target of players on the first day – which is unprecedented in Beat the Street. 

“Let’s hope we can carry on with this success and have a brilliant game over the remaining five weeks.” 

This week players can scoop double points during traditional commuting hours in Go Travel Week in a bid to get residents to ditch the car and walk or cycle to school and work. 

The themed week, which runs from March 20th – 27th, allows players to gain double points during 7am – 9am and 3pm – 6pm on weekdays.  

As part of the week there will be Dr Bike session at Morrisons, Iconfield Park, Garland Road, on Saturday, March 23, from 10am to 1pm, for anyone who needs help repairing and fixing up their bikes.  

On March 27 there will be a Tai Chi session from 10am to 11am at the Band Stand in Cliff Park, and from 4pm to 5pm Seaside Explorers are welcoming families to meet at West End Beach and join their adventures of beach cleans, yoga, stories and hunting for wild marine creatures. 

Becky will be on hand at the events with a mobile beat box offering triple points. 

She said: “We look forward to seeing many of you out and about tapping the Beat Boxes on your way to school or work, to get your team up in the leaderboards. 

“Next week you can also look forward to Go Wild week with lots of activities where I will out again with the triple points Beat Box.” 

Beat the Street in Harwich and Dovercourt is delivered in partnership with Tendring District Council, Essex County Council, Active Essex, Community Voluntary Services Tendring (CVST), and Intelligent Health.  

To find out more information about Beat the Street go to our website at Beat the Street – CVS Tendring