Beat the Street is a free, interactive game that encourages people of all ages to move more and to get active; it started on Wednesday 14 September and runs until Wednesday 26 October. 

As well as helping people create healthier lifestyle habits, it also improves air quality, congestion and pollution, and connects people to their communities and green spaces.

Beeping and flashing sensors called ‘Beat Boxes’ have been placed on lampposts around the town for the duration of the game to help participants explore the local area and all it has to offer and to develop the habit of regular exercise.

Primary school pupils have been provided with cards and a map while the wider community can pick up a contactless card from one of the distribution points which are listed at Beat the Street EK

Players then walk, cycle or roll between the Beat Boxes which are spaced approximately half a mile apart – hovering their cards over the Beat Boxes to score points. The further players travel, the more points they score for their community or school team. The first Beat Box you hover your card over marks the start of your journey. Walk, cycle, roll, run or scoot to the next one and score 10 points.

There are leader boards for schools, community teams and charity teams and each is divided into total and average points to ensure that smaller teams are in with an equal chance of winning.

The first week of the game is themed ‘Go Play’ for players to get to grips with the rules, and subsequent weeks have a different focus, from Go Explore to Go Wild and Go Travel.

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.

The chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “Beat the Street provides an incredible opportunity to support children and their families to become active as a habit, through a fun and friendly competition. It is great fun – but with a serious purpose.

“We’re delighted that the game will give everyone of all ages and abilities the opportunity to explore the area, to spend time together as a family and to enjoy walking, cycling and rolling outdoors in all the wonderful green spaces across East Kilbride.”

More information, including where to collect a free card is available at https://www.beatthestreet.me/eastkilbride/ and on social media at @BTSEastkilbride