Beat the Street Game a Proven Winner for Swindon

The serendipitous timing of Swindon’s Beat the Street launch, a game which encourages locals to move around the town via walking, cycling or running, cannot be ignored. Featuring in the same month as the release of iPhone Xs and the global phenomenon "Scroll Free September" - a campaign which actively encourages participants to shun Social Media for 30 days. Swindon’s Beat the Street has offered the perfect anecdote. A game which helps locals explore their town as an alternative to scrolling through social media, online gaming and mindlessly binging on boxsets.

As society battles against the onset of obesity and smartphone addiction, our town has been introduced to an alternative leisure activity. One that will not only help local individuals and families get fit but also win rewards for their efforts.

Beat the Street is a fun free game to encourage locals to explore the town and track their journeys, through registered key fobs and cards. Anyone living in the area is eligible to play the game, which runs between 12 September – 24 October 2018 and encourages players to travel between boxes by walking, running or cycling.

There are around 174 Beat Boxes across the town, with players receiving ten points for each box sensor they tap after registering their start location, with an hour restriction in place between boxes.

As a parent, on the day of the game’s launch, I took great pleasure in watching my children exit the school gates and run towards the beatbox. It heartened me and gave me hope not just for my children, but, at the risk of sounding a little melodramatic for our future.

For, I witnessed children and parents participating in the latest outdoor game, as opposed to queuing for the newest iPhone or piece of technological kit. And the only tapping I saw was key fobs/cards against the Beat Box and the paper map as families planned their routes to continue the games play and score their team (the school), further points. People were moving but, also talking to each other as the game brought both families and friends together under a common cause. A great start from a game that is less than a week into its launch.

Personally, as a family, we have tracked five miles in two days. A small amount for some, but, for us and specifically my six-year-old who is accustomed to being suspended on her parents aching shoulders or back, a vast improvement.

The rules are simple to follow and involve no travelling via car, bus or taxi. They are not open to interpretation, but as parents, we have added another - no carrying. In the spirit of a somewhat elaborate white lie, we informed our youngest that the fobs are sensitive to height and track if they are being carried considerably above ground. Therefore, automatically disqualifying any points received if she is carried throughout a walk. We are aware there are several flaws in this ruling. Her elder sisters' wry, knowing look in return for our explanation spoke volumes. As parents, we can only try our best.

Rules aside, this game is the simplest and most inexpensive time we have spent together as a family. It certainly has tested my map reading skills which clearly need improvement, but, it has allowed us to spend quality time as a family with the only investment being, our time and energy. With a game that does not discriminate or alienate because when played there are no direct individual winners apart from your team. Which, in our case happens to be our children’s school who receive points and rewards for our taking part.

Our playing taught me that Beat the Street may not transport us to different worlds, provide the latest technology in the palm of our hand, or update us on our social circle. However, it helped us to reassess and discover the town in which we live and the family and friends who we share it with. And we looked up, instead of down and admired the countryside, woodland and parks that exist within and around Swindon through a fresh perspective and shared appreciation.

Something which in my mind is far better to experience first-hand, then through a screen, and cannot be beaten.

Beat the Streets cards are available from selected supermarkets, libraries and leisure centres.

For more information on Beat the Street, click here.

f you enjoyed Emma's article, you can read more on her blog here!