New mobile app rewards cyclists for biking

New mobile app Biko, which rewards cyclists for biking has launched. By downloading the free app on their smartphones, users track their movement via GPS and can earn one digital reward point - called a “biko” - for every kilometre they travel. Bikos can then be exchanged for goods and services from participating businesses.

 “We are thrilled to launch in Toronto and join the city’s efforts in growing its cycling network,” says Emilio Pombo, Co-Founder of Biko. “Incentivizing cycling through rewards can help reduce Toronto’s carbon emissions, and we have the data to prove it. By choosing to ride their bicycles, our users have collectively reduced carbon emissions by 2,608 tonnes globally.”

Started by entrepreneurs Enrique Cuellar, Emilio Pombo and Tomas Bleier in their native city of Bogota, Colombia in 2015, Biko saw immediate success and now has a network of over 300 companies offering special deals for users in five cities within Colombia, Mexico and Canada. 

“Our primary goal with Biko is to improve the quality of life in our cities in three ways: through improved mental and physical health, reduced pollution, and better mobility and means of transportation,” says Molly Millar, Biko’s Country Manager. “After the tremendous success we had launching in Vancouver, we are thrilled about entering the Toronto market. We hope that businesses and riders alike will continue to join the movement and help us grow the number of cyclists worldwide.”

Currently, Biko’s Toronto partners include a variety of restaurants, cafes, fitness studios and cycling retailers, including Jimmy’s Coffee, Fresh, Henderson Brewing, Big Rock Brewery, Foodora, Urbane Cyclist and more. Each partner offers unique rewards for Biko users that can all be redeemed through digital coupons on the app.

While Biko is geared towards cyclists, it can also be used when walking or running. Additional key features of the app include: measuring average speed, calculating carbon emissions saved, tracking calories burned, recommending safe paths and locating local partners. Through continued use, Biko gathers valuable data on urban biking behaviour and is able to share this with city planners looking to increase bike lanes and facilitate safe cycling. 

Biko is building greener, smarter and happier cities by rewarding urban cyclists with positive experiences. Biko aims to improve the quality of life in cities by finding technology-based solutions to environmental, health, transportation and mobility challenges. While you can earn bikos globally, you can currently redeem for rewards in Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City, Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena. To learn more, visit bikoapp.com