Council celebrates award for walking app featuring green and tranquil walks

City Council, along with Go Jauntly and Tranquil City, has won the John Connell Local Authority Award for a new feature on the Go Jauntly walking app that allows users to choose green and quiet routes for their Bristol walks.

The John Connell Awards recognise innovative services, campaigns, products and programmes that are examples of community co-operation, education and creative solutions to solve noise pollution problems and improve soundscapes.

Go Jauntly is a health and wellness company working to increase walking, mobility and outdoor adventures. Go Jauntly provides an award-winning, community-based app to promote walking for leisure, active travel, and nature connection. There are over 80 self-guided walks in and across Bristol that users can enjoy for free.

As an extra feature for Bristol app users, the council and Go Jauntly worked with Tranquil City to develop Green Routes for Bristol. By factoring in air quality, noise and tree cover data, users across Bristol get the option of going by the most tranquil route on the way to their destination.

They also see a tranquillity score beside the duration of each route. These are calculated using many factors, including street design, the amount and quality of green space and noise pollution. When multiple routes are available, the benefits of walking the slower and greener route can be seen before setting off.

Councillor Don Alexander, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:

“I am really proud that we have won this award in partnership with Go Jauntly and Tranquil City. Green Routes for Bristol is a fantastic achievement and down to the hard work and innovation of the whole team.

“I hope this award encourages more people to use the app to help plan walks to work, school and trips to the shops that avoid air pollution and noise and seek out nature, interesting local landmarks and quieter streets.”

The awards ceremony was held at the Palace of Westminster on 25 October 2023. It was hosted by Sir Peter Bottomley, Member of Parliament for Worthing West, and presented by Trudy Harrison MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Go Jauntly app is available for free for all users on iOS and Android.