In a joint venture of the Mexico City Ministry of Health and the private sector, individuals are able to earn a free subway ride by doing 10 squats.
Machines set up outside of 15 heavily trafficked subway stations are embedded with motion sensors that detect the set of squats and then dispenses a ticket. Regular subway fare is priced at approximately five pesos and individuals can register to be part of the program.
This unique public health initiative is a creative means of promoting healthy activity in a gamified manner. The city also planned to hand out pedometers to the first 80,000 people to register for the squats-for-subway-rides program.
A previous campaign in Moscow also allowed for the exchange of squats for subway fare, while a program in Singapore offered free subway rides to commuters in hopes of reducing urban auto traffic.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Gamified Health Initiatives
- The exchange of exercise for subway fare is a creative way to promote healthy activity in a gamified manner.
- Integration of Motion Sensors
- The use of motion sensors in subway stations creates opportunities for innovative health and transportation initiatives.
- Incentivized Commuting
- The concept of offering free subway rides as an incentive for exercise presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the transportation industry.
Sectors Adopting This
- Health and Wellness
- Integrating fitness activities with public transportation can open up new opportunities in the health and wellness industry.
- Smart Cities
- Implementing motion sensors and gamified initiatives in subway systems contributes to the development of smart cities.
- Transportation
- Incentivizing exercise for free subway rides disrupts traditional transportation models, encouraging alternative modes of commuting.
