Home Run London

THE countdown to the Olympics is under way and London, not surprisingly, is swarming with ideas, hype and excitement about all that is surrounding next summer’s biggest show on earth. The Olympics has an unprecedented opportunity in promoting sustainable transport and the health and well-being of London’s workforce. But one organisation is already making big inroads into the way people travel home from work. They are aiming to get as many commuters as possible jogging home from work by the time the games begins next July.

Home Run, set up by Limelight Sports, has big plans. But first, let us get to terms with the concept. It really is rather simple – commuters who sign up to the scheme get their bags transported by bike to the final destination, and the jog is guided by run leaders. Participants can either join an existing route or suggest a new one specific to their personal destination. If there are enough participants signed up to a new route then it will become active. Home Run provides the structure including a rickshaw bike and a run leader. The journeys are run at a moderate pace to encourage people of all abilities to participate with emphasis on enjoyment and socialising. 

Diccon Loy, Limelight's business unit director, said, "We were thinking about how to get people involved in sport. One of the biggest problems with running home is having a bag.

"With the 2012 Games coming up, road closures and congestion mean a lot of people will have to think about alternative routes. We want to help them run to work."

There are many routes earmarked for the near future, but the first one already established is from Charing Cross to Clapham Common, a four-mile run where runners meet at 6pm outside Charing Cross Station. Bags and other luggage are placed by runners in a special rickshaw bike and then transported to Clapham Common by a member of staff. The same structure will be applied to all the routes planned for the future with a Waterloo to Clapham Junction and Canary Wharf to Waterloo jog close to being launched. Home Run hopes to eventually have up to 50 people on every route, all avoiding the depression of the crammed tubes in rush hour, spanning across every corner of the capital.

At the moment the service is free, but if a fee is introduced Mr Loy believes the amount will still be below the price of a bus ticket. So, there really is no excuse anymore, commuters.

www.homerunlondon.com