The Blades are encouraging fans to walk, cycle, use public transport or car share to this weekend's Championship game with Wolverhampton Wanderers in a bid to earn Carbon Quids.
Star striker Billy Sharp, midfielders Nick Montgomery and Nicky Law showed their support for the scheme that is encouraging people to reduce their Carbon footprint.
Player Billy Sharp said: "The next time you travel to the match think about how you travel and what effect it has on the environment. By leaving the car at home and walking, cycling or using public transport you can do your bit for the environment and keep fit at the same time."
Carbon Quids is a unique currency, which has been launched by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive as part of European Mobility Week (16 - 22 September 2007).
Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene at Sheffield City Council said: "It is great that the United players are getting behind the Carbon Quids campaign. European Mobility Week is aimed at encouraging us all to think about the travel choices we make and how we can help the environment by using sustainable transport. Even something as simple as walking or getting a bus to the match on Saturday will make a difference."
From now until 22 September anyone using sustainable travel can collect Carbon Quids. At the end of the two week period all the Quids can be exchanged for a wide range of prizes, which have been donated by local businesses.
These include:
• an annual gym membership for Sheffield International Venues and1,500 day tickets
• free travel tickets donated by all transport operators across South Yorkshire including First, Stagecoach and Midland Mainline
• trees
• tickets for Sheffield Hallam Arena
• vouchers and a food hamper from Greggs and Oakbrook Deli
• cycling goodies from Hudson Cycles
• £50 shoe vouchers from Faith shoe shop
• pedometers
• a bike from JE James
• leisure tickets for Edlington Leisure Centre
• free driving hours with WhizzGo - the car sharing scheme
• an annual pass for Metrodome
• t-shirts from Betty's Boarding House.
There are three types of prize bags worth 100, 130 and 150 Quids and the more people change their behaviour the more 'Carbon Quids' they can earn.
The Quids can be exchanged for prizes at any of four Carbon Cash In points, which are being held at Fargate, Sheffield; Rotherham Transport Interchange; Barnsley Transport Interchange and Frenchgate, Doncaster on Saturday 22 September from 1000 to 1600.
On the day it will be first come, first served as there are limited numbers of bags available. There will also be a free prize draw, which can be entered online.
The campaign promotes 'green travel choices' and is being backed by local councils, transport operators and local businesses.
For more information or to download a travel diary go to the Carbon Quids website.
People can collect Carbon Quids in the following way:
• public transport - passengers will have to save their bus, tram and local train tickets during the two week period and take them to any of the four Carbon Cash In points on Saturday 22 September. People who use travel tickets or who have a concessionary pass must take it with them to the cash ins:
o a single bus, train, tram journey = 5 Quids
o a return bus, train, tram journey = 10 Quids
o a day travel ticket of any kind = 10 Quids
o a weekly public transport ticket = 50 Quids
o a monthly public transport ticket = 130 Quids
• walking/cycling - people who walk or cycle to work will need to fill in a diary of their travel experiences to claim their Carbon Quids. Like the tickets, the travel diaries will be swapped for reward bags at the Carbon Cash In points. Travel diaries will be printed on leaflets available from information centres, Community Access Points or downloaded, alternatively people can call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51. Anyone walking and cycling will receive 10 Quids per day
• car sharing - people car sharing will need to log onto the Car Share website. People who sign up for car sharing will be emailed a voucher worth 30 Quids per week.
SYPTE is a member of the Travel South Yorkshire partnership.
The aim of the partnership is to bring public transport together, encourage more people to use it, make it easier to understand and deliver new, innovative public transport products and services.
Travel South Yorkshire is the new identity of the public transport network in South Yorkshire.