Shared Sports, Healthier Cities

The agile pilot led by YourLOX® in cooperation with the City of Košice, Slovakia, explored exactly this question. The pilot tested an innovative model that combines a system for renting indoor and outdoor sports equipment with a structured employee benefit scheme.

The concept is designed to make physical activity more accessible, convenient, and socially engaging. Employers join the system and enable their employees to register through a dedicated app, from which they can manage rentals and access equipment stored at LOX points across the city. A defined daily usage window is covered by the employer, allowing users to borrow equipment free of charge for a set period. The system also encourages participation among colleagues, helping to build shared habits around movement and recreation.

This model has strong potential for replication across a wide range of organisations, including local governments, municipal companies, schools, and private employers. By connecting employee wellbeing with shared urban infrastructure, it offers a practical way to support more active lifestyles while also increasing the use of public and semi-public spaces.

The pilot also generated valuable insights. User engagement proved to be high, with more than half of participants returning for repeated use. The average session lasted 33 minutes, suggesting that users were not only trying the service once, but integrating it into their routines. At the same time, the pilot highlighted the importance of clear communication, onboarding, and targeted campaigns in helping users adopt new habits and fully understand the benefits of the system.

This pilot demonstrates how relatively simple, well-designed services can create value for both employers and cities. By linking sport, health, and public space activation, the YourLOX® pilot presents a promising example of how agile piloting can support healthier and more connected urban communities.