Wokingham Borough Connect
Half-Term Cycle Quest Trail from FBC to Observer Way, Arborfield
Following the map, cycle our half-term cycle quest trail to answer the 12 clues which can be found along the route. Once you have found all 12 answers email them to us to be in with a chance of winning a prize! The first prize is a £25 Decathlon voucher and runners-up will receive a My Journey goody bag. Full details and the map can be found on our website.
Half-Term Trails at Ashridge Meadows, Wokingham
Following the map of Ashridge Meadows, Wokingham, find the 12 posters that all have winter Olympic sports on them. There is a letter on each of the posters, write this down and work out what two-word winter Olympic sport this spells out. Email your entries to us to be entered into a prize draw to win a goody bag kindly donated by ASDA. Full details and the map can be found on our website.
Half-Term Trails at Stanlake Meadow, Twyford
Following the map starting at Stanlake Meadow, Twyford, find the 12 posters that all have winter Olympic sports on them. There is a letter on each of the posters, write this down and work out what two-word winter Olympic sport this spells out. Email your entries to us to be entered into a prize draw to win a £25 Decathlon voucher. Runners-up will receive a My Journey goody bag. Full details and the map can be found on our website.
 Schools
Modeshift STARS Webinar
Modeshift STARS recently ran a webinar for us which some of our schools attended to show schools how to get started on the Modeshift STARS platform. If you would like to watch the webinar please click here.
Design a Medal Competition
This competition is open to all primary school aged children attending a Wokingham Borough school and requires them to design a medal to celebrate the Winter Olympics. The design should be based on an active mode of travel to school and should be a simple design. The winning design will be made into biodegradable medals and the winner's class will all receive one. The medals can be planted in your garden or flower pots. Please visit our website to find out more.
Winners of Filmmakers Competition
Addington School and Maiden Erleigh School have been chosen as joint winners of the Active Travel Film Competition. Secondary school students across the borough were challenged to create a short film promoting walking and cycling. The prize is a year’s access to the young filmmakers' online school, which will allow participants to make more films and learn new filmmaking skills. Up to 15 students at each school will be given the opportunity to access the online film school. Congratulations to our joint winners!
Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel
Booking for Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is now open. The challenge will run for 10 days from 21 March to 1 April 2022 and is open to all primary and secondary schools in the UK, including SEN schools. On each day of the challenge schools compete to see who can record the greatest number of pupils walking, using a wheelchair, scooting or cycling to school. Please visit Sustrans website to find out more.
Air Quality
Our Air Quality Officer recently ran a Dr Bike workshop at the Hawthorns Primary School in Woosehill. The school is one of our 10 air quality schools who are working really hard to improve air quality near the school by promoting active travel to all their pupils. It is close to achieving silver accreditation for its school travel plan. The Year 6 pupils got their bikes checked over by our Dr Bike mechanic to make sure they were all in good working order before they take part in Bikeability cycle training. If you would like further information about Dr Bike or Bikeability please contact us.
Innovation Valley Rewards is an app to log your active and sustainable travel journeys and launches on 1 March for Wokingham section. Whether you walk, wheel, cycle or catch the train or bus, you’ll earn ValleyCoins and ValleyTickets for all your journeys. ValleyCoins can be redeemed for high street rewards or given to your favourite charity from within the app. You can download the app here.
 Regular Cycle Training & Activities
- Bikeability Learn to Ride sessions (£6) at FBC in Finchampstead (Wednesdays) and Woodford Park Leisure Centre (Thursdays) in Woodley
- FREE Balance Bike Clubs both at FBC (Wednesdays) and Woodford Park Leisure Centre (Thursdays)
- FREE Bike checks at Woodford Park Leisure Centre (Thursdays)
- Basic Bike Maintenance Workshops (£10) on 21 and 28 March at Scout Hall, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Wokingham - This is a course for people with very little (if any) knowledge of bike maintenance.
Further information and how to book can be found on our website.
 Love to Ride Anywhere Week
Ride Anywhere Week is a spring campaign from 21-27 March to encourage people to enjoy the many benefits of riding a bike. Riders can choose their own pledge to ride and have a week to complete it! Love to Ride will support and encourage riders to complete their pledges and help to facilitate long-lasting, beneficial behaviour change. Find out more and register at Love to Ride's website.
Easter Bike Bonanza
Our Easter bike bonanza will take place during the Easter holidays at Shinfield St Mary's Junior School. We will be bring our new smoothie bike along to the event so you will be able to make yourself a smoothie using pedal power! We will also be running a competition to find a name for our smoothie bike and there will be lots of other activities taking place at the event too. We will announce the date of the bike bonanza shortly.
Bikeathon
Wokingham Bikeathon is back this year on Sunday, 26 June! The event will start and finish at Cantley Park, Wokingham, RG40 5QG. There will be choice of three routes to suit all abilities and ages: 15 miles, 25 miles or 35 miles (all with drinks stops and toilets). Further information can be found on Bikeathon's website. Registration opens on 1 March.
 2022 Updates to The Highway Code
As of 29 January 2022, The Highway Code has changed. These advisory changes have been implemented to improve safety for people walking, cycling and horse riding. Every road user still has a responsibility to keep themselves and each other safe, and the changes mean being ready to give priority, leave space and be considerate of others.
In summary, irrespective of your method of transport, a new hierarchy of road users has been introduced to ensure those who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others.
This means:
• Giving people crossing and waiting to cross and cyclists or people cycling going straight ahead priority when turning in and out of junctions.
• Giving plenty of space when passing people cycling and horse riders.
• And making sure we’re acting with responsibility and respect to all road users.
Please read further for full details of all these changes on the Department for Transport's website.
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