Wokingham Borough Connect
![Smiling cyclists cross the finish line at last year's Bikeathon](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/05/7592559/4736391/wbc-bikeathon-2022-017_crop.jpg) Bikeathon back and it’s better than ever!
This year’s Wokingham Bikeathon will take place from 8.30am on Sunday 11 June starting and finishing at Cantley Park, Wokingham.
The event is run by volunteers and all surplus funds are donated to local charities. It also promotes cycling to young people and families who are not already keen cyclists, as well as offering longer routes for regular cyclists. Some 800 riders of all ages and abilities took part last year.
On offer this year are:
- Four routes: 15 miles, 25 miles, 35 miles and a (new!) longer 50-mile route
- Stunning local scenery and signposted family-friendly routes
- Refreshment and toilet stops en route
-
Kidical Mass family ride over a two mile route (starting at 10am)
- Children’s bike obstacle course
- Free medals donated by My Journey Wokingham for all the kids taking part
- Dr Bike checks and bike security marking
- A host of other attractions and exhibitors including food and drink, My Journey Wokingham, charities and local cycling clubs
Register now and get ready for a day of fun and adventure!
![A collage of people walking, cycling and taking the bus](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/05/7592551/my-journey-wokingham-challenge-93-67-mm-7_original.png) Points make prizes in the My Journey Challenge
The Innovation Valley Rewards app for our My Journey Wokingham Challenge will be shutting down soon, but will continue on the new BetterPoints app
The BetterPoints app has a slightly different look and feel, but otherwise it works the same: it tracks your activities and rewards you for making greener and healthier travel choices.
What do I need to do?
- Download the free BetterPoints app from Google Play or the App Store
- Create a new user account with the same email address as used for your IVR account. If you already have a BetterPoints account, you can simply log in
- Join the My Journey Wokingham challenge via the 'Challenges' button on the bottom navigation bar
- Complete the 'Wokingham Baseline Survey' to earn 250 BetterPoints
Love to Ride Bike Month Challenge
Riders of every level are invited to take part, and getting out there in the fresh air and encouraging others is more important than the number of miles you ride.
There’s also a fun and friendly competition involved! Workplaces can compete to get more of their staff riding to the top of the leaderboards and individuals can see how they’re riding compared to others on the site.
The campaign is a great way to engage communities, businesses and individuals in a fun challenge that will help them meet their health, wellness, and sustainability goals.
![A photograph of four bike lockers at Carnival Hub](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/05/7592219/4736392/bike-lockers-at-carnival-hub-for-newsletter_crop.png) New secure bike lockers at Carnival Hub
Four new secure bike lockers have been installed at the entrance to the new Carnival Hub on Wellington Road, Wokingham. This is in addition to the four already at the entrance to Denmark Street car park.
The secure lockers are managed and maintained by Spokesafe, which offers a simple online booking system and round-the-clock email and phone support.
Cyclists can register on the Spokesafe web app, then check availability and book a daily slot for just £1. The lockers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week all year round, and access is via a code for maximum security.
The lockers were funded by a Government sustainable travel grant, awarded to us and passed onto the town council.
![Two e-cargo bikes standing side by side on a path](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/05/7592555/4736393/wbc-e-cargo-bike-mar23-3_crop.jpg) New FREE bike hire scheme will deliver the goods
Businesses in Wokingham Borough, especially those carrying out multiple short trips, have the chance to try doing their deliveries on a special electric bicycle instead of driving.
We have taken delivery of two Urban Arrow e-cargo bikes and want to loan them out free of charge on a trial basis for periods of four weeks.
Over the last few weeks we have spoken about them with florists, cake makers, window cleaners, gardeners, hairdressers, party planners, libraries, parish councils and business parks and more!
The bikes are going out on their first loans and will be available to borrow again soon. If you would like to trial one for your business please email us – and don’t forget to watch our short video of them in action!
Helping office workers enjoy an active commute
With the big rise of people returning to offices, we’ve joined forces with Winnersh Triangle Business Park to encourage active travel. This summer we’ll be bringing you Dr Bike sessions, bike marking, local journey planning and much more!
If you work on the park, please contact us for dates of upcoming events or check out Winnersh Triangle (parkinyourpocket.co.uk). If you are a local business and would like to work with us, please get in touch.
![Children on bikes and scooters play on a mock-up of a road](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/05/7592566/4736394/wbc-bike-bonanza-051_crop.jpg) Bike Bonanza gets all ages in the saddle
We’d like to thank everyone who visited our Easter Bike Bonanza at FBC, Finchampstead on 13 April.
There were 90 children and 65 adults enjoying activities like cycling or scooting around the track, tackling the bike obstacle course and making healthy drinks on Pedalicious, our smoothie bike.
Dr Bike carried out free checks on 16 bikes and we gave away lots of cycle helmets, raising £115.22 for the Headway Thames Valley brain injury charity. Thank you very much to everyone who donated.
We also gave away lots of My Journey branded freebies and information about walking, cycling and taking public transport around the borough.
Out and about in our communities
We supported the council’s community event at Ryeish Green leisure centre on 12 April, where dozens of families enjoyed a range of free activities including Dr Bike checks and the chance to ride Pedalicious.
This hopefully reminded people to cycle more often instead of driving, which can keep your legs and heart healthy as well as protecting the environment.
The My Journey team also took part in the council’s Easter Holiday Activities and Food event in Finchampstead, where more than 35 children and guardians enjoyed arts and crafts and an amazing drumming session.
If your child receives free school meals, contact the community engagement team to find out how they could join in with the summer events.
![A child’s artwork with a drawing of Earth and the slogan “Turn the key to be idle free”](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/05/7592568/anti-idling-competition-winner_original.png) Pupils’ winning posters help fight air pollution
Two Year 5 pupils at Floreat Montague Park Primary School in Wokingham won My Journey goody bags for their entries to our anti-idling poster competition, while the school won the top prize of a £50 Waterstones voucher.
The competition aimed to reduce the number of cars with their engines left running, or idling, at drop-off and pick-up times by producing an eye-catching design and accompanying slogan.
Four of our air quality schools took part, also including Gorse Ride Junior School, Finchampstead, Windmill Primary School, Wokingham and Hawkedon Primary, Lower Earley.
Our air quality officer is working with smaller groups of pupils in our air quality schools to encourage them to run their own anti-idling campaigns.
Air pollution causes many health problems and contributes to the onset of heart disease and cancer. About 40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with engine idling contributing to this.
Schools praised for supporting active travel
Congratulations to four schools which have been accredited under the Modeshift STARS programme for their active travel plans:
- Gold level: The Hawthorns Primary School, Wokingham
- Bronze level: Crosfields School, Shinfield and Floreat Montague Park Primary School, Wokingham
- Green level: St Teresa's Catholic Academy, Wokingham
For green and bronze, the schools had to plan or complete ten travel initiatives and five supporting initiatives, as well as setting targets and completing travel surveys.
To earn gold, The Hawthorns showed exceptional commitment to encouraging walking, cycling and scooting as well as proving a reduction in car travel.
Put your best foot forward on the school run
Some 27 schools have signed up to take part in Walk to School Week which starts next Monday (15 May) and encourages pupils to walk, cycle or scoot in to highlight the benefits.
Participating schools will receive classroom packs including wall charts, stickers, activity diaries and special rewards for the end of the week.
Bling your bike for the King!
To take part in our bling your bike (or scooter) competition we would like you to:
- Decorate your bike or scooter to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III
- Take a picture of your efforts and send it to us before Sunday, 4 June.
- The best entry will win a silver £5 King's Coronation commemorative coin and the second best will win a silver 50p commemorative coin, with My Journey goody bags for the runners-up.
![Very young children learning bike skills inside a sports hall](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/05/7592615/4736395/wbc-my-journey-017_crop.jpg) Regular cycle training and activities
- Bikeability Learn to Ride sessions (£6) at FBC in Finchampstead (Wednesdays) and Woodford Park Leisure Centre in Woodley (Thursdays)
- FREE Balance Bike Clubs at FBC (Wednesdays) which is sponsored by Complete Childcare
- FREE Balance Bike Club at Woodford Park Leisure Centre (Thursdays)
- Woky Wheels 4 All at FBC in Finchampstead on Thursday mornings
- Adult Cycle Training for Beginners/Improvers (£10) at Woodford Park Leisure Centre, Woodley on Saturday mornings
-
Sprockets Summer Cyclo-Cross Races at Dinton Pastures Country Park - starting Thursday, 11 May
- Thursday/Friday morning cycle led rides for ladies (beginners) - please visit Let's Ride website for full details
- Weekend guided rides from Shinfield - full details on Let's Ride website
- FREE Dr Bike at Queen's Oak, Finchampstead on Sunday, 21 May
-
Wokingham Town Council's Children's Fun Day on Saturday, 27 May - My Journey will be there with Pedalicious, our smoothie bike
-
Three Counties Cycle Ride (Bracknell) - Sunday, 4 June - 15, 33 and 54 mile routes.
-
Wokingham Bikeathon (from Cantley Park) on Sunday, 11 June - This year there will be a choice of 15 mile, 25 mile or 35 mile routes and a new 50 mile route being developed by Wokingham Cycle Club
- Father's Day Word Search Competition - enter our competition and you could win a Karcher windows vac very kindly donated by Wickes
- Electric Bike Event - Wokingham Town Council and My Journey - Saturday, 1 July - Shute End, Wokingham
For more information on our regular cycle training and activities, visit our website.
|