Wokingham Borough Connect
 Sun comes out for summer cycling fun
More than 50 children rode our balance bikes, pedal bikes and three-wheel bikes around the track and our bike limbo, pictured above, was also very popular.
Other attractions included our new spinning wheel, with prizes like sustainable water bottles, snap bands, stickers, bag tags, a cycle model or the chance to blend a fruit drink on our smoothie bike Pedalicious.
Dr Bike checked bikes to make sure they were roadworthy, while Headway Thames Valley offered advice and demonstrations on cycle helmets.
It was our cycle training co-ordinator Jill's last bike bonanza before she retires in a few weeks’ time (see article below) and it was lovely to see one of the children who she had recently taught cycling around the track with her.
 Prizes to be won in summer children’s activities
Get outside and get exploring!
Have you taken part in our summer trail yet? We’ve created a spotter sheet with 14 points of interest around our beautiful borough for you to find.
Our greenways, nature parks and country parks are great places to visit, either by bike or on foot, and we’ve marked out some of the best sights.
We’re offering great prizes including family tickets to a Reading Football Club home match at Select Car Leasing Stadium, kindly donated by the club, as well as family tickets for Carnival Hub in Wokingham kindly donated by Places Leisure.
Please visit our website for more details - and visit our Countryside Service site for more on the borough’s green spaces.
Take part in our word search
Our Community Engagement and My Journey teams have created a word search for you to enjoy in the summer holidays.
To take part, just download the word search which can be found on our website and follow the instructions from there. Entries must be returned by Thursday, 31 August and correct entries will be entered into a prize draw kindly sponsored by Tesco.
 Holiday activities back for another year
If your child receives benefit-related free school meals and goes to school in the borough, they can claim a voucher to book free sessions on our Holiday, Activities, and Food (HAF) programme.
This scheme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and provides free activities with a healthy meal to eligible pupils from Reception to Year 11, including those who’ve been referred by a professional working with their family, during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.
My Journey supports HAF events with our smoothie bike Pedalicious and by talking to parents and guardians about local initiatives, cycle maps and other community events in their area.
If your child doesn’t receive free school meals but you think you may be eligible, please check on the Government’s website.
 Swap the motorways for the greenways
If you’re running out of activities for the family this holiday, why not make some active swaps?
Instead of long drives on the motorway, try taking the kids to spend time on our borough's greenways and create wonderful memories together. They're wheelchair and buggy accessible too!
Being in nature has proven benefits for your mental health, so head outdoors and let nature work its magic on your well-being. Swap the gym for a brisk walk or a refreshing cycle to re-energise your body and mind.
Our Active Swaps social media campaign offers tips and advice on incorporating active travel into your daily routine. This not only benefits your health and well-being, but makes a positive impact on the environment and your wallet.
Visit www.myjourneywokingham.com/journey-planner/ to plan your active route – and follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more top tips!
 Well-earned retirement for cycle training champion
We’re sad to be saying goodbye to Jill, who has been our cycle training co-ordinator for 15 years and has helped thousands of residents to discover the joys of riding.
She has expertly managed our Bikeability schools training programme, obtaining funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) and ensuring it’s spent effectively. After introducing Bikeability in 2010/11, all our primary schools are now offered it.
Thanks to Jill’s hard work, we were invited to pilot the Bikeability Plus scheme in 2016 and present our findings at a national training conference. In 2020, we were named local authority of the year for young people’s Bikeability training.
Jill also teaches on our Learn to Ride sessions, runs a weekly balance bike club for 2-4 year olds and leads rides for over-55s and inclusive cycling sessions.
Inspiring everyone to get in the saddle
Jill gives bike safety assemblies in schools, runs activities at events including family rides, supports cycling in areas of deprivation, and works with groups like Beavers, Cubs and Brownies to instil a love of cycling in children.
British Cycling has also praised her fantastic efforts over the past eight years as a Champion for its Breeze women’s riding scheme, for which she has set up and led over 150 Breeze rides.
She has played a crucial role in inspiring many other Breeze Champions to discover new routes and get women on bikes, whether new or returning to cycling, and see them grow in confidence and ability.
Jill has been a truly valued member of our team and will be greatly missed for her knowledge, skills and lovely personality. We’re sure you’ll join us in wishing Jill a very long, healthy and happy retirement.
 Bike theft: keep your prized possession safe
We’ve all heard or seen the recent news about bike crime in our community and we’ve also been victims of bike theft ourselves.
Unfortunately, if a bike thief wants your bike they will go for it - but the good news is that you can take steps to make your bike less attractive:
- Good quality locks – ensure you use a D-Lock to lock your bike to a secure structure, and lock the wheel and the frame to this. You can check the quality of your lock here
- Consider using the Bike Lockers. They are £1 a day and are located on Denmark Street car park and at the Carnival Hub both in Wokingham.
- Security marking – Thames Valley Police frequently hold free bike marking events. If you can’t wait for the next one you can buy your own kit here
Always check that your insurance covers your bike outside your home, as many policies only cover theft from home. Remember to check the fine print!
On the plus side, our anti-social behaviour team recently helped to convict a serial bike thief and the police have since taken action against other individuals.
 End of the line for ticket offices? Share your views
We’re urging rail users to give their views on plans to shut station ticket offices in Wokingham Borough and beyond.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents Britain’s train operating companies, is consulting on the proposals until the extended deadline of Friday, 1 September.
It says fewer people are using ticket desks because of smartphone apps or contactless cards, so they could be phased out in favour of retraining "multi-skilled" staff to help customers in other ways.
It says this is a more efficient way of working but we’re aware of possible drawbacks like the lack of some services at ticket machines, plus a likely impact on those at greater risk of exclusion like people with disabilities, mobility issues or on low incomes.
We’ll be sending a formal response before the end of the month, but until then we urge you to find out more about GWR and South Western Railway’s proposals and then give your views.
 Teaching residents to make a quick fix
We recently installed two new bike repair stations in Twyford and, at the request of Twyford Parish Council, we hosted a small Dr Bike event at one of them.
Whilst checking over bikes, we showed residents how they could use the station in future to make minor repairs such as pump up tyres, fix brakes and adjust gears.
If you haven’t yet seen the stations, they have a QR code which links to step-by-step instructions to view on your smartphone.
 Borough means business in active travel
Green travel event helps commuters ditch the car
At the beautiful location of Move HQ’s cabin at Winnersh Triangle Business Park, we held a special breakfast for everyone who travelled in sustainably. Dr Bike provided bike health checks and a maintenance class while Thames Valley Police provided security marking for all bikes.
Love to Ride travelled in from Bristol and chatted with nearly all the businesses on the site, encouraging them to support their upcoming Cycle September initiative – see more about this below!
Thanks to Move HQ, Winnersh Triangle Business Park, Love to Ride, Thames Valley Police and South East Community Rail Partnership for supporting this event.
Major employer helps staff make healthy changes
Earlier this month, we met the staff from Wood PLC at Shinfield Park, who are big supporters of active and sustainable transport and have a huge number of cyclists, runners and public transport users on their teams.
With the support of these committed commuters, they’ve converted unused office space into changing rooms - which makes it much easier for other colleagues to follow their example.
This is a fantastic example of how small changes can make huge differences to green initiatives. If you’d like more of your staff to travel actively, we offer a wide range of advice and resources on the My Journey website.
Cycle September
Cycle September is a fun, free, and friendly challenge to help you and your friends, family and colleagues enjoy the benefits of riding bikes. You can ride anywhere, any time in September to participate.
By logging your trips on the Love to Ride website or using the app, you can win great prizes like a £4,000 holiday.
There are even more prizes up for grabs if you encourage other people to get involved as well as the chance to win an early bird prize of a Brompton e-bike if you sign up before 1 September.
 Regular training and activities
- My Journey will be at Twyford Village Fete on Saturday, 19 August
- FREE Balance Bike Club at FBC (Wednesdays) starting up again on 13 September which is sponsored by Complete Childcare
- FREE Balance Bike Club at Woodford Park Leisure Centre (Thursdays) starting up again on 21 September
- Learn to Ride sessions (£6) at FBC in Finchampstead (Wednesdays) starting up again on 13 September
- Learn to Ride sessions (£6) at Woodford Park Leisure Centre in Woodley (Thursdays) starting up again on 21 September
- Woky Wheels 4 All at FBC in Finchampstead (Thursday mornings) starting up again on 21 September
- Adult Cycle Training Beginners/Improvers (£10) at Woodford Park Leisure Centre, Woodley (Saturday mornings) starting up again on 23 September
For more information on our regular cycle training and activities, visit our website.
|
