Wokingham Borough Connect
 Winter Wheelers is back
Winter is here, but that doesn’t mean we have to hang up our bikes! Winter Wheelers, the fun and friendly biking challenge from Love to Ride, is back, and we’d love for you to join us.
Whether you're a regular cyclist or it's been a while since your last ride, this challenge is all about enjoying the benefits of cycling while having the chance to win some amazing prizes! Here’s how it works:
- Ride anywhere, any time, in December and January
- Log your rides for a chance to win weekly prize draws
- This Winter Wokingham cyclists can ride to win £100 cash gift card voucher with eight up for grabs
- The more you ride, the more entries you get for the grand prize of £2,500
- Register before 1 December and you could win £1,000 just for registering!
No matter your experience level, Love to Ride offers all the tips and support you need to stay comfortable and safe while riding in winter.
It doesn’t matter how far you go, every ride counts. Whether it’s a quick spin around the block or a longer commute, every time you ride and log it, you're entered into a drawing to win great prizes. Plus, it's the perfect opportunity to stay active, improve your fitness, and boost your mood during the colder months.
 Keeping active in the colder months
At My Journey Wokingham, we’re here to support active travel year-round - the colder months are no exception.
Walking, cycling, and scooting can be a fantastic way to stay active, improve wellbeing, and help the planet, even when temperatures drop. Keeping active has powerful benefits.
Even short, brisk walks or a quick cycle can boost circulation, lift your mood, and strengthen your immune system. Plus, regular active travel helps you save on fuel costs and makes getting around more affordable. Why not replace a short car trip with a walk or bike ride? It’s a simple change that can make a big difference.
The colder weather doesn’t need to slow you down. For cyclists, staying safe means layering up, wearing reflective gear, and keeping your bike in good condition. We have tips on our website to help you get the most out of cycling throughout the year.
Looking for a new route to explore? We’ve got a range of specially selected paths around Wokingham. These are designed to be enjoyable for walking in any season. Discover routes that take you through scenic areas and quieter streets - ideal for staying active and unwinding.
 Borough schools earn STARS accreditations
The School Travel Officer attended assemblies at Hawkedon Primary School, Lower Earley, The Hawthorns Primary School, Wokingham and Shinfield Infant School to present them with their latest Modeshift STARS accreditations.
The Hawthorns Primary School
The Hawthorns Primary School achieved 'excellent' level accreditation. They have completed 37 travel initiatives, including promoting Clean Air Day, running a Bikers’ Breakfast and taking part in The Big Walk and Wheel.
They have also completed 17 supporting initiatives, including mapping pupil postcodes, having a road safety road show performance and getting pupils to use active travel data as part of lessons.
Hawkedon Primary School
Hawkedon Primary School earned 'good' level accreditation by completing 13 travel initiatives and six supporting initiatives. This includes things such as air quality monitoring, Dr Bike sessions and taking part in Walk to School Week.
They have also completed six supporting initiatives including making active travel information on the school website and via their new parent pack and using active travel data during lessons.
Shinfield Infant School
Shinfield Infant School has earned 'approved' level accreditation. They have completed ten travel initiatives and five supporting initiatives. This includes road safety talks for nursery pupils, scooter training and curriculum walks around the area.
Congratulations to our accredited schools.
High vis snapband logo competition
Our schools competition finished on Monday where we asked for primary school children to design a logo for a high vis snapband.
We have received some amazing entries and are working our way through judging the winning design. Look out on our social media pages to see which school will have the design created on the snapband for their year group.
 Owning and running an electric vehicle
Listen to the recent EV Webinar hosted by Woodley Town Council, in collaboration with The Energy Saving Trust and Wokingham Borough Council as part of Climate Action Week 2024.
You can also check out the presentation which covers a wide range of topics including why we need to switch to electric vehicles (EVs), how we can charge them clarifying any jargon related to the electric vehicle infrastructure and myth busting around areas such as range, costs and batteries.
The presentation can be found on our website.
 Wheatfield Primary pupils have a blast on their bikes
Pupils from Wheatfield Primary School in Winnersh recently took part in Bikeability week, with Avanti Cycling. Years 4, 5 and 6 did Level 1 & Level 2, first learning how to check their bikes before going on to practice lots of new skills.
Level 1 training took place on the playground and incorporated “games on bikes” so the riders had great fun while gaining confidence and improving their riding ability. Years 5 and 6 riders then went out in small groups to learn the skills and confidence needed to cycle on the roads as part of their Level 2 training. In total 45 young riders took part - undeterred by the challenging weather!
The council's My Journey team are responsible for running the national Bikeability programme across the borough's schools, while Avanti Cycling deliver the training to the schools. Virtually all our primary schools participate, with over 2,200 riders taking part in the 23/24 academic year.
Avanti Cycling are recruiting new instructors. If you enjoy cycling and want flexible, fun and rewarding work, they will train you to achieve your national Bikeability accreditation. You would join an enthusiastic and supportive team, with work available not just in Wokingham, but also Reading, Bracknell Forest and Oxfordshire. For more information contact: recruitment@avanticycling.co.uk
Kidical masses are family-friendly mass bike rides, designed to increase families’ confidence in cycling together. Why not come along to the Kidical Mass Christmas ride starting at 2pm on Sunday, 15 December starting and finishing at Elms Field, Wokingham. No need to book: just turn up and enjoy a safe, family-friendly, joyful ride. Find out more on their website here.
 Road safety advice for the winter months
The winter months can seem very long, with colder weather and shorter daylight hours affecting our mood and making travel more difficult. We all need to stay safe this winter so travelling safely around when there is a risk of ice, snow, floods and fallen trees may need some thought and planning.
Be Bright Be Seen
We all need to take extra care over the winter months to ensure that all road users are safe. With less daylight and a bigger chance of poor weather, conditions can be more hazardous at this time of year.
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders can make themselves more visible to drivers by wearing bright, fluorescent and reflective clothing or accessories. Always make sure you have working lights on your bike which is a legal requirement and keeps you in the sight of drivers.
Drivers can help by reducing their speed and only overtaking when it is safe to do so, passing slowly and allowing plenty of room (especially for cyclists).
Driving in winter
Winter weather can make roads treacherous and with over 90 per cent of all crashes attributed to human error, make sure you drive carefully for the conditions.
It's important to make sure that your car is ready for winter. Well-maintained tyres are vital to give you traction and grip on icy, wet surfaces. Checking your wiper blades and screen wash is vital as your windscreen can get very dirty from rain, snow, ice and salt from the road. Check out the top 10 items needed in your boot from RAC!
Before you set off, make sure there's no mist, ice or snow obscuring your windscreen, windows and mirrors. Not doing so can impede your vision while driving, which is illegal.
It can be difficult to see clearly when it's raining, snowing or foggy, so use dipped headlights and watch out for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. The low winter sun can also cause glare on the windscreen, so take sunglasses or use your sun visor.
Roads can get very slippy when wet and braking distances are doubled with rain and multiplied by 10 on snow or ice, so speed needs reducing and more space is needed between you and the vehicle in front.
Our main routes are gritted but rain will wash salt off roads and leave them prone to ice.
Never drive through floodwater as you don’t know how deep it might be. Vehicles can get stuck or even swept away in just 30cm of flowing water. If it’s windy, beware of strong gusts and debris on the road.
If driving conditions are bad, allow extra time for your journey. Please also think about whether you really need to travel, but if you have to, consider an alternative way like the train.
Cycling in winter
The colder, wetter weather can make cycling more challenging but that doesn't mean you need to give up riding over the winter months.
Light levels are lower during the day in the winter months, so wearing bright, hi-vis and reflective clothing means other road users will see you more easily.
When cycling at night you're legally required to have a white front light and a red rear light which must be clean and working properly. Reflectors should also be fitted to pedals and the rear of your bike. Wear layers to keep you warm, think about investing in glove liners and thermal socks as your extremities will freeze first.
Icy or slushy conditions can be dangerous, so slow down to avoid any visible patches. Like cars, stopping distances on a bike increase when it’s wet or icy, so apply both brakes smoothly to avoid locking the wheels, and make sure you brake before you start cornering.
 Free Christmas bus travel
Don't forget, you can travel for free every Saturday until Christmas, with free bus travel also available for the Woodley Christmas Extravaganza on Sunday, 1 December on the following services:
- Reading Buses Orange 13 and 14
- Carousel Buses 850
Travel more for less on the Park & Ride services
Winnersh Triangle Park and Ride runs four times an hour on weekdays (6.45am to 6pm) and Saturdays (8am to 6pm).
The first 50,000 passengers will travel for less at just £1 for parking and a return bus journey. The offer has been extended to Mereoak park and ride and in part to Thames Valley park and ride.
Timetables can be found on the Reading Buses website.
Winnersh Triangle park and ride
Customers will need to register their car number plate at the car park machines located in front of the bus stop and pay on the bus as normal.
Tickets will cost £1 per person, including parking.
Mereoak park and ride
Customers will park as normal and there are no ticket machines to register their car number plate, then pay on the bus as normal.
Tickets will cost £1 per person, including parking.
Thames Valley Business Park park and ride
Customers will park and pay for parking as normal.
Tickets will cost £1 per person, excluding parking
 Upcoming activities and events
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Running Places for Women is a free weekly outdoor running group for women aged 16+ of all abilities to build confidence and fitness. There's a 3km and a 5km route, both starting and finishing at Wokingham Leisure Centre.
- Free Balance Bike Club at FBC in Finchampstead (Wednesdays)
- Free Balance Bike Club at Woodford Park Leisure Centre in Woodley (Thursdays)
- Learn to Ride sessions (£10) at FBC in Finchampstead (Wednesdays)
- Learn to Ride sessions (£10) at Woodford Park Leisure Centre in Woodley (Thursdays)
- FREE Dr Bike checks at Woodford Park Leisure Centre (Thursdays from 2.30pm to 3.30pm)
For more information on our regular cycle training and activities, visit our website. or follow us on our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
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