View in browser

Traffic and Travel

Wokingham Borough Connect

Major bus route stops more often in borough

You've now got more chances to catch Reading Buses' lion 4 and 4a with the launch of a new timetable for 2025.

The service, which runs from Reading to Bracknell via Earley, Winnersh and Wokingham town, now runs up to every 15 minutes from Mondays to Saturdays. 

Sunday services are staying every 30 minutes, with small changes to the timings to improve reliability.

The route previously called the X4 has been renamed the 4a so it appears alongside the 4 when listed by route number. Most extra journeys will be on the 4a via the Western Business Area in Bracknell.

Reading Buses has invested in three new buses to support improvements to this route, all with modern features like charging facilities.

The bus is still a bargain with fare cap

The national cap on single bus fares has increased from £2 to £3, which is still great value and lets you get around with less impact on the environment than driving.

However, adults travelling within Reading Buses' simplyReading fare zone, which includes Woodley and Earley, will continue to pay just £2.50 by using the app or tapping in and out, or £2.60 buying from the driver.

The maximum single fare for young people will be £2 on the app or £2.20 from the driver, possibly requiring proof of age. Other fares below £2 are also available in some cases.

We're doing all we can to support our bus services and we urge our residents to do the same, as this allows operators to continue investing in affordable, accessible and convenient local routes.

Don't forget there'll be rail replacement buses between Reading and Bracknell this weekend (25 and 26 January) due to planned maintenance. Check how this affects South Western Railway and Great Western Railway services.

Watch out when travelling in the wind

Storm Éowyn is set to bring strong winds to our region tomorrow (Friday, 24 January) and the Met Office has put a yellow warning in place until about 3pm.

That means some delays are likely on roads and on train services, and all road users are being warned to take extra care.

You should check the road conditions if you're driving, or live bus and train timetables, and be ready to change your travel plans if you have to.

Leave extra time before setting off and don't rush if you're running late, as this will only increase the risk of an accident.

If you're planning to cycle or ride a motorbike, remember you'll be particularly vulnerable - especially on exposed stretches of road.

And if you're travelling to the north of England or parts of Scotland, there's a more severe amber warning so check how this could affect you.

Reducing delays caused by roadworks

Although we maintain and improve roads across the borough, you may not know that more than 80 per cent of roadworks are carried out by utility companies.

This sometimes causes disruption, and we know that's frustrating, but they're looking after services we all need like gas, water, electricity, internet and the phone.

Planned maintenance reduces the risk of emergencies like burst water pipes, which can damage the road as well as leaving people without a supply.

By law, we have to let utility companies work on our roads but they must apply for a permit and stick to any conditions that we require.

While we can't avoid some delays, we co-ordinate all the applications we receive from different companies so they cause as little disruption as possible.

This keeps everyone safe including drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, as well as the teams carrying out the works.

So why can't I see anyone working?

People sometimes tell us that utility firms have set up roadworks but don't seem to be doing anything, and our inspectors often follow this up with site visits.

However, there are many valid reasons why work may have paused:

• Surfaces may need time to dry before they're strong enough for vehicles or pedestrians to safely use them
• Gas leaks are often fixed using a substance that takes time to dry before it can be tested to make sure it has worked
• A new water main needs tests to ensure the water is safe, which takes more than a day and may require further work
• Specialist parts may take longer than expected to make or order
• Part of the road may not be safe if it's been undermined
• Work may need to be done elsewhere before it can resume
• A service may need connecting to a private property, in addition to works under a public road or pavement
• The teams may be collecting materials or taking a break, which they're entitled to and keeps them safe

These aren't the only reasons, but they show that work may still be moving forward as fast as possible - even if it looks like nothing is happening.

You can find out more about disruption across the borough, both now and in the future, using our interactive map. This also shows the route of any diversions that might be in place.

Helping more children enjoy cycling for life

This year, we're aiming to teach even more youngsters to ride safely and independently on the roads under the national Bikeability scheme.

This starts with basic off-road handling skills (Level 1), then progresses onto quiet roads before tackling more challenging ones, often on routes to secondary schools (Level 2 or Level 3).

We trained 1,812 children at Level 2 in 2023/24 and this year we plan to train 1,968 children, or 80 per cent of all Year 5 pupils. This is worthwhile, as areas with more Bikeability training have fewer serious road injuries or deaths.

Our training providers Avanti Cycling are often looking for new instructors, so if you'd like to learn more then please get in touch.

If you see children riding in high-vis vests while out driving, they're probably on a Bikeability class. Don't forget that we were all learners once, so give them space and expect them to make mistakes.

Whatever your age, there are lots of free cycling resources including route maps on our My Journey Wokingham website. We also organise regular events including some upcoming bike maintenance sessions.

Upcoming roadworks

Keeping up to date

• For planned and emergency roadworks, follow us on Facebook
• To find out about roadworks near you, visit our interactive map
• For active and sustainable travel, visit MyJourney Wokingham 
• Visit our major new roads page for plans and updates
• Find out more about re-surfacing and repairs including potholes
• Report any issues with roads and streets online - including street lights, problems with traffic lights, potholes, damaged street furniture, problems with road markings and removal of dead animals. 
• Find out more about parking and permits including car park locations and costs, resident permits, park and ride services and appealing a parking fine
• Our transport and travel page includes applying for a senior citizen's or disabled person's bus and train pass, as well as public transport information
• The blue parking badges page has information on applying for, using, replacing and returning your blue badge