Wokingham Borough Connect
 Work set to start on cycle route at Woodley
We’ve agreed to progress plans to create a new cycle link from Woodley’s town centre into Reading Borough at Palmer Park.
This will be completed in phases, connecting the precinct to Palmer Park via Woodlands Avenue, Church Road, Palmerstone Road and Culver Lane.
We're planning for work to start at Palmer Park and progress towards Woodley. Have a look at the detailed plans and a summary of the route.
We’re still finalising parts of the plans with Reading Borough Council, as the route connects into its area, and will update once these details are confirmed.
We've consulted residents several times and removed less popular aspects of the original proposals, like making part of Woodlands Avenue one-way.
Changes for the final designs include:
- Widening the road on Woodlands Avenue, between Howth Drive and Crockhamwell Road, to 5.5m
- Keeping the Woodlands Avenue laybys next to the park and green space
- The shared use path on Woodlands Avenue, between the leisure centre and Church Road, will not change as residents told us it works well
- Shared use under the railway bridge to Palmer Park entrance on Culver Lane
This will be funded by the Department for Transport via Active Travel England.
Love to Ride's Ride, Walk, Wheel Week challenge has just wrapped up, but you can still download the app and log your miles. There are several competitions throughout the year, with lots of chances to win prizes!
 Get in shape for Bikeathon fun this summer
Before this year's Wokingham Bikeathon on Sunday, 22 June, anyone needing more experience can take part in a series of free, fun and relaxed guided rides.
The sessions, led by an experienced British Cycling leader, will go at the pace of the slowest rider so that nobody is left behind.
You must be an adult and able to cycle, with a roadworthy bike and cycling helmet. The rides are free but must be booked in advance.
They start with lower mileage on cycleways before increasing the distance and moving to quiet roads with traffic.
They take place on the following dates, all at 10am:
- 25 April - FBC to Henry Street Garden Centre
- 2 May - Cantley Park to Dinton Pastures Country Park
- 9 May - Montague Park to Foxes Den Cafe, Binfield
- 16 May - FBC to The Mutton at Hazeley Heath
- 23 May - Cantley Park to Hurst (Hurst Lanes)
- 6 June - FBC to Riseley Tea Rooms
- 22 June - Wokingham Bikeathon
Registration is now open for the Bikeathon, which starts and finishes at Cantley Park. Participants can try one of four routes which are either 15, 26, 36 or 51 miles long, and chat with community groups on the event field afterwards.
 Bus services set for £1.9m investment
We’re set to invest £1.9million into the borough’s bus services. Most of the money will be spent on making services run more often and for longer, with the rest spent on measures like improving bus stops.
It will also support for the return of free bus travel on Saturdays in the run up to Christmas for a third year, as well as a new scheme to provide cheaper bus travel to young people during the 2025 summer school holidays.
There’s a host of measures being supported over the next few years, including extending funding support for Winnersh Triangle Park and Ride, as well as services for Woodley, Earley and Lower Earley.
These projects are being supported following feedback from hundreds of residents through Social Care Futures, talking with young people and the council’s Local Transport Plan consultations.
Funding is through Government grants and developer contributions. Councillors will finalise the proposals at a meeting this week.
 Operator agreed for more frequent buses on key route
The number 3 bus between Wokingham town and Barkham, Finchampstead and Arborfield is set to run more often from May onwards.
After agreeing to go to tender earlier this year, we've awarded Reading Buses a contract to run this journey every 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays.
It's currently hourly and we know from feedback that people want more travel options, both for work and leisure, so we're pleased to be able to help.
Reading Buses already runs the 3 route every hour from Monday to Saturday on a commercial basis, including more frequent journeys between Arborfield and Reading, so this will build on its popularity.
We're about to agree a detailed plan to implement these changes, and we'll announce more as soon as we can.
The contract will be funded by contributions from housing developers and will run for two years initially, with scope for two further one-year extensions.
 Monitors help schools face up to air pollution
We've installed air quality monitors outside four schools in Wokingham town that are working to reduce harmful emissions from vehicle trips.
The devices are linked to displays that show a happy face when pollutants are below the World Health Organisation's recommended thresholds.
Above this limit, they show a sad face. They've been installed for a 12-month period, with funding from Defra and support from My Journey Wokingham, at:
They track nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, both of which cause a range of breathing and other health problems. As well as showing the latest levels every 15 minutes, the data is recorded to highlight long-term trends.
These schools are already working hard to encourage parents and pupils to walk, cycle and use public transport instead of driving, so the monitors will help them to track the impact of their efforts.
These monitors were repurposed from a previous scheme, rather than purchasing new ones, which supports our Climate Emergency Action Plan and sustainability goals. Our suppliers Earth Sense and Yunex believe this could be the first scheme of its kind in the UK.
 Laughter props up serious road safety message
Children's entertainer and educator Louis Taylor will be touring our borough's schools this spring, giving another fun-packed show about staying safe on the roads.
The interactive assemblies, which include puppets, games and more, include memorable tips for all ages whether walking or cycling.
Taking part this year are:
- Oaklands Infant School, Crowthorne
- Aldryngton Primary School, Earley
- Gorse Ride Infant and Junior Schools, Finchampstead
- Nine Mile Ride Primary School, Finchampstead
- Hawkedon Primary School. Lower Earley
- Hillside Primary School, Lower Earley
- Shinfield St Mary’s Junior School
- Floreat Montague Park Primary School, Wokingham
- St Cecilia’s Primary School, Wokingham
- St Paul’s Junior School, Wokingham
- Wescott Infant School, Wokingham
If schools haven’t had one of Louis' shows for two years or more, they can book one during his upcoming autumn tour. Please contact us if you're interested.
 Above: Arthur's winning entry - click to enlarge
Arty Arthur is active travel poster design champion!
We had a huge number of entries for this term's active travel poster competition, so judging them was a hard task!
Our winner Arthur, from Walter Infant School in Wokingham will receive a £50 Decathlon voucher for his design featuring schools and houses around the world.
Runner-up Sadhana, from Westende Junior School, Wokingham, won a £25 voucher while Ediee from Shinfield St Mary’s Juniors won a £15 voucher.
All winners got a My Journey goody bag and prints of their artwork to display in school. Watch out for our summer term competition coming soon!
Primary and secondary schools can still take part in this year's Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel scheme. It's free to take part, with daily prizes to be won, and it's a great way of helping everyone to improve local air quality.
 Upcoming activities and events
- 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 on Thursday 3 April from 2.30pm to 3.30pm
- FREE Dr Bike checks at Lower Earley Library, Lower Earley on Monday, 7 April from 10am to 12pm
- FREE Dr Bike checks at Shinfield Green Centre on Friday, 11 April from 10am to 1pm
- The Wokingham Walk takes place on Sunday, 13 April 2025. Please visit the Wokingham Walk website to register.
- Bikeability Easter Holiday Cycle Training Courses at Woodford Park Leisure Centre - please visit our website for full details
- A weekly 10-week running programme is set to launch at Arborfield Green Leisure Centre, in partnership with our My Journey Wokingham team
For more information on our regular cycle training and activities, visit our website. or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
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