Wokingham Borough Connect
 Loads of chances to get pedalling this summer
There's less than a month until the Wokingham Bikeathon, which offers rides for all ages and levels, from a 15-mile beginner course to 26, 36 or even 51 miles.
If you want to take part but don't want to ride on your own, you can even sign up for our 15 mile guided ride.
For little ones, Kidical Mass will be offering noise and fun with three short rides (around the field, 2.5 miles or five miles) on scooters, balance bikes or bikes.
Training and rides for adults
On Friday 6 June there'll be a 12-mile adult led ride to Riseley Tea Rooms for coffee and cake, starting from Finchampstead Baptist Centre.
On Saturday 7 June, we're running adult Bikeability training on navigating faster roads and more complex junctions. This starts at Cantley Park, Wokingham.
Throughout the summer, our seasonal adult cycle training will take place at Alder Grove Primary School in Shinfield. This is suitable for total beginners and improvers.
Want to go further afield? The Three Counties Cycle Ride takes place on Sunday, 8 June and includes 15, 34 and 52 mile routes through the Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire countryside.
 Cycling fun just outside borough border
You can meet our My Journey Wokingham team at Bracknell's Cycle Festival, which takes place in Bond Square from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, 8 June. You can:
- Watch amazing stunts from the Fusion Extreme display team
- Check out the pump track and mountain bike skills area
- Find out more about free sessions to teach you to cycle
- Get more information and freebies from the stalls
- Take part in a family cycle ride from Crowthorne
Keep pedalling through the last day of so of Love to Ride's Bike Month Challenge! The more journeys you ride, the more times you'll be entered into draws to win amazing prizes like a holiday worth £4,000, £500 gift cards, a £500 Airbnb voucher and more.
 Get creative to win book tokens
We're asking Wokingham Borough schoolchildren to create a collage of things they like to see on their active journeys to school.
This can be in the form of drawings or photos, ideally at A4 size. We'd also like you to write a short sentence on why you like what you see.
Please send your entries to us by Monday, 7 July. The winning design gets a £50 book token, with a £25 and £15 book token for the runners-up.
Another successful Walk to School Week
Some 32 primary schools took part in Living Streets' Walk to School Week.
More than 10,000 children were given class wallcharts and activity booklets, and they've been excited to get stickers for travelling actively every day.
We've encouraged them to keep leaving walking, cycling or scooting to school, rather than being driven, to make a real difference to their health and the environment.
A new report by the Bikeability Trust and Living Streets warns that vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists still face unacceptable risks, and outlines measures to improve this. You can read the full report and recommendations online.
 Speed limit drop to support walking and cycling
We've agreed proposals for 30mph limits on the following roads:
- parts of the A329 Reading Road in Wokingham town and Winnersh
- Hollow Lane in Shinfield
- the A327 Arborfield Road in Shinfield
- Bearwood Road in Barkham
- the A327 Reading Road, New Mill Lane and Park Lane in Finchampstead
We consulted on these changes and got lots of responses supporting them, and we agree that slower speeds will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
This is important as we want to do all we can to promote sustainable alternatives to driving, both for people's health and to address the climate emergency.
Other upcoming decisions include new stopping restrictions with double or single yellow lines on roads across the borough and "no stopping at school entrance" markings near Westende Junior School in Wokingham town.
 More frequent bus service has launched
An improved Leopard 3 bus service for Shinfield, Arborfield, Finchampstead and Barkham started a couple of weeks ago.
Reading Buses is now running the service up to every 30 minutes on this section between 6.30am and 7pm, and on Saturdays between 8am and 6pm.
The Sunday timetable has also been improved, with buses now running directly to Wokingham hourly between 8.30am and 8pm.
Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield will now be served by buses that run to and from Wokingham on Monday to Fridays, providing a new direct link.
There'll still be buses up to every 15 minutes between Reading and Shinfield, via Royal Berkshire Hospital, with minor changes to allow for the route extensions.
From Monday, 2 June the £1 park & ride offer will change to £2.50 at Winnersh, Mereoak and Thames Valley Park & Ride sites.
 Free event will promote electric vehicle benefits
If you're interested in electric vehicles (EVs) but are worried about costs or charging, you can find out more in person on Friday, 11 July.
Our first free awareness event at Winnersh Triangle Business Park is open to local businesses as well as residents who are thinking of switching.
This is your chance to:
- Test drive a range of EVs from local dealerships
- Learn about available grants and how much money you could save
- Network with EV industry specialists in who can provide advice
- Check out presentations about creating a net zero transport system
The event is organised in partnership with Let's Experience Electric, Winnersh Triangle Business Park and all six Berkshire local authorities in Wokingham, Reading, Bracknell Forest, Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough and West Berkshire.
Experts giving advice on the day will include the Energy Saving Trust and the University of Reading. You can book your free tickets online.
 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)
- Woky Wheels 4 All at FBC in Finchampstead (Thursdays 10 and 11am)
- Adult Cycle Training for Beginners/Improvers (£11) at Alder Grove Primary School, Shinfield (Saturday mornings)
- Dr Bike (FREE bike checks) at Winnersh Fete on Saturday, 21 June 1pm to 4.30pm
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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