 Bus discount for youngsters this summer
We're funding a discount to let children and young people take the bus for less during the school holidays.
Anyone aged five to 18 will be able to buy a £1 single or £2 return ticket at any stop in Wokingham Borough, regardless of journey length, on any date in August.
This applies to all local bus services provided by Reading Buses, Thames Valley Buses and Carousel Buses.
Earlier this year, we spoke to young people and were told that bus travel can be too expensive, which stops them getting out and doing things.
We're funding the discount as part of our Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), with the money coming from the Department for Transport.
Please note that young people won't be able to change buses using this offer, nor buy discounted tickets from bus stops that aren't in the borough.
From Monday 28 July, there's a new timetable for Winnersh Park & Ride with additional weekday journeys in the mornings. For a limited time, the return fare is £2.50 including parking. This is possible thanks to Reading Borough Council with funding from the Department for Transport.
 Electrifying event showcases future of driving
Our first electric vehicle (EV) awareness event with Let’s Experience Electric was a huge success, with 200 guests and 16 exhibitors.
The free event took place at Winnersh Triangle Business Park, which kindly hired the venue free of charge, and was organised by the six Berkshire councils with grant funding from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.
Visitors learned about emerging technologies as well as grants and financial savings, and enjoyed about 160 test drives.
We also showcased our electric cargo bikes, which are available for business to hire, and these attracted lots of interest and test rides.
Another EV event is planned at Elms Field in Wokingham this September, with more details to be confirmed nearer the time.
This is all part of our efforts to help people switch to electric vehicles before sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles are phased out in 2030.
 Bike Bonanza is back for summer fun
There's less than a month to go until the Summer Bike Bonanza at Coronation Hall in Headley Road, Woodley.
Run by our My Journey Wokingham and Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) teams, the event on Thursday, August 21 offers fun for all the family.
There'll be a balance bike track for under-5's, who can bring their own bike or borrow one for the day, as well as a bike limbo game.
We'll be running a prize wheel while offering travel advice and rides on our smoothie bike and Dr Bike will be giving free checks (advance booking required).
Teaching children and teens to ride safely
Our partners at Avanti Cycling are offering a range of cycle training courses for children and teenagers this summer.
The sessions at Woodford Park in Woodley, part of the national Bikeability scheme, and cover everything from basic handling to more complex road layouts.
Prices range from £10 to £12 and sessions run on several dates from 29 July to 28 August, with some classes already sold out.
More than 2,000 children build skills and confidence
Since last September, some 2,235 children have attended Bikeability training in most of our schools, run by Avanti Cycling and funded through the Bikeability Trust.
Over the same period, 823 children attended our Balance Bike Clubs while 362 took part in our Learn to Ride. Both will start again in the new school year.
 Cyclists have cake and eat it on fund-raising ride
More than 30 women from across the borough helped to raise over £400 for Sue Ryder by stopping off at a coffee morning.
As part of the regular Breeze women's riding scheme, the group enjoyed a 20-mile trip and then attended a coffee morning in aid of the palliative care charity.
For more about your local Breeze group, which is supported by British Cycling, visit their Facebook page for details of upcoming rides.
British Cycling also runs Lets Ride events for all genders, while other local cycling clubs include Wokingham u3a and Wokingham Cycling Club.
Want to get fit enough to run 5km? We want to know what dates and times you'd be free for friendly, weekly sessions at Arborfield Green, Woodley or Ryeish Green. Complete our survey for the course, which we'll be running in partnership with Places Leisure.
 Share your views as new cycle route approaches
If you live in the Woodley area, or travel frequently between Woodley and Reading, we want to hear more about how you get around.
We're asking about people's travel habits before we start work on a new cycle link from Woodley town centre to Palmer Park at the Reading borough boundary.
Please reply before midnight next Sunday (3 August) for the chance to win one of five £20 vouchers. You must also be aged 16 or over.
The new link will run via Woodlands Avenue, Church Road, Palmerstone Road and Culver Lane, with work due to start later this year.
It's being funded by the Department for Transport and the money is "ring fenced" for this project, meaning we aren't allowed to spend it on anything else.
 Ottilie's outstanding artwork is the winner
Our summer term collage competition got primary school pupils across the borough thinking about what they liked while walking or cycling to school.
We had many entries ranging from flowers, colours, wildlife and pets to friends, cyclists, a water tower, tree stumps to jump on, and happy people!
Our winner Ottilie, five, from Emmbrook Infant School submitted a beautiful creation with rabbits, butterflies, dragonflies, flowers and more.
We were also impressed with Year 3 runners-up Madelyn (Whiteknights Primary School) and Aarvi (Loddon Primary School), who used different ideas and media to bring their ideas to life.
After the holidays, Loddon Primary School will also be working with Southeast Communities Rail Partnership on artwork for Earley station's waiting rooms.
Will you be walking or cycling through Woodley town centre this summer? Now you can stop and top up at a water fountain installed by Woodley Town Council with support from local Rotary Clubs!
 Upcoming activities and events
- Dr Bike (FREE bike checks) at various locations throughout August and September - please see our events page
- My Journey at Twyford Village Fete, Stanlake Meadow on Saturday 16 August (1pm to 5pm)
- Bike Bonanza at Coronation Hall, Woodley - Thursday 21 August, 11am to 2pm
- Free Balance Bike Club at FBC in Finchampstead (Wednesdays) - starting on 10 September
- Free Balance Bike Club at Woodford Park Leisure Centre in Woodley (Thursdays) - starting on 11 September
- Learn to Ride sessions (£10) at FBC in Finchampstead (Wednesdays) - starting on 10 September
- Learn to Ride sessions (£10) at Woodford Park Leisure Centre in Woodley (Thursdays) - starting on 11 September
- Woky Wheels 4 All at FBC in Finchampstead (Thursdays 10am and 11am) - starting on 18 September
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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