 Free summer buses for children and young people
On any date in August, anyone aged five to 15 can take a single bus journey for free from any stop in Wokingham Borough.
This offer applies to local journeys even where they finish outside the borough, as long as they start within it.
You can plan your trip with our local operators:
The Department for Transport (DfT) is funding this offer through the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme.
Single journeys for adults remain capped at £3 and will be reduced to £2 next year. There's already free local bus travel for under-5s accompanied by an adult.
Top local destinations are covered, including:
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Reading via the 21, 13/14, 4/4a, 128 and the 850
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Bracknell via the 4/4a
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Dinton Pastures Country Park via the 128
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Wokingham town centre via the 3, 4/4a and 128
 Similar scheme was a hit last year
In 2025, our summer youth travel offer allowed anyone aged five to 16 to take a £1 single trip (£2 return) in August, with more than 10,000 journeys undertaken.
It came after we spoke to young people and were told that bus travel can be too expensive, which stops them getting out and doing things.
Last year's discounted was also funded by the DfT through our Bus Service Improvement Plan, our long-term vision for the borough's network.
You can read our recent newsletter special on how we’re investing in and improving bus services as part of a wider commitment to active travel, which also includes investment in walking and cycling opportunities.
 Buses diverted as Woodley cycle route progresses
We've almost completed the first phase of our active travel route from Woodley to Reading, with the installation of a cycle route along Woodlands Avenue.
The final section is being built to the east of the entrance to Bulmershe School and leisure centre, and is due to finish at the end of August.
A closure and diversion is in place, and this is also affecting the Little Oranges 19a and 19c and the Orange 13 and 14 bus routes.
We apologise for any delays and are working to complete this as soon as we can. We also timed the works for the school holidays to minimise disruption.
You can see what the finished route will look like in our earlier special edition.
Next steps as route moves to completion
Once we're finished on Woodlands Avenue, we'll be carrying out further works under closure on Church Road and Culver Lane throughout autumn and winter.
This includes works at the junction of Woodlands Avenue and Church Road, due to run consecutively from 25 August, 8 September and 17 September.
These dates remain subject to change as the Woodlands Avenue works wrap up. No dates are yet confirmed for Culver Lane but we'll keep you updated.
The route will also run through Palmerstone Road, where we aren't making changes but are planning a 20mph limit, subject to statutory consultation.
Want to get out and about on your bike this summer? There are route maps and more on our My Journey Wokingham team's website, along with free walking resources and local events celebrating sustainable travel.
 Maintaining a complete picture of our roads
We've been praised by industry experts for keeping accurate records of every street in Wokingham Borough to help us plan ahead and look after them.
GeoPlace, who work with Ordnance Survey and other councils to map the nation, awarded us the Platinum title in their 2026 Data Quality and Improvement Awards.
This is for our local street gazetteer, a database with information like how sensitive each street is to traffic or how we prioritise it for various treatments.
Our gazetteer underpins how we coordinate activity on the roads, including streetworks applications by utility firms, and keep disruption to a minimum.
Being able to present an accurate, up-to-date record of our network, including any new roads, is also critical to secure Government funding for maintenance.
This includes our annual roads and footways programme, which is now under way. Find out more and check if your street's due for treatment.
 Resurfacing works done as quickly as possible
We're currently focusing on resurfacing treatments (see video) in this year's programme, at sites where we have to work overnight due to the extent of repairs.
Where this is necessary, we strive to finish stripping off the old surface, which is the noisiest task in the process, before 11pm.
We know this can still be disruptive, but we're working within legal limits and our work will ultimately improve the quality of your journey.
Next month we'll be starting retexturing, a new process that allows to restore grip on worn-out roads without having to lay any new materials. This saves money for where resurfacing is needed most and generates fewer emissions.
 Sobering stats show risk of summer crashes
Don't become a statistic this summer - make sure you're well rested before a long journey and take a rest safely if you start getting tired.
The risks increase at this time of year, with 41 per cent of fatigue-related crashes involving death or serious injury happening over the summer.
Of these, about two-thirds took place between 7pm and 7am, which is when more than half of people undertaking a long summer trip plan to drive.
With traffic on England's motorways and major A-roads increasing by almost six per cent, good journey planning has never been more important.
Make sure you know in advance where you can rest, and factor that time in. The Highway Code recommends at least 15 minutes after every two hours.
So check your route, check your vehicle, check the conditions and check yourself - read more official guidance from National Highways' TRIP campaign.
Whether you're going to a barbecue or checking out a country pub, there's no excuse for drinking and driving. There are serious legal consequences and you could badly harm yourself or others, so make alternative arrangements.
 Upcoming roadworks
We think these works will be the most disruptive, but you can see a list of all upcoming works in your area or browse our interactive map.
A3290
Road closure - both directions
Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 August (overnight, 8pm to 6am)
The road will be closed eastbound and westbound between Winnersh Triangle and Thames Valley Park while we remove temporary traffic management.
Barkham
Road closure - Barkham Street
Monday 3 to Friday 7 August (overnight, 7pm to 6am)
The road will be closed between Barkham Road and Barkham Ride while we carry out drainage investigation works.
Hurst
Road closure - Church Hill
Monday 3 to Friday 21 August
The road will be closed between Sawpit Road and School Road while SGN set up and operate a works compound.
Road closure - Orchard Road
Monday 3 to Friday 21 August
Keeping up to date
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