Cycle and Walking In Wokingham To Benefit From Almost £100,000 from Government
Wokingham Borough Council has been awarded almost £100,000 by the Department for Transport to help encourage cycling in the area. It’s coming from the Government’s Capability Fund to support the council to promote walking and cycling in the area.
Cycle and Walking Award
The award recognises the council’s commitment to active travel and its work to promote sustainable travel options. Now the work will be able to go even further thanks to the funding win, with the money used to employ a cycle champion to work with residents, schools and businesses to encourage people to get out on their bikes.
It will also be used to support the development of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, as well as helping train our teams in how to design roads and cycleways which meet new Government guidance, as far as possible, to prioritise those travelling on foot and by bike. Some of the work the council’s sustainable travel team, MyJourney Wokingham has completed in the last year includes:
- Engaged with 72 organisations and encouraged 1,424 people to cycle. In total, 97,312 cycling trips were made saving 190,889 kg CO2 as a result of mode shift, via our Love to Ride cycle challenges
- Held 43 bike training events, at schools and during school holidays, training 866 children to cycle
- Held 8 community Dr Bike sessions, supporting 116 adults ensuring that their bicycles are in top condition
- Held 31 (supporting 186 adults) cycling events, including 16 Breeze rides, 11 “Woky Wheels 4 All” inclusive cycle sessions and 4 over 60s led rides
- Held 33 adult cycle training sessions, supporting 71 adults with their level 1 training, 36 adults with level 2 and 4 adults with level 3
- In addition, during the 2020/2021 financial year we have delivered 3 Road Safety shows to over 1000 children
Not all local authorities have won their funding, with Government holding back on those who do not show evidence or a commitment to supporting walking, cycling and active travel. In total the council will receive £94,481.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport, said: “We’re delighted to win this funding from the Department for Transport, which will support us in our goals to get more people cycling and walking – particularly on short journeys. This money will be used towards employing a ‘cycle champion’ who will support schools, businesses and residents to cycle as much as possible as well as paying for minor improvements on cycle and walking routes.
“This will help make the most of the new cycling infrastructure in the borough, such as the new cycleways on Observer Way in Arborfield, London Road in Wokingham and the Greenways around the borough. A number of other projects will see construction start soon including a new link between Woodley, Earley, Winnersh and Dinton pastures and between Woodley and Reading.”
The capability fund grant replaced the Access Fund, which ran between 2017 to 2021 and supports commitments of the Government’s Cycling and walking plan for England. The funding was announced in the summer of cycling and walking announcement by Transport Minister Grant Shapps in July.
Cycle September
For those wanting to get out on their bikes now, and wanting to be in with a chance to win a prize, you can sign up for Cycle September with our partners Love to Ride. The more rides you register the better chance you have in winning prizes and you increase your chances even more by encouraging others to get out on their bikes. Whether you’re returning to cycling, are already a regular rider or trying for the first time, you can register on the Love to Ride Wokingham webpage.
