Woodley Town Council was pleased to see strong community interest at the recent Woodley Carnival, where many residents visited the joint MyJourney and Woodley Town Council Cycling & Walking Stall. The stall provided an opportunity to share plans to promote ‘active travel’ encouraging more walking and cycling to help reduce car journeys in and around the town.
The stall proved highly popular, with 214 residents taking part in the ‘spin the wheel’ game and many more stopping by to discuss local safer cycling routes and events. A number of enthusiastic cyclists volunteered to ‘test drive’ new draft safer cycling routes being developed as part of Woodley’s local cycling network.
“It was great to see Woodley folk engaging with active travel, and I was pleased (and surprised!) that a number of cyclists have taken our draft local cycle routes to test drive and provide feedback,” said Cllr June Taylor, a member of the Council’s Cycling & Walking Sub-Committee.
Testing the Routes
The Council has asked volunteers to cycle their chosen route and provide feedback on:
- Whether the instructions are clear and easy to follow
- Any hazards encountered, such as potholes, broken signs, tricky junctions, or flooded off-road paths
- The duration of the route from end to end
- Any improvements or alternative suggestions for the route.
Important Feedback
In addition, the Council is encouraging wider community input on how to make Woodley more bike-friendly. Residents are invited to share their ideas on:
- The availability and location of cycle racks, secure stores, repair stands, and pumps
- Signage for both cyclists and walkers
- Safety considerations such as lighting, road speed limits, and cycling education
- Barriers to owning a bike, and challenges for children cycling
- Any other suggestions related to cycling infrastructure or experience.
A spokesperson for MyJourney said: “We had a great day. We loved speaking with people who are genuinely interested in active travel. Many residents also spoke to us about the various local events MyJourney organises for the community.”
Get on Your Bike
We were encouraged by the level of engagement and are keen to involve even more local people as this work continues.
Whether you’re a regular cyclist or just thinking about getting back on your bike, we’d love to hear from you. Help us shape a more cycle-friendly Woodley by testing a route or sending us your ideas.
Please contact Cllr June Taylor for more information: June.Taylor@woodley.gov.uk
