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news
London cyclists at traffic lights (copyright Britishcycling.org_.uk).jpgBritish Cycling launches new membership category for commuters
British Cycling has launched a new membership package targeted specifically at people who commute by bike, in response to what the organisation says is an increasing diversification in its membership base as it heads towards the 150,000 mark.
Benefits of the package include legal liability insurance of up to £15,000,000, free legal advice and discounts including 10% off at Evans Cycles, Halfords and Cycle Republic
The first 100 people signing up will also receive a free See.Sense ACE intelligent bike light, worth £44.99, which includes sensor technology patented by the Northern Ireland-based company that will enable information on issues such as collisions, near misses, road quality and journey flow to be captured.
British Cycling says that information captured by the light can be shared with it to help in its campaigning for safe infrastructure for cyclists from both national and local government.
From 16,500 members in 2005, British Cycling’s membership has now risen to 145,000, and is now said to be equally split between competitive and leisure riders.
Also aimed at utility cyclists, the British Cycling Commute membership slots in alongside its existing Fan, Race and Ride and Racing membership categories, the latter targeted at sportive, club and leisure cyclists.
British Cycling’s commercial director, Jonathan Rigby, commented: “The growth in our membership over the past two decades has been astonishing, and we’re determined to accelerate this growth even further as we work towards our ambition of transforming Britain into a great cycling nation.
“We’re delighted to be able to work closely with See.Sense on this launch as the insights we will receive from their patented sensors will help us to paint a really clear picture of cycle activity in Britain, and work alongside our city and regional partners to pinpoint the areas which need to be improved the most.”
The organisation’s policy manager, Nick Chamberlin, said: “Many people are now beginning to wake up to the fact that commuting by bike is often the quickest, cheapest and most reliable transport option for their daily commute, and what’s more, in doing so they are also helping to combat air pollution and lead a healthier, more active life.
“We hope that this new membership will encourage and support many more commuters to make the switch and discover these benefits for themselves.”
You can find full details of the new membership package, which is available to riders aged 18+ and costs £37 a year or £33.30 if paid by direct debit, here.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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13 comments
You'd only be able to commute on a TUEsday
Shall we just blow a massive hole in their launch and ask WHY they are pursuing this strategy and subjecting commuters to the full rigours of the WADA code when commuting is by definition non competitive?
Shocking.
Can you elaborate on this, please?
All BC members are subject to the full WADA code - without exception ( WADA does not allow for exceptions of any member types underneath the umbrella of an NGB )
There will be potential members, whom, for health reasons take medications that are on the Prohibited list.
The agreement to comply with the WADA code is buried in the BC terms and conditions of their web application, and IMHO it is not clear to the applicant what they are undertaking.
Whether or not UKAD would pursue a case against an individual is not the issue.
Its whether or not BC are giving sufficient clarity to what is a hefty personal undertaking?, Whether they should be targeting commuters in the first place, knowing full well that applying the WADA code to such a group is entirely disproportional.
I asked the same question of BC in email correspondence years ago in the wake of the Ian Edmonds ban, who was a 'ride' member.
I was horrified to find out that it applied to their "Fan" membership which was by rights a non participational membership ( simply to gain news and discount tickets )
can you get banned from commuting?
Maybe not, but can breaking the rules of membership possibly void the insurance?
I very much doubt it. I suspect that if they were to try and refused to honour my cover because I take a load of asthma medication every day they would fail under unfair contract clauses laws. However, it is silly and that should be updated to exclude commuters. Not that WADA are likely to come knocking on my door and stop me cycling to the station.
Obviously not
, but its the principal that matters here.
People who want Third Party insurance for commuting only, might be better served by an organisation like Cycling UK,
National Governing Bodies, who are bound by the WADA code cannot offer membership / services without getting that person to agree to be bound by the WADA code. Its the same - Cycling Australia offer a "Non Riding" membership , that gets you bound by the code.
Even if you are just a member of the club which is affiliated to BC without having personal membership, you are bound by it too.
Its an horrificly invasive legal structure, and the least BC could do is be more transparent in their online membership process.
But they wont do anything that might slow, or reduce their all important membership numbers will they ?
No, but you could end up with a black mark against your name that e.g. potential employers may find or may impact against you in other ways.
The British Cyling discount only covers Cyling products? HOLY SHIT.
On the other hand, the CUK discount in Cotswold Outdoor applies for everything you can buy in the shop and you just show them your membership card.
Forget the Halfords discount. I tried to use it on Friday buying some wiper blades for the car. It now only covers cycling products and you have to download and fill in a form at home before you go the shop. Basically, no longer worth bothering with.
I did the new process last week and it was much easier than that - there's a link on the BC page - click on it to get a code and just show your phone to the person at the till. They put in the code and did my 10% discount with no forms or print-outs. Not as good as it was, but still way better than the new Chanin Reaction 'deal'.