I'm trying to decide whether to renew my BC membership or sign up with cycling UK.
The only benefit I use that's not really a like for like switch is the SIS discount, and I might miss that.
I spot though that on the plus side (possibly) for cycling UK they have a route planner thing and a cyclist friendly places to stay guide. Has anyone used them, are they any good? (the sustrans thing being woeful for looking at NCN routes and the like)
Ta
SIS do random discounts throughout the year so with some planning you should be fine.
I went with Cycling UK since as far as I can tell British Cycling is more around supporting road racing whereas Cycling UK are more general advocates for access.
I take the view BC support racing, Cycling UK support more general cycling. I'm actually a member of both.
The CUK route planner is pretty good but not infallible, like any online route planner, and sometimes misses obvious cycle paths. Not tried the accommodation thing, but Café Network now has an accommodation list as well, fwiw.
My jury is still out on CUK's accident solicitors - Slater & Gordon. Lovely people when you speak to them, but there seems to be a couple of things missing or not linking up in their call centre scripts, process maps and standard letters which does not enhance the customer experience
They all offer third party insurance and similar discounts (is that BC SIS offer on top of all their regular 2-for-1, 40% off, free shipping etc?)
In terms of campaigning for better conditions for cyclists -
- BC were traditionally a sport cycling org but their campaigning for safer infrastructure has stepped up quite a lot.
- CTC do campaign for better off road access. If anything they used to be a barrier to better utility cycling - with their insistence on the 'right to ride' on all roads they effectively set back the cause for effective, Dutch style, cycle infrastructure in the UK. They're a lot better now but there's still a big chunk of 'if I can ride on the road then anyone can, they just need training' membership.
- Arguably the most effective campaign for better cycling in the UK, even if you don't live in London, is the London Cycling Campaign. There is good stuff starting to happen in other cities but London is still leading the way and there's an argument for joining
LCC even if you don't live in London.
is that BC SIS offer on top of all their regular 2-for-1, 40% off, free shipping etc?)
It's always stacked for me and the free p&p being on gross value is also very nice.
I'll have a gander at LCC.
Ta for the responses folks. I might end up with both of them, a useful route planner (infallible or no) sounds like a good enough reason to go with cycling UK.
This is a perfectly-timed thread, I need to decide whether to renew our BC membership or jump to CUK this week. I rarely use any of the discounts, only really in it for the insurance/legal stuff.
I've been a CTC/ Cycling UK member for 25 years.
They do a lot of campaigning for cyclists' rights - on-road and off-road.
(That cyclists can have full off-road access in Scotland under the Land Reform Act is due to the Cycling UK).
They are behind campaigns on the Dutch reach, close pass etc.
All of these cost money but make a difference to cyclists everywhere.