Cycling UK Forum

Karen,
As I am no longer a member of the Council, I cannot answer your's and Greg's question about what has changed.

Like you I thought we had managed to provide a positive way forward for the CTC. It makes me feel the two years CTC spent supporting Councillors and staff to plan for the future were completely wasted, when so quickly the structure has to be changed. I do think ultimately, it may possibly be right to have a single organisation, but the time is not now.

In simple terms I believe the carrying out of the 2007 -2012 Vision Plan would have enabled us to see how effective our outsourced projects were within the Trust. To evaluate the success of refocusing on the CTC membership arm and, then, Council could have reviewed the possibility of a merger.

This would seem to me to have been completely logical, and given all the evidence necessary for convincing members it was in the best interest of the CTC and the wider world.

What is happening now, when the potential of "new" money for projects is marginalized, is a rush, to create a new CTC which may undermine the very nature of what our members expect as a Cycling Club - which is what CTC is at the moment - an Organisation that supports and encourages its members, with their cycling.
Of course we must as cyclist's support all potential cyclists, but why can we not do that as planned, for the next two years, within the CTC Trust, in the original Vision? We would then have had 5 years of evidence to evaluate.

I am disappointed and disheartened that the current Council has not felt able to respect the earlier work for CTC's future. So to answer you, I am at the moment against the amalgamation.
Jill

I have not entered the debate on this Forum before but now my name and quotation has been used, I feel I would like to comment.
I was a member of CTC Council for 6 years, genuinely trying to help the Organisation provide the best service to members.
It is true, we spent a huge amount of time, debating, researching and consulting members, with the aim of directing CTC towards a positive future. We knew for altruistic reasons it was right to support all cyclists, but also knew we had a responsibility to our members. The Strategic Vision was the culmination of the Council's true belief that we had made provision to do both.
I am saddened by the division and acrimony that has emerged in some parts of CTC over the current drive to merge the two "arms". I have followed closely all the comments and amplification that has arisen as people try to decide what is best. As a passionate supporter of Local Groups, and Campaigning for cyclists needs, I can still clearly see the importance of new projects and encouraging new cyclists. However, I do feel that the urgency - less than two years since the Vision was offered, has not allowed a real opportunity to see if it worked. While there is still uncertainty, and many active traditional CTC members are worried about the status of the CTC Membership Organisation, we should be cautious. CTC is a remarkable source of cycling knowledge and committment within its members and staff: be careful we don't loose it because we are chasing money. If this sounds niaive, I make no apology, I am a cyclist, a CTC member and want the best for CTC.
Jill Kieran

They will probably be the Midweek group from South Bucks CTC.
Look on the CTC local groups page for South Bucks and follow the links to the Midweeek Section rides programme - they are a really friendly crowd with 5 rides every Wednesday, and 6 rides on the last week of the month. Rides are at varying speeds and distances to suit all abilities. They also meet on Friday mornings at a variety of cafes and garden centres.
Good luck, Jill

Contact CTC Cycle Training Department, they will be able to give you advice: 0870 873 0061. The new Bikeability programme may also be helpful, see cycling England's website.
Good luck with your initiative,
Jill

I don't know the London end at all, but from Harefield, north through Rickmansworth, Croxley, Watford outskirts, Hemel, Berkhamsted, to Tring, it is a pleasant ride. All this wet weather might mean a few puddles, but a lot of this stretch is a pretty good surface. I'd use thick tyres though. Plenty of pubs/cafes on this stretch too, or just off near the locks. Hope that helps, Jill