meic wrote:I have a reply from National Office.
It is indeed against our policy to have compulsory helmet use and our Ride Leader Handbook makes it clear that it is not up to ride leaders to promote their use and it should be an individual’s choice.
As a Member Group, Pembrokeshire Freewheelers must abide by our policies and guidance.
(My underline)
The above confirms Cycling UK Member Groups
must allow riders to decide for themselves whether to wear a helmet. There is no reference to Affiliate Groups in that statement.
mjr wrote:Really? Isn't "other organisations" in that context the likes of BC, rather than merely the AG itself?
Interesting question and one that has prompted me to heed the words of Scarfolk Council, "For more information please reread".
Back then to the
Ride Leader Handbook to check who the target audience for the information are (my underline).
Introduction
Welcome to the Cycling UK Ride Leader workshop. This workshop is for those who take people out on group cycle rides on road, and those who would like to. Participants may be from Cycling UK Member Groups, Cycling UK affiliate groups, and the wider community.
Attending a Ride Leader Training session provides no formal qualification. I'd expected it to only be delivered to ride leaders from MGs and AGs. It's hard for me to imagine a circumstance where an external body would accept an "unqualified" person to lead a ride under that external body's own insurance, so I really wasn't expecting "
and the wider community". Nevertheless it is there.
A little further on (my underline).
NOTE 2 that Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliated groups must abide by our guidance for insurance purposes, but other bodies may have their own rules and regulations to be followed by people leading rides for them, for example schools and youth groups.
Which clearly differentiates "other bodies" from both MGs and AGs, although schools and youth groups can be behind setting up AGs.
Throughout the document there are references to Cycling UK rides that IMO cover both MG and AG rides, there are other references to Cycling UK rides that IMO only encompass MG rides.
The situation is more ambiguous than I had thought and whilst I maintain my view I would be wise to make greater allowance for the doubts others have expressed.The
Member Group Handbook includes the following (my underline).
Affiliated Groups
...
Affiliated Groups are NOT bound by all the policies included in this Policy Handbook. They receive specific guidance on applicable policies at the date of their annual affiliation renewal. However, familiarity with this material may be useful in the successful operation of the Group and is available on that basis.
I am not familiar with the content of that specific guidance.
At the end of the day I have neither knowledge of the helmet policies of any local Cycling UK AGs nor plans to ride with them, I won't be asking for clarification from National Office.