Cycling UK - HELP TO GET MORE MEMBERS?

[Carlton green]

I think some need to reread the above, it is more about behaviour change ridding fast or slow, long or short rides.

I think that one could read through each of the fifteen points and fairly critique each of them - it’d take quite a time and I can’t be bothered to do so. If someone wants to join a ride with others then, as they say, it cuts both ways. Joiners really shouldn’t expect others to change to accommodate the joiner - I certainly don’t - and there’s a limit to the common courtesy that is fair to expect of others.

[Bonefishblues]

Equally, the world moves on and there's much more focus on inclusivity and accommodating different individuals - and a much greater expectation of same. If the checklist promoted a healthy debate, then it may well have achieved much of its intent.

[Nearholmer]

there’s a limit to the common courtesy that is fair to expect of others.

I’m afraid I disagree completely.

“Common courtesy” to me implies that standard of courtesy which is commonly expected within society, and I can’t see how people participating in bike rides magically become exempt from those societal expectations, which have changed significantly over the years.

I guess that if a cycling group doesn’t really want to change, wishes to continue in its long-established ways, conducting itself to the societal expectations of, say, 1973, it can and will, but I’d say it’s a near-certainty that if it does it will not attract and retain enough new members to compensate for the number of members retiring from participation: it will wither and die.

Remember the thread title.

[Carlton green]

there’s a limit to the common courtesy that is fair to expect of others.

I’m afraid I disagree completely.

“Common courtesy” to me implies that standard of courtesy which is commonly expected within society, and I can’t see how people participating in bike rides magically become exempt from those societal expectations, which have changed significantly over the years.

I guess that if a cycling group doesn’t really want to change, wishes to continue in its long-established ways, conducting itself to the societal expectations of, say, 1973, it can and will, but I’d say it’s a near-certainty that if it does it will not attract and retain enough new members to compensate for the number of members retiring from participation: it will wither and die.

Remember the thread title.

H’mm some interesting thoughts there but IMHO flawed. Getting more members might be a worthy aim but if the price of doing so significantly depletes the value of the group to other members then a mistake has been made. If a group slowly withers and dies then that is better, for the existing members, than them loosing their club through unwelcome transformation.

[Nearholmer]

Given that the thread is about attempts to get more members, I thought it might be helpful to talk about doing things which attract and retain new members.

[Jdsk]

...
Joiners really shouldn’t expect others to change to accommodate the joiner - I certainly don’t - and there’s a limit to the common courtesy that is fair to expect of others.

...
Getting more members might be a worthy aim but if the price of doing so significantly depletes the value of the group to other members then a mistake has been made.
...

Please could you give an example of where that limit to common courtesy should be drawn. And of how value has been depleted.

Thanks

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

Given that the thread is about attempts to get more members, I thought it might be helpful to talk about doing things which attract and retain new members.

It is. I was in one of the focus groups that Cycling UK ran recently. The point on which agreement was most quickly reached was the need to attract people who haven't cycled recently.

Jonathan

[Carlton green]

Given that the thread is about attempts to get more members, I thought it might be helpful to talk about doing things which attract and retain new members.

So then the ideal would be to attract new members who tolerably fit in with the existing membership? That would seem fair to me. I would never join a club or organisation where my presence was an unwelcome affliction on others and expect the same of other people - do as you would be done by, etc., and don’t expect long established members to change by anything other than their own will.

[Bonefishblues]

That's not really a recipe to extend participation though. Be like the existing members or don't join because you won't be welcome.

[Carlton green]

That's not really a recipe to extend participation though. Be like the existing members or don't join because you won't be welcome.

That’s not quite what I said thought is it.

[Nearholmer]

So, what would you do in order to attract new members to a club, which is the “exam question” in this case?

[Bonefishblues]

That's not really a recipe to extend participation though. Be like the existing members or don't join because you won't be welcome.

That’s not quite what I said thought is it.

I'm sorry, what did you mean? I read it several times and that was what I took from it.

[PH]

Given that the thread is about attempts to get more members, I thought it might be helpful to talk about doing things which attract and retain new members.

So then the ideal would be to attract new members who tolerably fit in with the existing membership?

I see no issue with a group or club organising rides that only appeal to a small proportion of cyclists. As long as the reason it doesn't attract others is about the cycling not the rider.
Quite a few riders come out with my local CTC group once or twice and we never see them again. I think we're OK with that, we have over the years varied what we offer to have a wider appeal, though it's still within a fairly narrow segment. The lack of appeal is usually that we're not sporty enough. That's fine, if they don't already know about them we can point them towards groups they might find more attractive.

[Nearholmer]

As long as the reason it doesn't attract others is about the cycling not the rider.

I wish I’d thought of that succinct way of putting it.

[cycle tramp]

..why can't cycling UK just have more members? Why more people in group rides?

..you don't need to ride in a group, and whereas that's how I began my social cycling 20 something years ago.. by 2015 I was mentally bored with it... it's my life.. I'll cycle, stop, eat and visit places as I damn well please without a group leader telling me otherwise.