Cycling UK - HELP TO GET MORE MEMBERS?

[Philip Benstead]

Any views

https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/how-w ... ling-group

How to welcome new people to your cycling group
By Julie Rand
It may seem like there’s thousands of new cyclists on the roads and trails since the pandemic, but some may not feel confident enough to join a new group or club. What are the barriers they face and how can they be overcome?
Four volunteers from different Cycling UK groups and clubs that have increased the number of people on their rides talked to presenter Anna Glowinski at our recent Volunteer Celebration about how they have welcomed new riders to their groups by overcoming some of the barriers people face in taking up cycling. They also discussed the help they’ve received from Cycling UK. The panellists were:
• Sue Cartwright, a personal assistant in the West Midlands, is a ride leader for the Cobble Cycle Café Easyriders in Erdington, which is supported by Cycling UK and Sport England. The group features in a short video screened ahead of the discussion, showing how people new or returning to cycling gain the confidence to take part in group activities with a friendly welcome and a ride briefing at the start. She explains how riders can even borrow e-cycles if fitness conditions or health issues are barriers.
• Marina Friend is a member of CTC Coventry, a Cycling UK member group that is celebrating its centenary this year. The group has been very successful in attracting more women to ride with them over the past few years, and a recent 100km sportive attracted a 50% gender split. Marina explains how the group persuaded new members to overcome their impression of cycling being only for 'men in Lycra', and how some women who are Deaf prefer riding in a women-only group.
• Richard Warburton, a retired fire fighter, is a tandem pilot for Bury Tandem Club for Blind and Partially Sighted People, a vibrant club that started around 11 years ago. The group has successfully recruited both pilots, who ride on the front of the tandem, and stokers with visual impairments who are now able to go out on day rides of between 40 and 60 miles in the countryside.
• Rukaiya Moola is a founder member of Cycle Sisters in London, a group aimed at Muslim women, and is also a ride leader and a ride leader mentor. The group is now growing and expanding into many boroughs. She discussed the ways it enables women to enjoy cycling, whatever clothing they choose to wear.

Our top tips for making people feel welcome on a ride:
• Find out the names of everyone on your ride, particularly new riders
• Explain that you will not leave anyone behind (unless the ride is advertised at a particular pace in advance)
• Enlist the help of any experienced riders to keep an eye on newer ones, act as backmarkers, lead a second group, or even act as ‘human signposts’ at junctions or gates
• Explain how you will lead the ride: any jargon and hand signals you might use; when and where you will wait for slower riders; how you will deal with traffic and so on, while reminding each rider they are responsible for their own safety
• Give a rough idea of the route and point out any likely hazards in advance
• Keep the ride flowing smoothly but do stop occasionally and give slower riders a rest before restarting
• Ensure anyone who wishes to leave the ride is happy to make their own way home
• At the end of the ride, thank people for coming and let them know details of the next one
• Consider appointing a diversity and inclusion champion to encourage people from different backgrounds to join your rides
Our top tips for joining a new group:
• Find a group near to you and ask them about the kind of rides they do; most groups will let you cycle with them a few times before being asked to join as a member, so you can make sure it’s a good fit for you
• If possible, let the ride leader know in advance that you are coming along and ask about the likely distance, terrain and anything you need to bring
• Make sure you arrive at the appointed starting location in plenty of time
• If you are new to group riding, let the ride leader know – they will keep an eye on you, or assign someone else to do so
• Make sure the ride leader has your emergency contact details
• Keep in mind they are a volunteer and listen carefully to any instructions
• Try not to overtake the ride leader, unless instructed to do so, as you may miss an important turn – let them lead
• If you fall behind, don’t worry – your group should wait for you at the next junction or at the top of a climb
• Abide by the Highway and Countryside Codes – never ride more than two abreast except when passing. Shout ‘Passing!’ if you do so
• Drop into single file on narrow or busy roads, unless it would be unsafe to do so
• Show courtesy to other road and trail users and be a good ambassador for cycling
• Be alert to what other riders around you are doing and don’t get too close to them
• Shout ‘Slowing!’ or ‘Stopping!’ if necessary – smooth, gentle manoeuvres work best
• If you can, point out any road defects or other hazards to others
• If you wish to leave the ride before the final destination, let the ride leader know first
What should I bring on a group ride?
• Any appropriate bike in good working order. If in doubt, have it checked over by a local bike shop or qualified mechanic
• Carry at least a spare inner tube, pump and tyre levers
• Dress for the weather and bring a spare layer
• Bring a drink and energy bar, plus a picnic or cash for lunch if out all day
• During the pandemic, a face mask and hand sanitiser are a good idea for café, loo or pub stops
• Good lights are essential if there is any chance of riding in the dark or poor visibility
Get involved
Find out about all our current volunteer opportunities and discover the resources we provide for group and club volunteers.

https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/how-m ... drJ84h9HaV

How to make your cycling group more inclusive
By Julie Rand

Making everybody feel welcome on your rides will help your group grow and thrive. Photo: Fiona Fitchett
It is National Inclusion Week with the theme this year of #TakeActionMakeImpact. But what is inclusion? And what does it mean for cycling groups to be inclusive? We look at some ways in which you can take action to make people feel welcome from a diverse range of backgrounds to enrich and strengthen your group
What is inclusion?
We hear a lot about equality (or equity), diversity and inclusion (EDI). But what do these terms actually mean? According to Inclusive Employers, an organisation “trying to make inclusion an everyday reality”, diversity is about valuing who we are – how we identity ourselves as people, whether that is our nationality, culture, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, beliefs or any other specific characteristic – and the differences between us.
In the context of EDI, equality is concerned with trying to make a fairer society so that everybody feels able to participate, while equity is about removing the barriers that prevent people from participating equally. Inclusion, on the other hand, could be defined as “the policy or practice of making sure that everyone in society has access to resources and opportunities”. In other words, it’s about everybody and how we make other people feel.
Why it matters
You might wonder why it’s important to be proactive when it comes to inclusion. Surely all groups are open and friendly and, as long as you have a roadworthy bike, you’ll be welcome to join, so why make a fuss about it? This is largely true but, nevertheless, many people can find it intimidating to join in with new activities or groups they are not familiar with, particularly when they don’t see people who look or sound like them.
Even with groups specifically catering to one of their ‘differences’ such as gender, sexual orientation or ability, they may feel they don’t belong because of another, separate difference such as age, religion, belief, or their ethnic or even linguistic and socio-economic background. This is known as ‘intersectionality’.

Steve Bateman, equity, diversity and inclusion officer for CTC Lancaster and S Lakes, with his pilot Patience Cooper
A brighter future
One of the best things about cycling is that it is an activity that almost everybody can enjoy. With more people cycling, it will become more mainstream and be more attractive to everybody. Groups that make an effort to be really inclusive are more interesting to ride with, retaining existing members and attracting new ones.
Steve Bateman, who is equity, diversity and inclusion officer for Cycling UK member group CTC Lancaster and South Lakes, says: “As a visually impaired tandem stoker, I am appreciative of all our members who ride the front of my tandems, which facilitates my sporting and social inclusion. Visually impaired people from all over the country struggle to find front riders so are facing increased social and sporting isolation and all that involves.”
We have a short, regular Tuesday morning ride to a named café which those who aren’t able to cycle to can get to by other means to enjoy the social aspects of the club
Steve Bateman, equity, diversity and inclusion officer, CTC Lancaster and South Lakes
He adds: “We also try to support our members who have conditions such as dementia, or are recently bereaved, by including them wherever practical. We have a short, regular Tuesday morning ride to a named café which those who aren’t able to cycle to can get to by other means to enjoy the social aspects of the club.”
The right thing to do
Ruby from Glasgow comments: “I like that the group I’m in isn’t a ‘women-only group’ but is ‘women led, all welcome, social and friendly pace’. It’s mainly women and non-binary people who come along, but men aren’t excluded. Usually it’s 90% women and the men there are respectful. It’s not all about who can go the fastest and so on.”
However, being more inclusive is not just about helping your group to be more sustainable, it’s also the right thing to do to bring about a fairer society.

Groups that work towards inclusion welcome a wide range of riders. Photo: Sam Jones
Be kind
Above all, be kind. All of us, no matter what our external appearance might lead you to believe, can suffer from a hidden disability or a mental health issue such as anxiety or a lack of confidence, or be affected by major life events such as grief, illness or economic hardship.
Try not to judge others and give praise and thanks when they’re due – without being patronising – rather than criticism. If somebody’s behaviour or kit is not acceptable, try to give constructive pointers, rather than calling them out in front of others.
Alex Cuppleditch, head of volunteering and EDI lead at Cycling UK, says: “Inclusion is about being valued, heard, understood and accepted. The best way to achieve this is to interact, build positive relationships with each other and listen to each other’s experience and perspective without judgement.”
She adds: “Taking part in physical activity with other people in, for example, cycling groups can be a catalyst for change - sharing a passion breaks down barriers and gives us a connection that exceeds the superficial differences between us.”
Get involved
We will also be offering EDI training to our member groups in the near future so look out for that, and also see how we’re working in partnership with other organisations in the sustainable transport sphere to explore EDI further.
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/equit ... ns-toolkit

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Champion's Toolkit
By Julie Rand

Being an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Champion is a great way to bring more people into cycling. Photo by Wayne Fox
Championing diversity is an important role in encouraging people from a range of different backgrounds to enjoy being part of a cycling group.
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Champion is a person who takes on responsibility for ensuring people from a variety of races, religions, abilities, cultures and sexual identities and orientations are made to feel welcome and take part in group activities.
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Champion should:
• Actively encourage conversations about diversity and question the way we do things
• Promote, celebrate and raise awareness of diversity and inclusion within your network/group
• Recommend ways to improve experience of and engagement with diverse groups
• Model positive behaviours that other can aspire to
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Champion role profile:
What you will be doing
• Encourage open discussions about diversity in your cycle group
• Encourage events that help celebrate diversity
• Make others aware of the effects of discrimination
• Identify areas in which your group can improve its efforts to be more inclusive
The skills you need
• An interest and commitment in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion
• To enjoy encouraging participation and involvement
• To enjoy collaboration and learning from your peers
What's in it for you
• Being an integral influencer in your local cycling group
• An opportunity to develop skills and experience in planning and group management
• Satisfaction of increasing health and wellbeing of your local community and supporting Cycling UK's mission of enabling millions more people to cycle




There is no reason to be aggressive, otherwise, this forum will degrade to be like YET ANOTHER CYCLING FORUM.

Well, you suggest I should express an opinion.

As been said on Facebook by long-term members of the CTC, there is a degree of management speak and wokeness about these pages.

IMHO We need to support and encourage more people to cycle, and not segregate people into groups using identity politics.

[mjr]

My view is it's annoying when people dump links without comment. I don't reward them by clicking: if you don't think them worth comment, why would I?

[Psamathe]

My view is it's annoying when people dump links without comment. I don't reward them by clicking: if you don't think them worth comment, why would I?

+1. Lazy and unhelpful where links are just posted with no explanation, nothing. Use the quote system to show people what it's about.

Ian

[Philip Benstead]

There is no reason to be aggressive, otherwise, this forum will degrade to be like YET ANOTHER CYCLING FORUM.

Well, you suggest I should express an opinion.

As been said on Facebook by long-term members of the CTC, there is a degree of management speak and wokeness about these pages.

IMHO We need to support and encourage more people to cycle, and not segregate people into groups using identity politics.

[Psamathe]

There is no reason to be aggressive, otherwise, this forum will degrade to be like YET ANOTHER CYCLING FORUM.

Well, you suggest I should express an opinion.

As been said on Facebook by long-term members of the CTC, there is a degree of management speak and wokeness about these pages.

IMHO We need to support and encourage more people to cycle, and not segregate people into groups using identity politics.

Which gives me no idea on what the links are aboutr.

The issue of juast posting links has been repeatedly raised. Just clicking on links is generally not a good idea so easier to gove some summary of the page linked to eg
eg https://www.cyclinguk.org

Better to eg

Nominate someone for 100 Women in Cycling 2024
We will be celebrating inspirational women who are leading by example and empowering others and sharing the benefits of cycling.
...
We ask you to nominate your female role models so that we can celebrate our 100 Women in Cycling as part of our continuing quest to address the gender imbalance in cycling.
...

If you can't be bothered to make a small effort to help readers why should they bother to ready your posts?

Ian

[Carlton green]

My view is it's annoying when people dump links without comment. I don't reward them by clicking: if you don't think them worth comment, why would I?

+1. Lazy and unhelpful where links are just posted with no explanation, nothing. Use the quote system to show people what it's about.

Ian

I was puzzled by the original post, didn’t bother opening the links and moved on. To my mind it’s reasonable to expect some text in an original post and any links there should be to support comments in the post.

[Philip Benstead]

duplicate post removed by moderator

[Bonefishblues]

Are you pointing the finger at the passage you have just quoted in full as an example of Wokeism & management speak?

[Philip Benstead]

similar topics merged by moderator

[Carlton green]

What do you think?

I think that the OP has cut and pasted a load of text from the linked article and said nothing of his own thoughts.

Overall I can’t say I like the list much but it does raise some interesting points. However, to my mind, there’s also some question about the negative effects of inclusivity.

If a bunch of women wanted to cycle together should they be ‘encouraged’ to be inclusive by accepting men or should they be allowed to get on with being happy? Personally I’m happy not to ride in inclusive groups and wouldn’t wish to force my presence on others. If a group wants to ride fast and cover a hundred miles in a day then good luck to them, let them enjoy their day without an old bloke who wants a day’s ride to be slow paced and a third of that distance with several stops to site see, chat, and have tea plus cake breaks. If a group wants to spin along all day on tarmac then let them, I wouldn’t want to spoil their ride by dragging them onto some forest track. If a group enjoys banter between the members should a sensitive soul really expect it to change to accommodate them or should they let other folk get on with enjoying their style of living?

Inclusiveness, it’s a mixed bag, IMHO some forms of it can go too far.

[Audax67]

Inclusiveness, it’s a mixed bag, IMHO some forms of it can go too far.

That. We're human.

[Philip Benstead]

What do you think?

I think that the OP has cut and pasted a load of text from the linked article and said nothing of his own thoughts.


I SAID When it comes down to it, do you fit in. I have come across many groups who are unwelcoming to new riders, these top tips will make IMHO no difference.

Overall I can’t say I like the list much but it does raise some interesting points. However, to my mind, there’s also some question about the negative effects of inclusivity.

If a bunch of women wanted to cycle together should they be ‘encouraged’ to be inclusive by accepting men or should they be allowed to get on with being happy? Personally I’m happy not to ride in inclusive groups and wouldn’t wish to force my presence on others. If a group wants to ride fast and cover a hundred miles in a day then good luck to them, let them enjoy their day without an old bloke who wants a day’s ride to be slow paced and a third of that distance with several stops to site see, chat, and have tea plus cake breaks. If a group wants to spin along all day on tarmac then let them, I wouldn’t want to spoil their ride by dragging them onto some forest track. If a group enjoys banter between the members should a sensitive soul really expect it to change to accommodate them or should they let other folk get on with enjoying their style of living?

Inclusiveness, it’s a mixed bag, IMHO some forms of it can go too far.

[Carlton green]

What do you think?

I think that the OP has cut and pasted a load of text from the linked article and said nothing of his own thoughts.

Overall I can’t say I like the list much but it does raise some interesting points. However, to my mind, there’s also some question about the negative effects of inclusivity.

If a bunch of women wanted to cycle together should they be ‘encouraged’ to be inclusive by accepting men or should they be allowed to get on with being happy? Personally I’m happy not to ride in inclusive groups and wouldn’t wish to force my presence on others. If a group wants to ride fast and cover a hundred miles in a day then good luck to them, let them enjoy their day without an old bloke who wants a day’s ride to be slow paced and a third of that distance with several stops to site see, chat, and have tea plus cake breaks. If a group wants to spin along all day on tarmac then let them, I wouldn’t want to spoil their ride by dragging them onto some forest track. If a group enjoys banter between the members should a sensitive soul really expect it to change to accommodate them or should they let other folk get on with enjoying their style of living?

Inclusiveness, it’s a mixed bag, IMHO some forms of it can go too far.

I SAID: When it comes down to it, do you fit in? I have come across many groups who are unwelcoming to new riders, IMHO these top tips will make no difference.

Fixed that for you - with a few clarifications too.

True enough, you did express a view. I lost your one liner amongst the mass of text.

I think that the tips could make some difference, make folk think a little, but I wouldn’t have thought it reasonable - or practical either - to expect large changes in the way that folk act. Cycling is supposed to be a fun activity, don’t expect a group of slow riders to change so that when a fast and loads of miles rider joins in they get all that they want. Likewise don’t expect a group of roadies to accept doing less than fifty miles between stops, etc.

One size rarely suits all, and it’s daft to think otherwise.

[Philip Benstead]

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

[Nearholmer]

I think there is a bit of confusion or missing the point going on here.

Organising rides of various categories is one thing; the club I’m a member of runs four or more road speed levels, two gravel difficulty levels, and a ‘social on cycle paths’ stream, as well as a women only stream primarily aimed at overcoming the reticence of women newbies. Categories are fine (although having many probably isn’t feasible in small clubs).

But, having decided to organise a ride of X or Y type, being inclusive or exclusive is something different. It is possible to have, say, a 15mph average road ride that is full of sexist banter, bike/gear snobbery, racist jokes, religious insensitivity, old-git crustiness, cliques, one-upmanship on hill-climbing and/or downhill speed, is full of “stats boasting”,and callously drops anyone who is having a bad day, or a friendly and cheerful 15mph average road ride where the reverse is true on each point.

Basically, a club has to decide whether it wants its rides to be exclusive in tone, or inclusive, and my observation is that if it does the latter it will flourish and grow, while if it does the former it is likely to stagnate or wither.

I’ve observed the same in other hobbies/activities, with the added spice of the odd petty megalomaniac figure in some groups, people who seem to have created groups more to lord over them than for the joy of shared enthusiasm.