Cycling UK's use of social media

[slowster]

1. Is there anything that it currently does, which it should do differently?

2. Is there anything that it currently does not do, which it should do?

[Carlton green]

1. Is there anything that it currently does, which it should do differently?

2. Is there anything that it currently does not do, which it should do?

Interesting questions, but I’m not at all sure that I understand the limits / contents of all of Cycling UK’s use of social media and wonder what resources there are, if any, to change anything.

[AllRides]

1. Is there anything that it currently does, which it should do differently?

I think CyclingUK is in a bit of a tough position social media wise. The breadth of brand elements (advocacy, touring) plus the local CTCs means the social media ends up very corporate. That doesn’t work too well for decent social media engagement.

Plus you have Sustrans and British Cycling who occupy similar spaces. Sometimes you’ll see a re-posting party between Sustrans, Cycling Uk, living streets, etc.

My advice would be to either develop a tone of voice and be clear about it - what’s Cycling UK social media’s personality? What does it find funny? Does it like Jeremy Vine’s cycling posts or see them as fueling cyclist hate?

Or just stick to corporate and ‘brining’.

What I would like to see more of either way is structuring posts so they can drive engagement. So not just ‘post and forget’ links to press releases but something written in a way it can be reposted and commented on. And engage in those comments/reposts.

2. Is there anything that it currently does not do, which it should do?

There should be national feeds (I.e. Wales). In Wales’s case the national person posts on their own account, which is fine, and stuff goes on the UK but where’s the Wales view given AT is devolved (same for Scotland and NI of course).

[geocycle]

I think allrides has got it about right. Forget the corporate stuff and let some personalities come through. A great example is Celia Richardson from the National Trust who has dealt with the nonsense thrown at the NT brilliantly.

[TrevA]

I had to search for the CyclingUK YouTube channel, strange how it’s never come up as a suggestion for me, despite me being an avid consumer of cycling content on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/@cyclinguk?si=WetsFslxdHVwUqNV

They’ve got 330 videos but not many from the last year and the ones they have published recently don’t get many views. It feels as though they’ve almost given up.

[atoz]

Unlike GCN. They've had their problems but you can't get away from then on YouTube.

[mattheus]

Unlike GCN. They've had their problems but you can't get away from then on YouTube.

That is pretty much their job at GCN.

Imagine the fuss if CUK recruited a full-time Youtube content creator (who to be any good would cost a heck of a lot more than another competent admin person).

"LOOK HOW MUCH THEY'RE WASTING ON THIS JOKER! AND WHERE IS THE CONTENT ON TOURING FOR 30p A DAY? LIKE THE OLD DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

[cyclist]

I think I like the inspiring stories about people challenging age, disability and disease.

I would like to see more of the history of CTC, local groups and their organised rides. Guidance on how to set up a CTC group, lead a group. I'm interested to learn about Cycling UK vehicular cycling views.

Cycling UK view on bike activism. More educational videos on various bike handling, bike reviews also could help.

[fatmac]

The Cyclists Touring Club was a channel for cycle tourists to interact, it's only fairly recently that things have changed, like becoming a charity, for instance, & now, as CyclingUK, what is its direction, who is it aimed at?

It isn't at all clear who CUK is actually being aimed at...

[plancashire]

I think I like the inspiring stories about people challenging age, disability and disease.

...

Doesn't that reinforce the view that riding a bike is a fringe activity? What would get more people of all sorts riding? Maybe more influencers and cool-looking folk on bikes - people to aspire to be? Or maybe more people "just like me"?

[gaz]

I think I like the inspiring stories about people challenging age, disability and disease.

...

Doesn't that reinforce the view that riding a bike is a fringe activity? ...

It reinforces the view that riding a bike is a diverse activity, there are lots of people who need to see someone "just like me" cycling.

[fatmac]

Less lycra, more jeans & sandals......

[arnsider]

Modern vehicular traffic poses big dangers to cyclists and often road users are diametrically opposed to each other.
This generates rancour, disrespect and often murderous action.
Going back to say the sixties and seventies, Police Forces had much bigger road traffic divisions and patrolled trunk roads quite efectively. All that has totally dissappeared and we now have near complete anarchy on our roads.
Not enough campaigning from Cycling organisations happens.
We tend to highlight the hegemony that drivers and motorcyclists seem to adopt, without confronting them head on with campaigns and criticisms.
The media abounds with the likes of Clarkson, but we don't have sufficient clout to counter them.

[mattheus]

Not enough campaigning from Cycling organisations happens.
We tend to highlight the hegemony that drivers and motorcyclists seem to adopt, without confronting them head on with campaigns and criticisms.
The media abounds with the likes of Clarkson, but we don't have sufficient clout to counter them.

It's not much of a level playing field: TV companies are paying Clarkson millions to spread his message.

THEY are paying HIM. In case anyone thinks they misread that bit ...

[Bmblbzzz]

Clarkson is a TV presenter, of course they are paying him.

I think I like the inspiring stories about people challenging age, disability and disease.

...

Doesn't that reinforce the view that riding a bike is a fringe activity? What would get more people of all sorts riding? Maybe more influencers and cool-looking folk on bikes - people to aspire to be? Or maybe more people "just like me"?

I think I like the inspiring stories about people challenging age, disability and disease.

...

Doesn't that reinforce the view that riding a bike is a fringe activity? ...

It reinforces the view that riding a bike is a diverse activity, there are lots of people who need to see someone "just like me" cycling.

Both ways, I think. The media presentation of cycling falls into two categories: something done by superfit young men, who we cheer and they are British and win medals; and something done on urban streets by yoofs in hoodies to intimidate grannies. Possibly, from time to time, a side helping of "nostalgically tinged working man" and "well meaning but unworldly planet-caring types". None of these four categories are exactly mainstream. The "inspiring stories" can work to challenge some of them but, despite 25% of the UK population being disabled in some way, still isn't media-wise mainstream.