BC or CTC?

Underscore
Underscore Posts: 730
edited March 2009 in Commuting chat
I've been thinking that it is about time that I had some kind of third party cover for my commuting. There seem to be two obvious options: British Cycling do their Every Day Cycling membership for £20/year and CTC membership is £36/year - both include a good level of third party cover. As far as I can see, there's little to choose between them in terms of the cover - can anyone see a reason not to go with BC membership as the cheapest option?

TIA,

_

Comments

  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    Dunno about BC but I think the CTC do a good bit of looking out for and lobbying on behalf of cyclists- for example having the highway code amended a couple of years back over whether cyclists should use bike paths, legal aid etc. I think of CTC membership as adding your voice to that.

    For all I know though BC may do a lot of the same stuff- and the magazine might not be as dull :wink:
  • steve-m
    steve-m Posts: 106
    In London there is also the LCC option.

    Don't know about BC but with LCC and CTC you often get 10% discounts in bike shops.
    Fixed, commute: Langster 08, FCN6
    Road : Aravis (byercycles) Shimano 105 triple
    Hybrid: Trek 7.2 FX, unused / unloved
  • chuckcork
    chuckcork Posts: 1,471
    CTC do as noted quite a bit of campaigning. You can if you wish with BC sign up to a higher level of cover than the CTC provide, more expensive of course but then again if you get knocked off your bike....
    'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze....
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    If you have or ever plan to have facial and body hair - CTC

    A little more seriously, as intimated by Mr Chuck, I think the CTC has a higher profile, are more readily recognised by the media, and probably do more in terms of cycling advocacy - your contribution can help them maintain and enhance this and contribute to the cyclists' voice.
  • chuckcork
    chuckcork Posts: 1,471
    steve-m wrote:
    In London there is also the LCC option.

    Don't know about BC but with LCC and CTC you often get 10% discounts in bike shops.

    I get a discount usually when I ask for one as a member of BC, not always 10% though, but even 5% is something.
    'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze....
  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    alfablue wrote:
    I think the CTC has a higher profile, are more readily recognised by the media, and probably do more in terms of cycling advocacy - your contribution can help them maintain and enhance this and contribute to the cyclists' voice.

    Much more eloquently put :D
  • alfablue wrote:
    If you have or ever plan to have facial and body hair - CTC

    A little more seriously, as intimated by Mr Chuck, I think the CTC has a higher profile, are more readily recognised by the media, and probably do more in terms of cycling advocacy - your contribution can help them maintain and enhance this and contribute to the cyclists' voice.

    Spot on. Orgs like CTC and LCC redress in a small way the massive influence that the likes of AA and RAC have over planners in DfT and local authorities and over policy makers. EVERY cyclist should make the effort to support them.
    Pain is only weakness leaving the body