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Who Are The CTC? Print
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Mountain Bike General Posts - Latest News
Written by stumpy_dan   
Tuesday, 06 November 2007

clear_that_trail.gif

What first brought the CTC to my attention was an announcement from them last year ... 'CTC expands MTB team'. The announcement was the appointment of Ian Warby as its new Senior Cycling Development Officer responsible for off-road issues. Ian as many of the readers here will know was the  founder and manager of the nationally-renowned Aston Hill MTB facility near Aylesbury. His role being to work on a range of projects including the development of CTC’s mountain bike training courses.

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So what is the CTC? It is the national organisation for all cyclists in the UK and Ireland, including children, families, and commuters. CTC has 70,000 members and affiliates and is the oldest and largest cycling body in the UK.

They do a lot for campaigning for cyclists rights across road and off road and of course I'm going to focus on their off road stuff. The news that it is beefing up it's Off Road team with Ian is good news for us all. Ian is working to develop the mountain biking scene nationally in partnership with the leading experts in the field, and will also be developing CTC's mountain bike skills training and a National Standard for off-road skills training. 

 

 ianwarby.jpg

 

Check out their MTB pages on http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4471. Here you will find the latest news on the mtb scene, the projects they are involved in and even links to great skills courses for beginners and intermediate riders as well as courses if you fancy being a skills instructor. Skills weekend course info here  http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4472.  There is also a useful section on all the benefits of cycling section that covers all the "Bikes and Bits" of your steed  at http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3502

 

Before talking about the key political campaigning they are doing on our behalf I just wanted to point out a sweet project they are spearheading to show how they are practically helping our weekend riding. It is a project called Clearthattrail.org:

 

1) www.clearthatrail.org.uk

clear_that_trail.gif

To explain....how often have you been out on the trails and found a tree on your route or a gate on a bridleway locked. Not good and cyclists have rights. This CTC site makes it easy for you to report these obstructions and then they have the now how and contacts to protect our rights and get it sorted for your next ride and for others. Cool hey!

OK before I stop pushing them.. the biggest and most important thing they do is campaign and campaign for OUR rights.

Of most notes is in regards to "Countryside Access" to create Improved rights of way and access for all.

Here are some of the key issues we all face today they are addressing:  1) Mountain bikers should have access to a far greater proportion of the rights of way network.

2) Rights of way legislation in England and Wales should be modelled on the Scottish Land Reform Act 2003.

3) Off-road cycling must be promoted as a healthy leisure activity and means of transport.

 

 

As important and to show how influential they are ... here are some of their key successes we mainly take for granted they have given us today... 

 1) CTC successfully campaigned to have cyclists' right to claim rights of way recognised by law. An amendment to the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 means that cyclists can claim restricted byways.

2) Members of CTC Scotland were instrumental in the Scottish Parliament's landmark legislation on open access, which allows cyclists to ride almost anywhere in the countryside.   All very cool...

 

So how can you help....One way... 

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    Membership is key to keep these folks going (and in turn us riding). It gets you lots of stuff from magazines, ride guides, technical and product advice and of course 3rd party insurance. As the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation, CTC has been protecting and promoting the rights of cyclists since 1878. That is an amazing fact don't you think? CTC is a not-for-profit organisation that is funded through its membership and donations in return for support. By joining CTC you are supporting UK cycling and giving us a louder voice when campaigning locally and nationally on the issues that are important to you. So what are you waiting for...go join.... http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=4088

    To leave you here is a great quote from these folks.....

 

“The campaign for improved rights for off-road cyclists has shown that mountain bikers can be a political force to be reckoned with. The challenge now is to build on that success..." 

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