Si wrote:Psamathe wrote:
I think that people starting/learning to ride would be a different issue and could maybe be addressed by a different form of membership. Maybe a "Starters Membership" that allowed rides, 3rd party insurance but no magazine, etc. and could only be taken out for 1 year after which full membership of leave.
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I would suggest,though, that it is free to join and also offers additional benefits like cycle training.
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Sorry, drifting off-topic again, but I think free would inspire no commitment from the "starters". A nominal membership fee would not discourage people but would give them a sense of being a true member of something and maybe motivate them to attend more frequently (i.e. "I've paid for it so I'm going to get the most of my membership fee"). Give it for free and people will take it and then decide later if they can be bothered ...
The challenge then becomes getting the "Starter Fee" price set at the level; not so low people feel they are not just turning up for free training yet not too high to discourage people.
If the CTC to provide free training to everybody, then I would have reservations about my membership money being used to pay for free training for those who can easily afford to pay for such things. Maybe offer it for free to those e.g. registered unemployed, on benefits, disabled, retired, etc. (I'm unsure of a sensible criteria but basically those who are not on significant incomes).
Ian