LCC Members

I worked once for the LCC as a ride leader. Before I did 'it' I was asked to attend a briefing session in their office, it was eye-opening. For such an intelligent bunch of individuals the collective output was really poor. It felt like an organisation lacking direction and management.

I have no recent reference point BTW.

Perhaps I am being harsh on Charlie but your response here is much more convincing. If the LCC thinks getting involved in London's main cycling forum is a waste of time then it is failing to understand how people get, and discuss, information these days.

Nobody who's very active in the LCC thinks that, Will. (I obviously can't speak for every member.) There have been quite a few cross-collaborations. Staffers and volunteers read the forum and enjoy much of it, too. I'm always telling LCC people to get on the forum. The LCC still hasn't managed to introduce a forum not through lack of wanting but through certain other complicated obstacles, but I hope that it'll happen, perhaps when Microcosm is ready to go. Then not only will LCC people find it easier to keep abreast of LCC business, but others, including more forumengers, will hopefully also be able to more easily join LCC discussions (the current set-up still mostly uses antiquated Yahoogroups, which aren't very accessible). It is certainly true that the communication situation is far from ideal at the moment.

tight ass white people
Have we met?...

@Señor Bear

LCC social rides are pretty much the preserve of borough groups acting autonomously from the centre, but with significant practical support (including insurance) from Newhams Row when requested. It's a case of we lead locally, and the centre follows, which is just as it should be. Sometimes ride leaders are hired by LCC as freelance subcontractors, when, for example, the organisation wins contracts from TfL and the like (e.g., CSS launch). That happens rarely, however, and almost all of our efforts are voluntary.

In SE London we organise many of our rides on a cross-borough basis, with the collective informally known as the Dog & Bell Crew centred on Lewisham and Greenwich, but including members also from Bromley, Southwark and elsewhere. Non-LCC people too.

I think lcc has lost the plot - all this stuff about segregation is a waste of time, money and energy. I don't want cycle lanes, I want SOME GOOD PR for cycling that means drivers give us more room, don't speed, understand that we pay 'road tax' too ...

If the LCC managed to be a 'broad church' like , say, the ctc, I'd be more willing to join.

If the LCC has only 12k members, yet a quarter of peak London journies are by bicycle, maybe it needs to look at what it's doing ... protests might be worth dropping for a start. I think BQ made some very good points.

Slightly off topic but I agree with Skully about the segregation side of things. (I'm a memeber of the LCC by the way). It seems to me as a solution to a problem people are 'too affraid' to tackle i.e. attitudes to other road users. We wouldn't have many of the problems if other road users recognised the vulnerability of other people and afforded them the respect they deserve.

I appreciate this is a bit of an uphill battle but over time attitudes can be changed cf drunk driving for a not very good example.

i've got a lot of love and appreciation for the LCC, although am also sceptical about segregation (via narrow cycle lanes): especially after discussion at Easts with Oliver; hearing tales of the Cable Street rush-hour congestion; finding Bloomsbury a little too busy, especially when the cycle lane resembles a cycle queue at times (but maybe its still good to have it there as it would be/feel 'safer' for some, instead of being amongst the lorries on the main road perhaps; those of us brave/forthright/stupid enough can always go on the road - creating our own #space4cycling!);

up to us to nudge the campaigning in ways of our preferences though..

plenty of campaigns already activated,

plenty more to think up!

e.g. came across a Facebook page on 'Priority for Cyclists' which struck a chord (think it was this one);

surely the LCC is the most effective organisation to represent us to media / decision-makers / politicians / etc. etc.

The LCC still hasn't managed to introduce a forum not through lack of wanting but through certain other complicated obstacles, but I hope that it'll happen, perhaps when Microcosm is ready to go. Then not only will LCC people find it easier to keep abreast of LCC business, but others, including more forumengers, will hopefully also be able to more easily join LCC discussions (the current set-up still mostly uses antiquated Yahoogroups, which aren't very accessible). It is certainly true that the communication situation is far from ideal at the moment.

sounds like a potential step-forward for member participation / involvement;

actual debate / being able to attend meetings with the LCC decision-makers might help too..

.. although have found the informal Easts discussion witb yourself as representative most insightful, :-)

Oliver refers to LCC's use of Yahoo Groups email lists. The lists may not be as accessible as the more popular web forum platforms, but for some contributors the closed community nature of email lists is a plus.

Some of my closest LCC colleagues refuse or are highly reluctant to join open web forums. Mostly but not always older folk. They are largely private people, wish to remain that way, and this must be respected. Yahoo Groups may be antiquated, but they are easily configurable so as to have their archives accessible only by members. Moderation is also relatively simple for those without technical knowledge of the content management systems that underpin blogs and community web forums.

Borough cycling groups are big users of Yahoo Groups, and some of the lists with which I am familiar have public archives. Others are restricted to members only, as is the main LCC Issues policy discussion forum. Part of me would like to see that particular forum viewable by all, but not if it deters some LCC members from contributing. It's not always an easy call.

re. an LCC Microcosm

hey - the lack of LFGSSer enthusiasm for the upcoming 2nd Sep. protest - judging by this thread (perhaps its luckyskulls' mention of "segregated bike lanes"?) - suggests to me the LCC deffo could do with their own internet space4discussion..

.. is Microcosm the answer to the world's problems!?

re. an LCC Microcosm

hey - the lack of LFGSSer enthusiasm for the upcoming 2nd Sep. protest - judging by this thread (perhaps its luckyskulls' mention of "segregated bike lanes"?) - suggests to me the LCC deffo could do with their own internet space4discussion..

.. is Microcosm the answer to the world's problems!?
yes

there are quite a few LCC staff, trustees, local reps on LFGSS. When I write as charlie_lcc I do it as a staff member engaging in discussion, not necessarily presenting an agreed policy line. At other times I use a different identity.

We have no desire to take over LFGSS and run it as campaign tool, we respect it for what it is. Using Microcosm or something similar to enable a more effective LCC community is something we aspire to. The Yahoo groups structure is very restrictive and is getting worse with the neo format being rolled out.

My reply to WW's questioning last year may have appeared defensive from attempting to give a detailed realistic answer to a simplistic question. Last year's board elections dramatically tipped the gender balance towards women, who knows what this year will bring. The mix of employees has also changed, we are now slightly more likely to be London born, more likely to be dark skinned and more likely to be women.

I think lcc has lost the plot - all this stuff about segregation is a waste of time, money and energy. I don't want cycle lanes, I want SOME GOOD PR for cycling that means drivers give us more room, don't speed, understand that we pay 'road tax' too ...

If the LCC managed to be a 'broad church' like , say, the ctc, I'd be more willing to join.

If the LCC has only 12k members, yet a quarter of peak London journies are by bicycle, maybe it needs to look at what it's doing ... protests might be worth dropping for a start. I think BQ made some very good points.

British Cycling has approx 80,000 members. Which is why Chris Boardman can get the ear of the government. With 100,000 members they can ask questions in parliament without petition IIUIC.
Who should you be joining again?

@Jeez - I do not speak for LCC, but rather as an individual LCC member who strongly supports the organisation. On certain matters I hold opinions that differ from those of certain leading figures within LCC, but I lose no sleep over this, nor do I consider letting my membership lapse.

Borough cycling groups have varying degrees of autonomy from LCC, and very different cultures. Also, 12 years is a rather long time. At least LCC has active groups at borough level throughout Greater London, whose members to varying degrees engage with and hold their local authorities to account. That is one of the advantages of having a London-centric cycling lobby.

British Cycling does excellent work on a UK level.

I agree with you when it comes to London Cyclist magazine.

Oh, and I see no reason why LCC cannot increase its membership to 80,000. It will take some effort, but it's not an unreasonable ambition given the number of people who cycle in London and are committed to this mode of transport.

Bump. The LCC is conducting a membership review and we would be very grateful if you found the time to fill in this survey for people who aren't currently members of the LCC. There are prizes. :)

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/lccmshiprevtrus

So I finally got around to joining LCC. Where do I get involved to contribute a 'Don't be a kerb nerd' counterpoint to the 'only segregation is the answer' monoculture?

Oliver, that survey is closed at the moment

British Cycling has approx 80,000 members. Which is why Chris Boardman can get the ear of the government. With 100,000 members they can ask questions in parliament without petition IIUIC.
Who should you be joining again?

Not sure if BC is my cup of tea, but I do appreciate how vocal CB has been of late, so I agree they're worth supporting. Let's hope LCC are too.

Think we missed it! Hope you are well sir!

That's because it was active two months ago. :)

I'll post any other surveys that might come along.

Think I'll try to attend the agm. Probaby won't attempt to vote in the election on Wednesday as I'm so new it seems somewhat disingenuous to insist.

Anybody thinking of going to the agm? Obviously you, Oliver...

Well that was interesting. I think I'd like to get more involved.

My first thought is to try to attend meetings about policy. How on earth LCC has got this far without backing the burden of proof / presumed liability conceot is beyond me!