The Benefits: Road Cyclist
If you get your kicks on the tarmac you'll know that sometimes the tarmac can kick back. We share the road with cars, lorries and other cyclists. Take a look at our What Ifs and see how Everyday Cycling Membership can help you.
For the equivalent of just £2 per month, Everyday Cycling membership gives you access to a wide range of benefits including cycling insurance, legal advice and discounts on hotels, breakdown cover, travel and retail.
Insurance cover for cycling activities - third party liability insurance is an integral part of the Everyday Cycling membership package that provides members with important insurance cover with an indemnity limit of £10 million and with no 'excess'. Protecting you from the financial consequences of a claim made against you following a cycling accident that was wholly or partly your fault. This essential member benefit covers non-competitive, social, leisure and utility cycling worldwide.
Expert legal claims and advice - Advice is available from experienced personal injury lawyers should you, as the holder of an Everyday Cycling membership, be involved in an accident that is not your fault. Even if you have suffered no personal injury, your case may still be pursued, at no cost to yourself - again ask about this when comparing packages. Over £4.8 million has been recovered in damages in the last two years, at no cost to our members.
Great value benefits - Our benefits include discounts with the AA, Holiday Inn, sports travel and much more. Even more value from your Everyday Cycling Membership. Find out more about Everyday Cycling Membership Affinity Benefits
Becoming a member - Everyday Cycling's parent organisation is British Cycling - the internationally recognised governing body of cycling in Great Britain which represents the interests of everyone who rides their bike for sport and leisure.
By purchasing an Everyday Cycling membership you are becoming a member of British Cycling and will therefore be making an important contribution to the development of the whole of cycling in the UK. In addition, you will have the peace of mind of insurance protection, whether you cycle to work, for fitness or for leisure.
What if...
Q
You're taking part in a cyclosportive event and you accidentally clip another rider's back wheel and you're both injured as a result of the accident? How can Membership help?
As you are primarily the negligent party the other rider could make a claim against you for the injuries and damage sustained. Any such claim would be covered by the liability insurance provided by your EDC membership. Compensation for your own injuries could only be pursued if you considered the other rider to be negligent and there were reasonable prospects of establishing this. If however the other rider was also an EDC member we would be unable to support a claim against them due to a conflict of interest. In such circumstances you would need to refer to an alternative solicitor and your EDC membership would not cover the legal costs incurred in pursuing the claim.
Q
You're out training for your next event and you're knocked off your bike by a car that turns in front of you at a junction? Can I get any legal advice and help with a claim?
Yes. You should report the accident immediately to the incident helpline. If there are reasonable prospects of succeeding with a claim against the motorist a legal action will be supported at no cost to yourself.
Q
I hit a raised drain cover while out with a group of friends. I go down, I'm not injured but my bike is seriously damaged. Where do I stand?
Our appointed solicitors will explore the possibility of making a claim against the local Highway Authority who have a duty to maintain the public highway or the utility provider responsible for the drain cover.
It is important to be aware that Highway Authorities have a statutory defence available to them if they can prove that they have taken all reasonable steps to maintain the highway to the standard necessary to accommodate the ordinary traffic that passes along it.
Photographic evidence of the defect is crucial, as it is common for defects to be repaired once an incident has been reported to the local authority, leaving no evidence of the defect should liability be disputed by the Local Authority. In addition, where possible, measurements (depth/height, width and length) of the pothole or defect in the highway should be obtained.
Q
I don't always wear my helmet when riding my bike. What are the implications of not wearing a helmet if I am involved in an incident whilst riding my bike and wish to pursue a claim against a third party ?
British Cycling recommends all cyclists to wear suitable head protection whilst riding their bike. Whilst there is no legal requirement to wear a helmet, if you suffer a head injury as a result of the incident the third party insurer could argue that your compensation should be reduced if you were not wearing a helmet. They are likely to argue for a 25% reduction but this is a matter to be decided by medical evidence.