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CTC, the national cycling charity, to become Cycling UKCyclingUK_logo.jpg

CTC, the national cycling charity, to become Cycling UK

Name change intended to better reflect work already being done
by Alex Bowden
Fri, Feb 19, 2016 12:18
6

CTC, the national cycling charity, is to rebrand as Cycling UK from April of this year. Paul Tuohy, the organisation’s chief executive, said that he hoped a new name and brand would help make the charity more attractive to more people.

Founded in 1878 in Harrogate as the Bicycle Touring Club, the organisation was subsequently renamed the Cyclists' Touring Club and in 2011 members voted to convert to charitable status, taking on the name of CTC, the national cycling charity.

David Murray, Head of Communications and Campaigns, told road.cc that the new name was merely a reflection of what the charity was already doing.

“The success of any brand is about how an organisation ‘lives and breathes’ its values through the work that it does.

“For years, as the national cycling charity, we have worked hard to achieve three things: to inspire people into taking up cycling of all forms, be it touring, commuting, or family rides; we campaign to protect cycling interests, for example creating well designed and properly funded space for cycling; and finally, we help people to overcome personal barriers to cycling, like physical disabilities or economic barriers.

“Our change in brand is aimed at helping to more effectively present the work that we do, so that even more people embrace cycling in their lives”.

Echoing these sentiments, Tuohy said he was confident the change would help “magnify the great work that we do to inspire people into cycling, campaign to protect the gift of cycling, and help people to overcome personal barriers to cycling.”

BikeBiz reports that some members are opposed to the change, but the charity will still legally be registered as the Cyclists’ Touring Club with its charity and companies registrations unchanged. Tuohy was keen to emphasise that The Cyclists’ Touring Club was not being disbanded. “In fact, part of the need for this change is because we hope the new brand will enhance our touring offering.”

The new name and brand is due to be officially launched in April with ‘We are Cycling UK’ also being adopted as trading name of the charity.

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Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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6 comments

Avatar
A V Lowe | 8 years ago
1 like

Well I've had problems with brand confusion whan using the name CTC as it is also the brand for the Coach Tourism Council, a cruise operator (who used CTC in same font as cycling CTC on their promotional literature) plus a specialist machinery haulage company, with a depot in Guildford (and a remarkable similarity between their registerd logo and one version of the cycling CTC's). 

Cycling UK is pretty unambiguous about what's being delivered, and the neat detail is that it still embraces all initiatives and clubs without forcing them drop their  CTC xyz identity.  A smart move to get it registered and secured, but of course a detail that had to be delivered before the official announcement, and thus in the public domain for anyone who might discover it.

No one seems to have any problems with a Wheelers or Clarion or Breeze identity under the British Cycling overall brand?

 

Avatar
cyclist13 | 8 years ago
0 likes

AND HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST AND FOR WHAT POSSIBLE BENEFIT TO ITS MEMBERS

yep, lots of money and no benefit.......

Avatar
ron611087 | 8 years ago
1 like

There's something awfully "niceway" about the whole presentation of the new name.

Avatar
matthewn5 | 8 years ago
2 likes

Shame. Rubbish name, rubbish font, rubbish kerning 'cy    ding'.

What a damn shame all round.

A century of history tossed out the window for an ambiguous name dreamed up by some 20 year old in Shoreditch. So obviously confused with British Cycling.

 

Might have to leave the CTC.

 

Avatar
Simon E | 8 years ago
2 likes

"Cycling UK"?

Looks like a washing powder brand - faceless, characterless, meaningless. Probably directionless.

The fact that Tuohy even had to state that "The Cyclists’ Touring Club is not being disbanded" gives an indication of how rubbish it is. Surely they could have dropped the 'Tourist' moniker but retained some of the CTC's character and sense of purpose?

I had already decided not to renew my membership thanks to this farce.

Avatar
brooksby | 8 years ago
2 likes

So the two big cycling organisations will be "British Cycling " and "Cycling UK"? No possible confusion between the two there, then... 2

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