IAM – The new cycling membership

With the current changes taking place at the CTC, many members are looking for somewhere else to join to get their benefits.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) have been the cyclists friend in the past few years, giving us support and agreeing with us on topics such as primary position.
It’s come to the point where IAM have teamed up with John Franklin, the author of Cycle Craft, and written a book called  How To Be A Better Cyclist.

IAM recently started offering a membership scheme for cyclists which offers:

  • The book “How to be a better cyclist”
  • IAM Total Cycle Assist policy, looking after you and your bike whilst on the road and in the even of an incident
  • 10% discount vouchers for Halfords
  • Hi-viz draw string bag
  • Other exclusive IAM discounts services
  • Regular e-newsletters

The IAM Total Cycle Assist policy has been around for several years and it offers you, all your bikes and your direct family coverage.  You get access to a 24/7 help line for immediate expert assistance, which isn’t actually 24 hours a day, it’s actually only 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and the rest of the time you get a voicemail. You’ll get a brand new bike if your own is damaged beyond repair, this is on a like-for-like basis. They also offer £100,000 legal expenses insurance cover, private physiotherapy and treatment.

The membership costs £15 which is half the cost of the current CTC membership which is approaching £40. I could see a few cyclists moving over to this, just to see what it’s like. The only problem I see is backing a charity which is so car pro. You expect when you join the CTC or similar, you are aiding in the running of the group/charity for improving cycling for all of us but will we get the same if we join the IAM or will they put the money in the general fund which will go to the vehicle based activities?
Not that funding the IAM in general is a bad thing, they do great work and they want to make the roads a safer place for everyone.

You can read more about the IAM cycling membership here


4 thoughts on “IAM – The new cycling membership

  1. The IAM package looks good, but there doesn’t seem to be any 3rd Party insurance cover, which is the No. 1 (and pretty well the only) reason for CTC membership.
    Or have I misunderstood the IAM website?

    1. Unfortunately you are right. That is something I missed off the list and i’ve noticed since i posted this that a few others have pointed it out.
      IAM are missing a trick with that.
      And as you say, i suspect a lot of CTC members are their just for third party but i think that british cycling does a pretty good membership for less than CTC which has third party insurance, worth a look.

  2. IAM aren’t a reactionary pressure group like the loons at the Association of British Drivers for instance. I wouldn’t have a problem with being a member, either as a cyclist or a motorist.

Leave a Reply to WestfieldWanderer Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.