Third Party liability insurance

If you are involved in an incident causing injury or property damage that was (or is alleged to have been) your fault your insurance cover may indemnify you in respect of the legal costs of defending a third party claim and any resulting damages awarded against you. Cover is up to a limit of £20 million and British Cycling will pay any insurance excess that applies.

Members and Premium Members who normally reside in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Incidents in which you are involved whilst riding or wheeling your bike and which are alleged to have been your fault.

• Physical injury to third parties caused by your actions
• Damage to third party property caused by you
• Legal costs incurred in forming your defence
• Damages awarded against you following a successful claim by a third party
• Total cover for legal costs and awards of up to £20m

Members benefit from individual liability insurance for competitive cycling events held under the auspices of British Cycling and whilst participating in competitive events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling.

Members also benefit from individual liability insurance cover for non-competitive, social, leisure, utility cycling and commuting and also whilst participating in timed events such as sportives.

British Cycling’s member liability insurance is arranged on a ‘primary specific’ basis - which means that a claim will not be referred to any other insurance policy that our members may have. Cover is provided on a worldwide basis but it should be noted that if you intend to live outside of the UK for more than six months in total during any twelve month period, cover will no longer apply*.

It should also be noted that members travelling to the United States of America or its incorporated or unincorporated territories or Canada or its territories or provinces will be insured on a contingent basis** and only if they have travel insurance that includes personal liability for the cycling activities that they are planning to undertake.

* This limit does not apply to members of the armed forces stationed abroad.

** This means that our insurers will call upon the member’s travel insurance policy in the event of a claim.

Important exclusions include:

• Business use (e.g. cycle courier) but commuting is covered.
• Deliberate acts.
• The following member to member liability claims (claims made against one British Cycling member by another)*:
• One member against another in a cycling competition, race, time trial or timed event**.
• Any liability directly or indirectly caused to a member’s immediate family.
• Claims against members who are not resident in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands***.
• Events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations, except those whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling. See “Am I covered when taking part in cycling events?”

* Member for these purposes being a British Cycling Member or Premium Member. ** Typically, but not exclusively, a Sportive or other such organised mass participation event where times are recorded. *** This exclusion does not apply to members of the armed forces temporarily abroad.

Contact the Incident Helpline by completing our incident report form or calling 0161 274 2015. We will ask for your membership details and a brief description of the incident. This includes time and place of the incident and details of any other vehicle(s)/property or person(s) involved. We'll then put you in touch with our appointed solicitors and/or insurers for assistance.

You should not have any discussion with the other party regarding liability. You may, however, provide contact details to our Incident Helpline team who can provide appropriate details to a potential claimant. Contact details are as follows :

Email: IncidentHelpline@britishcycling.org.uk

Tel: 0161 274 2015

Address: British Cycling
National Cycling Centre
Stuart Street
Manchester, M11 4DQ

Members benefit from individual liability insurance for competitive cycling events held under the auspices of British Cycling and whilst participating in competitive events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling.

Members also benefit from individual liability insurance cover for non-competitive, social, leisure, utility cycling and commuting and also whilst participating in timed events such as sportives.

Events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations

Cover at events is restricted to those events held under the auspices of British Cycling and whilst participating in competitive events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling.

The following organisations promote competitive events under rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) that are acceptable to British Cycling:

• Scottish Cycling (Scottish Cyclists’ Union)
• Welsh Cycling (Welsh Cycling Union)
• Cycling Time Trials (CTT)
• BSCA (British Schools Cycling Association)
• BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport)
• UCI-affiliated National Governing Bodies

Members wishing to check whether or not their individual insurance cover extends to a competitive event held under the auspices of another cycling organisation should contact Membership Services on 0161 274 2010

Event guidance notes for members

• Always check that the event is insured. Before participating in competitive events always consult the event organiser with regard to the existence and extent of liability insurance cover provided for all riders and officials.
• Check how much cover is in place. Whilst members may be covered under the organiser’s insurance arrangements they should be aware that some cycling organisations and promoters of competitive cycling events provide a significantly lower level of indemnity for their riders and officials
• Will you have to pay an excess? Some organisers buy insurance that may leave the member found to be at fault paying a large ‘excess’
• Make sure cover is not just ‘contingent’. Some cycling organisations may only arrange ‘contingent’ liability insurance cover for their event, which means that their policy will only provide cover in the absence of any other insurance policy. Under these circumstances any other insurance cover that the member or participant may have will be at risk.

Events held under the auspices of British Cycling and insured under British Cycling’s policy enjoy primary, not contingent, cover, have a policy limit of £20m and insured members are not expected to pay an excess.

Coverage extends to incidents that occur while riding or wheeling an E-bike (Electrically assisted pedal cycle) however they must have pedals that can be used to propel it, the electric motor should have a maximum power output of 250 watts or less, and the motor should not be able to propel the bike when it is travelling more than 15.5mph. In addition your E-bike must display either the power output or manufacturer of the motor, as well as either the battery voltage or maximum speed of the bike, as defined by the manufacturer.

If you want to take part in a cycling event on your e-bike, please check with the event organiser whether there are any rules governing the use of e-bikes.

Members can download a copy of the insurance information from our Useful Downloads page. Please note, you must be logged into your member dashboard to access this.