Membership help

Membership FAQs

CfSC Membership Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If your membership-related question is not covered here, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Joining and renewing membership

Q: How do I join CfSC? How do I renew my CfSC membership?

A: Download the text or pdf form from our join page, fill it out, and send it with a cheque or money order to:

Citizens for Safe Cycling
Box 248, Station B
Ottawa, ON K1P 6C4

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Q: I renewed my membership a while ago, but I still haven't gotten my membership card, or my cheque hasn't been cashed yet.

A: To save postage, membership cards (except for new members and those who receive mailings by e-mail) are collected, then sent out in the next regular mailing. If you want to have it sent before then, please just let us know via e-mail or on your membership form.

Similarly, we wait until a number of cheques collect before depositing them into the bank. If you find it has been a while, let us know and we can deposit your cheque more quickly.

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Q: Do I have to write my contact information or include a form every time I renew?

A: For your convenience, we send you a label with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and membership type with your Chain Mail. If any of this information is incorrect, let us know and we will update it. This label is usually on the back of the membership renewal form, so when you cut the form out and send it to us, you won't have to re-write the information.

If this is not the case, we encourage you to include at least your name, address, type and duration of membership. You can download a form here

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Q: My membership expired a few months ago. Do I have to pay late fees?

A: Whenever you renew, your membership will be extended one or two years, either from the month we receive and process your renewal, or from the month your membership will next expire, whichever comes last. If your membership expired a few months ago, you do not have to pay any late fees, but you are welcome to include an additional contribution with your membership payment.

From a couple of months before your membership expires to a few months afterward, CfSC will send you mailings with a highlighted message on the label reminding you to renew. For your convenience, the mailing will include a renewal form (it might be included in the newsletter) and an envelope addressed to CfSC.

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Mailings by e-mail
Q: What are the advantages of receiving mailings by e-mail?

A: When you receive your mailings by e-mail instead of by 'snail mail', you save CfSC money on postage. It costs $0.50 to $1.00 in postage alone to send out each mailing by snail mail. With the number of mailings in a year and the number of members we have, the savings can really add up. In addition, CfSC can print fewer copies of newsletters, thereby saving paper.

When you choose to get mailings by e-mail, your membership card will be sent to you as soon as it is prepared, instead of with the next mailing. This way, you can use it to save money immediately.

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Q: How do I choose to get mailings by e-mail? How do I go back to snail-mail?

A: On most forms, there is a box you can select that says “Please send mailings by e-mail when possible”. We will continue to send mailings by e-mail until we hear specifically otherwise. To stop or start receiving mailings by e-mail, you can also write a note on your membership form, or send an e-mail to our Membership Administrator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Q: If I put my e-mail address on my membership form, does this mean you will send me mailings by e-mail?

A: No. We only send mailings by e-mail if you specifically ask to. We encourage you to include your e-mail address on your membership form in case we need to contact you.

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Q: How do I prevent my spam filter from blocking my e-mailing?

A: E-mailings are sent manually, one-by-one, with personalized information in the message. For this reason, it is unlikely that your spam-filter will block it. To be sure, tell your spam filter to allow messages from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Privacy

Q: If I receive mailings by e-mail, do you still need my address and phone number?

A: We still send important mailings and your membership card by snail-mail. We also like to keep track of what areas have CfSC members in them. We will only use your phone number to contact you for clarification about your membership, or (rarely) to invite you to a special event.

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Miscellaneous

Q: What does CfSC do with my personal information?

A: CfSC does not distribute your personal information to any other group, and will only use it for CfSC-related business.

Address: CfSC uses your address to send you Chain Mail newsletters (around 4/year), Better Bicycling newspapers (1-2/year), and announcements for important events such as the Annual General Meeting.

Phone Numbers and E-Mail Address: If something is unclear about your membership or if a mailing bounced from your address, we may call or e-mail you to get a clarification. It is good for us to have both your phone number and e-mail address, in case one changes and you forget to tell us. Occasionally, we will phone to invite you to CfSC events.

We rarely send e-mails to CfSC members in bulk. Instead, we will send an announcement to the CfSC newsgroup, and which you can opt into and out of.

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Q: I asked to receive mailings in French when possible. Why is everything in English?

A: We aspire to help both English- and French-speaking cyclists. But it is hard to produce French documents because most of our volunteers are Anglophone. If more volunteers were to write Chain Mail articles in French or translate them, then more information would be sent in French. It's also a matter of timing, because it takes a lot of time and energy to assemble the newsletters, and we often have to do it within a very short timespan. We welcome volunteers

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Q: I live outside of Ottawa. Why should I join CfSC?

A: CfSC does very little, if any, advocacy and promotion work outside of Ottawa. However, many people who live outside of Ottawa work in and visit Ottawa. If this describes you, then improving conditions in Ottawa will be to your benefit. It will also mean that Ottawans visiting your area will cycle more safely and be more aware of cyclists while driving.

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