RIDING SAFETY

The purpose of riding in an organized group instead of an undisciplined pack is to provide the additional safety that a well organized group inherently generates. This comes from within the group and from outside the group. When a group rides in an orderly fashion, people do not get in each others way, and the organization itself discourages cars from attempting to cut into the riding group. Even tractor-trailer trucks will move to the far side of their lane to minimize wind blast when they see a well-ordered formation "single up" and move as far from the truck as their lane allows. Once riding rules have been adopted by a riding club, EVERYONE riding is expected to follow them. Anyone violating the rules of safety, and compromising everyone else's safety, will be warned, and if their behavior continues, will no longer be welcome to ride with the club. The following rules are compiled from a number of sources. Most riding clubs that ride in orderly formations follow similar rules. Details may vary from one club to another, sometimes because of the style of riding they do, or sometimes because there are a number of reasonable options, so they chose the one they prefer and best fits their group situation.

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<SAFETY>

Safety is the most important feature of any ride! Given the nature of the club's free structure and that our membership is voluntary membership; at no time do the officers of this riding group accept responsibility for any rider's behavior or lack of suitable behavior before, during, or after a ride. Drinking and riding (or driving) is
prohibited by law. Anyone participating in a group ride who consumes alcoholic beverages or any other substance that may impair their ability to operate a motorcycle or other motor vehicle does so without the consent of the riding club officers. Everyone who participates in a ride must follow the laws regarding driving under the influence set forth by the state(s) within which that ride will take place.

Any officer recognized by the riding club may dismiss anyone participating in a club ride if they are impaired or are endangering the safety of other ride participants.

Ultimately, it is the individual's responsibility to maintain themselves in a safe, orderly, and lawful manner.

Each individual rider is 100% responsible for:

1. Safety operating their vehicle/motorcycle in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, & Local Laws.

2. Making sure that they and their vehicle/motorcycle are un-impaired and currently functioning safely.

3. Making sure that they can perform and maneuver safely in the riding environment which they are in participation. Should they not be 100% sure of their ability in the current ride, they should remove themselves from the situation. At all time, each rider must ride within their capabilities.

4. It is the duty of every rider to make certain the environment is safe for themselves as well as for other riders. In doing so, every ride will be as safe as it can be.

<FORMATION RIDING>

Formation will be a standard State Patrol (staggered) formation. In staggered formation, the motorcycles form two (2) rows, with the ride leader at the head of the left row, so he will be able to view all motorcycles in the formation in his/her mirrors, and will be able to see around vehicles the group may be approaching. The second motorcycle will head the right row, and will ride approximately 1 second behind the leader (in the right side of the lane). The following riders will position their motorcycles 2 seconds behind the motorcycle directly in front of them, which puts them 1 second behind the diagonal motorcycle. This formation allows each rider sufficient safety space, and discourages other vehicle from cutting into the lane. The last rider, or Tail Gunner, may ride on whichever side of the lane he/she prefers. He/she will have to change sides during the ride, based on the situation at the moment.

<RIDE LEADER>

The Ride Leader (Ride Captain) must be aware of the length of the group rows, and must gauge the passing of merges, highway entrances and exits, etc., to allow for maximum safety and keeping the group together. The Captain must make sure he/she leaves enough time and space for the formation to get into the appropriate lanes before exits, etc. All directions come from Ride Captain. The Ride Captain makes ALL decisions regarding lane changes, stopping for breaks and fuel, closing of gaps, turning off at exits, any concerns of what lays ahead, accepting/rejecting radioed messages from other individuals, and so on. No individual will assert him/herself independently without direction from the Ride Captain to do so.

<TAIL GUNNER>

The Tail Gunner serves as the eyes of the Ride Captain. He/She watches the formation, and informs the Ride Captain of any potential problems within the group. The Gunner watches other vehicles, and informs the Ride Captain (and anyone else with radios) of hazardous conditions approaching from the rear, such as vehicles trying to cut into the formation and truck passing with potentially dangerous wind blast. The Gunner watches for merging lanes, and will move into merging lane (or stay in a merging lane just vacated by the group) in order to "close the door" on other vehicles that may otherwise find themselves trying to merge into the formation. At the Ride Captain's request, the Tail Gunner changes lanes before the formation, to secure the lane so the formation can then move into that lane.

<NEW RIDERS>

The position of new, and/or inexperienced with Group Riding, riders within the group is significant. New riders should be positioned as close to the front as possible.

<LANE CHANGES>

Simple Lane Changes
ALL lane changing starts by the request of the Ride Captain to the Tail Gunner. The Ride Captain will turn on their directional signal as an indication that a lane change is in order. As each rider sees the directional signal, he/she also turns on their signal, so the riders following will get the signal. When the Tail Gunner sees the directional signal, he/she will (when it is safe to do so) move into the requested lane. Once the Ride Captain sees the Gunner in the new lane, the Captain will then use a hand signal to indicate to the group the lane is clear allowing for the change. The important concept is that NO ONE moves until the motorcycle in front of him/her has started moving to the new lane.

Block Lane Change
This can be used interchangeably with the Simple Lane Change. It requires a little more work, but is well worth the effort. It's quite impressive to watch, and gives the riders a tremendous feeling of "togetherness". This sounds a little complicated, but is actually very simple to do. After the Tail Gunner has secured the new lane, the Ride Captain will hand motion the directional change, then every rider moves to the other lane as a single block.

Rear Fill-In
This is sometimes necessary if a long enough gap can not be maintained in the new lane. For example, when trying to move from the right lane to the center and vehicles from the left lane keep cutting into the opening. After the Tail Gunner has secured the new lane the Ride Captain (usually at the suggestion of the Tail Gunner) will call for the group to fill in the space from the rear. The Ride Captain signals by raising his/her hand shoulder height and "pushing" it towards the new lane. All riders repeat the signal, and the last motorcycle moves into the space in the new lane ahead of the Tail Gunner, then the next-to-last motorcycle moves ahead of those, and so on until the Ride Captain finally moves into the space ahead of the entire formation.

<EMERGENCIES>

In the unlikely event of an emergency condition, the Ride Captain will make every attempt to move the formation to the shoulder in an orderly manner. If a motorcycle breaks down, let the rider move to the right. DO NOT STOP. The Tail Gunner will stop with the problem motorcycle. The Ride Captain will lead the group to a safe stopping place.

<HAND SIGNALS>

Each rider (and passenger) should duplicate ALL hand signals given by the rider in front of him/her, so that the signals get passed all the way to the back of the formation. The following signals are used in addition to the standard (right turn, left turn, slow/stop) hand signals.

Block Lane Change
The Ride Captain (after having the Tail Gunner secure the lane) raises his/her hand straight up. Each rider repeats this signal. Then, as the Captain lowers his/her arm point to the lane into which the group is to move, the Captain initiates the change. All other riders lower their arms at the same time and change lanes, too.

Fill-In from the Rear
After having the Tail Gunner secure the lane and putting on his/her directional signal (which is repeated by each rider), the Ride Captain raises his/her left hand to the shoulder and "pushes" his/her hand toward the lane into which the group is to move to. This signal is repeated by all riders and each rider in turn, rearmost first, moves into the space ahead of the riders behind them.

Single Up
When conditions warrant single file (narrow or extreme curvy road, anticipated wind blast from trucks, obstruction, pedestrians, etc.) the Ride Captain will raise his/her left hand straight up, holding up just the index finger. All other riders will repeat this and the two rows will merge into one. The merge will take place as the left row moves to the right, merges with the right side row forming one row and staying to the right side of the lane (2 lane road). If the Ride Captain makes the same motion but holds his/her position as the
leader of the left row, then the right side is to move left to form single file (this may take place when there are multiple lanes).

Staggered Formation
After single file is no longer necessary, the Ride Captain will raise his/her left hand high with the thumb and pinky finger sticking out and the other fingers closed, then rotating the wrist back and forth (indicating left, right, left, right). All other riders will repeat this and resume a staggered formation. See Formation Riding on previous page (pg. 2) for review of being staggered if you still don't have that down yet.

Tighten FormationWhen the Ride Captain feels that the formation should be tighter (motorcycles closer together, usually after being informed by the Tail Gunner), he/she raises the left hand with fingers spread wide and repeatedly closes them into a fist. All other riders repeat this and close up all unnecessary space within the formation.

Road Hazard
This is the one signal that can be initiated by ANYONE. Anyone seeing a hazardous condition on the road surface (road-kill, oil, gravel, significant pot hole, etc.) will point at the hazard. All the following riders will repeat this, and all riders will safely avoid the hazard. This pointing should be done as follows: if the hazard is on your right side, use your right foot to point toward the hazard, if the hazard is on your left side you may elect to use your left foot or hand to point at the hazard. It is requested that you use your foot whether it be your right or left so you never have to take your hands away from the handlebars, but no matter what you elect to do just do make the other riders aware of anything you see that may be a hazard so they may be able to pass the info to the riders behind them.