| Road Riding Rules |
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1. Arrive at the departure site fueled, fed, and with an empty bladder. Never ride under the influence of drugs, this includes cold medicines or alcohol. 2. Be early, there will be a riders meeting approximately 10 minutes before departure time. 3. If a map is provided, study it, or have your own map to read and mark up with the route. 4. Assume responsibility to work with all others in the group for the safety and the protection of all. 5. Travel in a staggered formation within a lane with the Ride Captain taking the position on the left side of the lane. The next rider will follow at a safe distance (minimum 1 second, preferably 2 seconds) on the opposite side of the lane. Other riders follow the same pattern. Riders should position themselves so they can see the face of the rider to their front/opposite in that rider's mirror. 6. Maintain a steady speed and spacing. Do not speed up and slow down or shift your position from side to side. This disrupts the efforts of others to regulate their speed and destroys the main purpose of riding as a group. 7. Maintain a minimum 1 second, preferably 2 seconds, safe riding distance from the bike in front of you, depending on conditions. "Holes" in the pack invite motorists driving at faster speeds to cut in and tailgate the bike in front. However, if a car must cut through the pack either from the left or right, be courteous, signal to the riders behind you to slow down, then wave the driver through. Close the hole as quickly as possible. 8. Stay alert. The lives of other people are in the hands of each pack member. 9. When entering traffic from a parking lot, gas station, or leaving a traffic signal, each rider should move out quickly and get in position in formation. 10. When passing a vehicle on a two-lane, two-way road, each rider should pass in order, preferably in a single file. Obviously this only applies when riding in small groups. One of the most dangerous situations we have observed occurs when one or more riders tries to force the issue of keeping up and passes blind or without allowing a safe margin regarding oncoming traffic. The Ride Captain will slow the pack down and wait for you to pass safely and catch up. Never sacrifice safety to the idea of keeping the pack together. 11. When stopping at a signal or stop sign, pull up to two abreast. Maintain this formation if you will be going through a series of closely spaced stops (e.g., downtown Denver). 12. When turning at an intersection maintain your position in the formation. Inside rider leads off first. 13. When entering a parking area or gas station enter in single file. The Ride Captain should "loop" the area to allow all riders to get out of traffic. 14. When riding on narrow, twisting roads, move into a single file, while maintaining a safe distance between bikes. Position yourself in the middle of the lane and keep a safe distance from oncoming traffic. The Ride Captain will signal this formation by holding up a single finger. Each rider will pass the signal back, as they must with all hand signals. 15. Anyone not wishing to ride with the pack should inform both the Ride Captain and the Tail Gunner before departing. If this is not possible, fall back behind the last bike and inform the Tail Gunner that you are OK. 16. Be sure to inform the Ride Captain and Tail Gunner if you will be breaking off from the pack along the way. Otherwise, any bike that pulls over or exits the highway will be considered to be in trouble. The Tail Gunner will follow to assist. |
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