|
|
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 the
outside. When a group rides in an orderly fashion, people don't get in each
others way, and the organization of the formation itself discourages cars
from attempting to cut in.
Once riding rules have been adopted by a club, EVERYONE riding with the club
is expected to follow them. Anyone violating the rules, and compromising everyone
else's safety, will be warned, and if their actions continue, will no longer be
welcome to ride with the club.
The following rules are compiled from a number of sources. Most 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.
- Changing Lanes
- Hand Signals
- Parking
- Riding Staggered
- Road Captain Duties
- Stopping
- Tail Gunner
- Have a full tank before arriving at the departure point.
- Tell the road captain if you have any special concerns, i.e. speed, sharp corners, etc
- Tell the road captain and tail gunner if you plan to leave the group before the destination.
Also tell the persons riding in front and behind you so they don't think you are having a problem.
- When a rider leaves the group while in staggered formation, the best way to compensate for
the hole made my his absence is for each rider behind the missing bike to change lanes. Doing
this eliminates passing in a single lane.
- Tell the road captain if your bike has an unusually short fuel range or if your bladder
has a short range.
- Bring adequate clothing for the weathers conditions expected during the day.
- Remember to take some clear eye protection if the ride will extend into the evening.
- When exiting a freeway, keep up the pace so the riders behind you aren't forced to slow down
while still on the freeway and become a traffic hazard.
- In the unlikely event of an emergency condition, the Ride Leader will make every attempt
to move the formation to the shoulder in an orderly manner. If a bike breaks down, let the
rider move to the right. DO NOT STOP. The Tail Gunner will stop with the problem bike. The
ride Leader will lead the group to a safe stopping place.
- The Ride Leader should be aware of tolls and collect money from all riders in advance.
When the formation arrives at the toll booth, the Ride Leader pays for all bikes, and all
bikes proceed through the toll. Many toll booths have counters that count the number of
vehicles coming through. To accommodate these, ride through the toll booth one at a time.
If some people in the group are using EZ Pass, they will split out from the group, and
the formation will reform on the other side of the toll booth. Make sure the Ride Leader
knows in advance how many bikes he is paying the toll for.
- It is the policy of West Coast Cruisers that all Officers, Road
Captains, and Tail Gunners of the Chapter are required to wear the Club
Patch.
Note: It is highly desirable that during rides, a Road Captain and Tail Gunner be
patched riders, but if we don't have a patched Road Captain and/or Tail
gunner, someone will be identified for that position for that ride.
|
