Indiana Southern Cruisers

"GROUP RIDE GUIDELINES"

This Guide is condensed from the National Web site but has some changes for Scott Co. Chapter 372

1. WELCOME!

The intent of this guideline is to give everyone information required to ride together safely. Please keep in mind that these guidelines are not intended to restrict your freedom, but instead, to help ensure that we all return home safely.

These guidelines cannot encompass every possible set of circumstances, and they are intended to serve as a basic guide for most situations. Each person is therefore expected to read, understand, and apply these guidelines, using their best judgment.

Please remember that YOU have the ultimate responsibility for YOUR safety, and always ride within your capabilities and that of your machines.

While this guideline states that the Road Captain is in charge, it is the 1st Officer and / or the 2nd Officer of the Chapter that is overall in charge of their chapter & all functions concerning the chapter. This includes rides. All the officers should be intimately familiar with this guide and the safe riding practices.

 

2. ALL GROUP RIDER'S RESPONSIBILITIES:

a. Will follow the instructions of the Road Captain in all situations, unless those instructions place the rider or any other individual in an unsafe situation.

b. Will maintain their motorcycle and other equipment in a safe riding condition.

c. Will ride with headlights on.

d. Will ride with a "safety first" attitude. The safety of all individuals, whether or not they are a part of the group, is of paramount importance

e. Will not ride while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

f. Will pass on all hand signals

 

 

 

3. MEETING PLACE AND DEPARTURE TIME:

a. Meeting place and departure times will be posted to the membership either by e-mail or phone preceding the scheduled event.

b. Rider briefing should be held just prior to departure, to establish a schedule for gas and rest stops, inform the group of the intended route, provide other pertinent information and review the group riding guidelines including formations and procedures.

c. Individuals should make every effort to arrive promptly at the scheduled meeting time and be completely prepared for the scheduled departure time. This includes a full tank of gas.

 

4. RIDING FORMATION AND INDIVIDUAL POSITIONS:

a. The standard formation, under good conditions of road, traffic, and weather, will be a double row, staggered, in one traffic lane. The interval will be no less than one second between staggered riders, which will automatically make a 2 second interval between you and the bike directly in front of you. Chapter 372 requests that if a correction is needed because the line is not properly staggered, the rider directly behind the open position should move forward into it. This move appears to be safer then having everyone in the line change sides. It’s good practice to wave a rider around you to fill a spot so that both of you will know what’s being done.

b. The Road Captain will be at the head of the group, and typically will ride just to the left of lane center. The Tail Gunner will ride at the rear of the formation.

c. Chapter 372 requests that new members, guests, and any riders with little experience in group riding be positioned at the REAR of the group, just ahead of the Tail Gunner.

d. Under certain conditions the Road Captain will signal the group to form a single file formation. The signal is the left arm held overhead with one finger extended. Drop back to a safe following distance from the rider in front of you and move into a single file.

 

 

 

5A. Minimum Safe Following Distances:

1. Within the group, a safe distance is defined as a MINIMUM TWO SECOND DELAY between the rider, and the next rider directly ahead (ref. NOTE below). This means that there is a MINIMUM of a ONE SECOND DELAY between staggered riders. Whenever a single file formation is employed, a safe distance remains defined as a MINIMUM of a TWO SECOND DELAY between the rider, and the rider directly ahead. The riders should also realize that by creating a large gap in the formation, that cars will try to move in & split the formation, causing a dangerous situation. It also causes problems for the Road Captain when there are large gaps in the formation.

2. Too many people get hung up with,” there must be only 2 seconds between bikes”. This is a guideline for average highway riding. The faster the speed, the more gap there should be. With that said…. we also do not want huge gaping gaps in the formation where other vehicles will attempt to break into the formation. The gap should be consistent throughout the formation.

<>3. With respect to vehicles ahead of the group, a safe distance is defined as an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM of a THREE SECOND DELAY between the Road Captain, and any vehicle directly ahead of the group (ref. NOTE below.

 

NOTE: It's important to keep in mind that a two second interval is a MINIMUM safe requirement in order to react in the event of a potentially hazardous condition, NOT TO STOP.

In group riding, a one-second interval between STAGGERED riders is a policy consistent with the recommendations of most traffic and safety agencies.

STAGGERED motorcycles are considered to be in a "virtual" lane of their own, that is that there is a two-second interval between motorcycles in a direct line. This group riding technique requires all participants to constantly ANTICIPATE an EMERGENCY.

6. TRAFFIC LANES:

 <> <>The Road Captain will attempt to lead the group in a single lane when:

1. The traffic flow appears to be most consistent with the speed of  the group (using lane changes only when necessary to pass slower traffic or to avoid a hazardous condition); and to avoid blocking faster surrounding traffic.

2. On highways with two lanes each direction, the group will normally travel in the number two lane, also known as the "SLOW" lane, (ref. Note below) allowing faster traffic to pass to left; except when passing slower traffic on the right.

3. On highways with three or more lanes in each direction, the group will normally travel in the number two lane keeping the right lane open for other vehicles entering and exiting the highway, and the left lane(s) for traffic to pass.

 

 

7. LANE CHANGES AND PASSING:

<>On a multi-lane highway, the double row staggered formation will normally be maintained.         <>The Road Captain will hold his or her position and signal for a lane change.

         All riders will hold their positions and pass the signal to the rear.

<>The Tail Gunner will change lanes at the first safe opportunity, protecting the lane for the group, and allowing the Road Captain to see that the lane is clear and protected. The Road Captain should be aware of when the Tail Gunner has changed lanes by using his mirrors. Make a head check to insure no cars are beside the formation.

The formation will change lanes from last to first.

NOTE:. ALWAYS make a HEAD CHECK before you begin the lane change, and maintain safe distances. There are also times when there will be minimal traffic the Road Captain may signal a lane change and move over

<>  There are times it will not be possible for the entire group to change lanes as above. When this situation arises, the Road Captain will signal <> for a turn, and signal the group with one finger extended into the air. This indicates that changing lanes as a group is not possible. The Road <> Captain will then change lanes when safe to do so. Everyone signals, head checks, and changes lanes front to back, as individuals, when safe <> to do so. If separated, regroup when it is safe to do so.  On a two-lane road with two way traffic (one lane each way),a single file formation should be used when passing other vehicles.

 <> UNSCHEDULED OR EMERGENCY STOPS: <>Unscheduled stops for gas, restroom, or rider fatigue can lead to confusion in the group, and confusion can lead to accidents. The Road Captain should be informed that a stop is necessary in order to lead the group in an organized fashion to the next convenient and safe place to stop. <>Any rider with an equipment problem should inform one of the Officers /Road Captain / or Tail Gunner as quickly, and as safely as possible. <>When the Road Captain is informed, he or she will stop the group at the earliest possible moment, when and where, it is safe.

If the rider must pull over immediately, ONLY the Tail Gunner will accompany that rider to a stop.

11. HAND SIGNALS:

<>At all times, standard hand signals will be used for: changing the formation to a single row and back to double staggered, all turns, lane changes, slowing, and stopping. Turn signal lights will also be used at all times.

 All signals will be relayed to the rear of the group to allow all riders to take appropriate precautionary measures, and be aware of changes in speed and direction. Once the hand signal is given and the person sees in their mirror that it is being passed on, they may return to gripping their handlebars with both hands. The only one that needs to “hold” the hand signal is the Tail Gunner until he / she reaches the spot of the maneuver, based on following traffic.

c. Hand signals will be used at all times, to point out road hazards to following riders by pointing.

d. Left arm held high, one finger extended over head indicates single file, and extended following distance.

f. Left arm held high with two fingers extended over head indicates the standard staggered formation.

g. Left arm held low & to the side – palm facing backwards, indicates slow and or stop.

 

15. Assuming you are in the slow or second slowest lane and you approach an on-ramp, do a head check to the right. Equally as important, if you are approaching an off-ramp, do a head check to the LEFT (and catch that guy who is about to cut in front of you to make his exit).

16. REMEMBER! Too much following distance can be just as bad as, and frequently is _WORSE_ than too little following distance. If the formation lacks uniformity in what we appear to be doing, then we don't "look" like we are "together" as group. And we become regarded as random individual vehicles in the traffic pattern, and not like a group or unit trying to function as one vehicle. Too much following distance INVITES cars into the formation, splitting it up in traffic. And if we don't control our lane space the cars _WILL_ take it away from us. Be prepared! Non-motorcycling car drivers really do NOT understand what we do when we ride as a group or why. So, if a car starts to blindly move into or through the group - LET THEM IN. We can always re-form the group a little later.

Footnote:
If you are new to group riding or are uncomfortable riding in a group, please let the Road Captain know. Excessive following distance defeats the purpose of maintaining an equally spaced stagger formation. It is much better for your safety and the safety of the group, that you ride individually 1/4 mile behind the group. And we want to encourage you to be comfortable about making that choice.

17. If you need to leave the ride early, please notify the Road Captain AND the Tail Gunner where you plan on leaving the group. If possible be at the rear of the formation (ahead of the Tail Gunner) prior to leaving the group. Any bikes following should move up into the standard group riding positions.

18. Blocking… For safety reason, Chapter 372 does block off some intersections to get our line through it quickly and together. Move quickly through these intersections, but be sure that traffic has actually stopped for the blocker before entering.

19. Stop Lights & Stop Signs - Chapter 372 requests that riders bunch up tight when we come to a stop at these intersections. This helps us to get through the intersections more quickly, two abreast.