After reading BudBandit's latest essay, I felt the need to dig this up from another web site, tweak it a bit, and post for your perusal. I'm not sure if it or something similar has been posted before (probably has) but it never hurts to have a reminder, and to help the newbies out.
By no means is this be an exhaustive list, so feel free to add anything not included. These seem like common sense, but everyone has been a rookie and someone has to tell you.
Basic rules for Group Rides:
1. When you change lanes, go to the far side of the lane so someone else can also change lanes. Example: If you are on the left side of the right lane, when you move to the left lane, go all the way over to the left side of the lane.
2. When coming to a turn on a regular road, (for a twisty road see rule 5) drop into a single file line. You should communicate either before the ride or during the ride with the bike beside you about who is going to go first and who will drop in behind.
3. Learn the hand signals. The basic ones* are:
A. Hand tapping top of helmet: Cop in the area.
B. Pointing frantically to the ground with hand or foot: Something in the road on that side.
C. Left arm extended and bent 90 degrees up with closed fist: Final turn in and stop
D. Left Arm extended and bent 90 degrees with open hand: Right turn.
E. Left arm straight out: Left turn
F. Left arm extended out and slightly waving up and down with open hand: Slow down/ possible stop.
G. Someone flashing all five fingers of one hand at you: your blinker is still on.
H. One leg extended to side of bike: Changing lanes to that side. Use of blinkers ENCOURAGED.
I. Pointing to the gas tank: Need gas.
J. Pointing to your stomach: Need food.
*This is not an exhaustive list of signals, nor is it set in stone. Your group may have their own signals.
4. It is OKAY to use blinkers to indicate a lane change.
5. When you're on a twisty rode with a group, ride in a single file line and DO NOT ride above you're skill level! It is better to slow down the group and wait for someone, rather than have to turn around and render aid because of an accident.
6. Don't go flying by someone at high speed in the same lane as they are in unless you know them and they have told you that it is ok. Use a different lane.
7. Stunting is usually not encouraged on a group ride, but if you want to stunt, go out front of everyone and try to pick one or two lanes to stunt in. It is much better to get in front before you do a wheelie, etc. Riding up through a pack on your rear wheel is not the safest thing in the world.
8. When you first ride with a large group or an unfamiliar group, stay in back and on whatever side has an escape route. You need to be thinking “what will I do if someone in front of me goes down?”
9. When the group signals that it is time for decelerate, flash your brakes a few times before decelerating, as a courtesy to the riders behind you.
10. Wear protective gear. At the very least, wear a jacket, helmet, gloves, and ankle boots.
11. Make sure your bike is registered and you have a valid license and insurance, etc.
12. Be gassed up at the start of the ride.
13. ALWAYS have an emergency card with all of your information and emergency contact info.
14. Occasionally, when the group is turning, a bike might pull to act as a road guard. The rider is stopping to create a barrier so cars know to stop and allow the group to turn into the road. Be aware for this. The rider will then rejoin as the last bike.
15. If you peel off during a group ride let someone know, so the group does not go back looking for you.
16. When following, do not focus on person in front of you keep them in peripheral vision and focus ahead. (IE. Don't Target Fixate!)
17. Bring a radio or other form of two-way communication, and have a cell phone handy in case of emergencies. At the very minimum, the sweeper and the ride leader should be in constant communication.
If there is an accident:
A) Don't move a rider unless s/he cannot breath, the helmet is in water, mud etc., and keep the neck straight as possible. DO NOT let the rider get up. Keep the rider warm if it’s cold, and cool if it is warm. DO NOT give the rider too much water. Let him/her sip a little bit, but do not give too much. If the rider is awake, keep him/her awake. If the rider is unconscious, monitor breathing. If the rider is wounded, STOP THE BLEEDING. You are responsible for preventing the rider from going into shock or getting worse.
B) Know CPR. Learn first aid.
C) Do not pull out anything impaled (braches, etc.). Leave them in, as pulling them out may allow more bleeding or cause further damage.
D) Know how to use a tourniquet.
E) Call an ambulance (be on the safe side).
F) Search for the emergency card inside jacket or under seat.
G) Turn off the bike, shut off the fuel, and use the engine kill switch. Shut down lanes of traffic. Place bikes in the lanes if necessary, and direct traffic around the accident.
H) Find out where they are taking the rider.
I) When the police show up, DO NOT make anything up. This can cause more harm than good. As a group, get all the FACTS together and have ONE person be the spokesperson. Answer truthfully if you are asked a direct question, but let the spokesperson do the talking.
J) Don't take off helmet!! Make sure it goes with the rider to hospital for the doctors to check out.
K) KEEP CALM. Use your head, don’t lose it.
If anyone has anything to add, please do so.
Group Rides can be a great learning experience, and properly conducting a group ride is essential for everyone to make it home safe to ride another day.
Lots of additional information from http://www.msgroup.org/DISCUSS.asp, which has LOADS of good info for any motorcycle rider.
The following are links of interest from that web page related to group riding:
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP003.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP002.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP015.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP057.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP062.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP072.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP088.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP099.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP123.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP145.html
Sorry this is so long, but there's a lot of information to cover.
By no means is this be an exhaustive list, so feel free to add anything not included. These seem like common sense, but everyone has been a rookie and someone has to tell you.
Basic rules for Group Rides:
1. When you change lanes, go to the far side of the lane so someone else can also change lanes. Example: If you are on the left side of the right lane, when you move to the left lane, go all the way over to the left side of the lane.
2. When coming to a turn on a regular road, (for a twisty road see rule 5) drop into a single file line. You should communicate either before the ride or during the ride with the bike beside you about who is going to go first and who will drop in behind.
3. Learn the hand signals. The basic ones* are:
A. Hand tapping top of helmet: Cop in the area.
B. Pointing frantically to the ground with hand or foot: Something in the road on that side.
C. Left arm extended and bent 90 degrees up with closed fist: Final turn in and stop
D. Left Arm extended and bent 90 degrees with open hand: Right turn.
E. Left arm straight out: Left turn
F. Left arm extended out and slightly waving up and down with open hand: Slow down/ possible stop.
G. Someone flashing all five fingers of one hand at you: your blinker is still on.
H. One leg extended to side of bike: Changing lanes to that side. Use of blinkers ENCOURAGED.
I. Pointing to the gas tank: Need gas.
J. Pointing to your stomach: Need food.
*This is not an exhaustive list of signals, nor is it set in stone. Your group may have their own signals.
4. It is OKAY to use blinkers to indicate a lane change.
5. When you're on a twisty rode with a group, ride in a single file line and DO NOT ride above you're skill level! It is better to slow down the group and wait for someone, rather than have to turn around and render aid because of an accident.
6. Don't go flying by someone at high speed in the same lane as they are in unless you know them and they have told you that it is ok. Use a different lane.
7. Stunting is usually not encouraged on a group ride, but if you want to stunt, go out front of everyone and try to pick one or two lanes to stunt in. It is much better to get in front before you do a wheelie, etc. Riding up through a pack on your rear wheel is not the safest thing in the world.
8. When you first ride with a large group or an unfamiliar group, stay in back and on whatever side has an escape route. You need to be thinking “what will I do if someone in front of me goes down?”
9. When the group signals that it is time for decelerate, flash your brakes a few times before decelerating, as a courtesy to the riders behind you.
10. Wear protective gear. At the very least, wear a jacket, helmet, gloves, and ankle boots.
11. Make sure your bike is registered and you have a valid license and insurance, etc.
12. Be gassed up at the start of the ride.
13. ALWAYS have an emergency card with all of your information and emergency contact info.
14. Occasionally, when the group is turning, a bike might pull to act as a road guard. The rider is stopping to create a barrier so cars know to stop and allow the group to turn into the road. Be aware for this. The rider will then rejoin as the last bike.
15. If you peel off during a group ride let someone know, so the group does not go back looking for you.
16. When following, do not focus on person in front of you keep them in peripheral vision and focus ahead. (IE. Don't Target Fixate!)
17. Bring a radio or other form of two-way communication, and have a cell phone handy in case of emergencies. At the very minimum, the sweeper and the ride leader should be in constant communication.
If there is an accident:
A) Don't move a rider unless s/he cannot breath, the helmet is in water, mud etc., and keep the neck straight as possible. DO NOT let the rider get up. Keep the rider warm if it’s cold, and cool if it is warm. DO NOT give the rider too much water. Let him/her sip a little bit, but do not give too much. If the rider is awake, keep him/her awake. If the rider is unconscious, monitor breathing. If the rider is wounded, STOP THE BLEEDING. You are responsible for preventing the rider from going into shock or getting worse.
B) Know CPR. Learn first aid.
C) Do not pull out anything impaled (braches, etc.). Leave them in, as pulling them out may allow more bleeding or cause further damage.
D) Know how to use a tourniquet.
E) Call an ambulance (be on the safe side).
F) Search for the emergency card inside jacket or under seat.
G) Turn off the bike, shut off the fuel, and use the engine kill switch. Shut down lanes of traffic. Place bikes in the lanes if necessary, and direct traffic around the accident.
H) Find out where they are taking the rider.
I) When the police show up, DO NOT make anything up. This can cause more harm than good. As a group, get all the FACTS together and have ONE person be the spokesperson. Answer truthfully if you are asked a direct question, but let the spokesperson do the talking.
J) Don't take off helmet!! Make sure it goes with the rider to hospital for the doctors to check out.
K) KEEP CALM. Use your head, don’t lose it.
If anyone has anything to add, please do so.
Group Rides can be a great learning experience, and properly conducting a group ride is essential for everyone to make it home safe to ride another day.
Lots of additional information from http://www.msgroup.org/DISCUSS.asp, which has LOADS of good info for any motorcycle rider.
The following are links of interest from that web page related to group riding:
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP003.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP002.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP015.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP057.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP062.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP072.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP088.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP099.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP123.html
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP145.html
Sorry this is so long, but there's a lot of information to cover.
