[neebelung]

Here's our own Group riding Rules, as posted on our local board:

1. We will ride in standard staggered riding formation for the bulk of the ride (exceptions as noted in #7, below). Maintain your lane position, and keep aware of the position of the rider immediately ahead of and behind you.

2. 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.

3. When passing, i.e. passing another vehicle as a group, move to the far right side of the lane (and continue accelerating) so as to leave room for the riders behind you to fall back in line behind you.

4. When coming to a turn on a regular road, 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.

5. Learn the hand signals. The basic ones that we use are:
- Hand tapping top of helmet: There's a cop.
- Pointing to the ground with hand or foot: There's something in the road on that side.
- Left arm extended and bent 90 degrees with closed fist: We are about to make a
final turn in and stop.
- Left Arm extended and bent 90 degrees with open hand: Right turn.
- Left arm straight out: Left turn.
- Left arm extended out and slightly waving up and down with open hand:
slow down or possible stop.
- Someone flashing all five fingers of one hand at you: you forgot to turn off
your blinker.
- One leg extended to side of bike: That person is about to change lanes in that
direction. (Can be used in conjunction with, but not in lieu of blinkers; acts as
an additional emphasis for blinkers.)
- Pointing to the gas tank: I need gas.
- Pointing to your stomach: I need food.
- Grabbing chest with both hands at a stop: How about Hooter's for lunch?

6. It is not uncool to use your blinkers to change lanes (in fact, it's suggested).

7. When you're on a twisty rode with a group (even just sweepers), ride in a single file line. DO NOT ride above you're skill level! Don't worry if the group pulls away from you - We will stop at the next safe/possible area for the group to catch up, and will do a headcount. Take it easy, we will wait for you.

Single-file riding is also recommended for constuction zones and particularly narrow roads (i.e. residential areas, roads with concrete barrier walls, etc....)

8. Don't go flying by someone at high speed in their lane unless you know them and they have told you that it is ok. Pass in the passing lane/lane to their left.

9. If you want to stunt, please mention this before the ride departure, and do so well behind the group. Please make sure to leave enough room for error between you and the last bike of the pack, and bring your front tire down periodically to check the the status/whereabouts of the pack.

10. When you first ride with a large group or an unfamiliar group, please discuss your skill/experience level with the rest of the group; you might also consider staying in/toward the back until you are familiar/comfortable with the riding speed/style of the group.

11. When the group puts the hammer down and it comes time for you to decelerate, if you don't brake and just let off the throttle, make sure that you tap your brake a couple of times so that the bikes behind you will know you're slowing down.

12. Wear protective gear. At a minimum, you should have a jacket, helmet, gloves, long pants and closed-toed shoes/boots.

13. Make sure your bike is registered and you have a valid license with your M endorsement, etc..

14. Be gassed up when we meet (or if meeting at a gas station, leave time enough to fill up before appointed departure time).

15. While not required, it is recommended to have an Emergency Contact card with all of your contact data as well as that of whom you would like contacted in the event of an emergency.

16. Occasionally when turning across an intersection, one rider might pull out to turn, stopping to create a barrier so cars know to stop and allow the group to turn into the road.. be aware for this.....He/she will then rejoin as the last bike.

17. If you need to/want to leave the ride while in progress (i.e. not at a stop), communicate this to another rider in the group (and make sure they notice) so that we don't double-back to look for you once we've reached the next stopping point.

18. When following, do not focus on person in front of you keep them in peripheral vision and focus ahead (Don't Target Fixate!)

19. Riding while intoxicated/under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be tolerated. If it is suspected you're impaired at ride-time, you may be asked to not join the ride.


If there is an accident...

A) Don't move the rider unless he cannot breathe, helmet is submersed in water, mud etc.. (helmet came off, something in his mouth).. If he/she must be moved, then keep the neck straight as possible.

B) Know CPR (or make sure at least one rider in the group does).

C) If the rider is impaled on or by an object (i.e. branch), do not pull it out as you may create more bleeding than if you leave it intact.

D) Know basic first-air, and how to use a tourniquet (or make sure at least one rider in the group does).

E) Call 911, just to be safe.

F) Search for emergency card inside jacket inside or under seat.

G) Turn off bike; block lane of traffic/place bike in lanes etc if necessary....

H) Find out where they are taking rider (specifically - not just name of hospital, but location). Make sure you know rider's last name in order to communicate information to others, and to be able to check status.

I) When Law Enforcement arrives at the scene, make sure everyone else is clear on the details of what happened. Enough said.

J) Again, do not remove helmet!! Make sure it goes with them to hospital.
If it is suspected they have suffered a concussion, keep talking to them and make sure they don't move/get up.

K) Use your head. Common sense and a cool head are your best assets in emergency situations.