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Alabama Legion Riders Post 18
Group Hand Signals
Adapted from American
Motorcycle Association
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to Download 8x10
Copy for Printing a Hand Signal Chart
Group Riding Tips
Tips to ensure everybody
has as safe and wonderful experience
Most motorcycle experiences
would be best enjoyed by
following a few simple guidelines that keep everyone safe.
And that's the idea behind a new videotape put out by the
Motorcycle Safety Foundation that focuses on group riding.
You can get your own copy by visiting the MSF website at:
www.msf-usa.org, but here's a few tips from the
country's foremost motorcycle safety experts.
1)
The first thing you want to do is organize the ride. This
can be as informal as standing around in a parking lot, or
as complicated as a special meeting to hand out maps and
cell phone numbers.
2)
Remember that riding in a group does not mean you
surrender any decision making when it comes to your
safety. Ride your own ride, and don't go any faster than
you feel comfortable going. In most cases you will catch
up to the group at the nest stop or slower traffic may
bring them back to you.
3)
When picking your route and the stops you'll make along
it, consider the stamina of the group, the experience of
all the riders, and the limits of the motorcycles in the
group. Remember, these are your friends. If it's going to
be a long ride, be sure to have a few break stops along
the way.
4)
You'll need to communicate while on the ride, so make sure
everyone knows the signals you'll use.
5)
When creating your formation, it's wise to have your
experienced riders at the lead and running sweep. Consider
positioning the less experienced riders immediately behind
the leader. This allows the front rider to adjust the pace
if necessary.
6)
Ideally, the sweep rider will have a cell phone to call for
help if a motorcycle is disabled, or if there has been an
accident.
7)
If the goal of the ride is to keep the group together, the
leader should only go at the pace of the least experienced
rider.
8)
While riding, don't fixate on the motorcycle in front of
you. Instead, remember your basic training. Look well
through the turn to where you want to go.
9)
If the group is riding faster than you are comfortable
with, let the sweep rider know you're dropping out and
ride at your own pace. So you may reach your destination a
few seconds behind the others, but you will get there, and
that's what's important. Keep in mind, it's all about fun.
10)
All riders are also responsible for making sure their
motorcycles are mechanically in good working order. Please
gas up before you
meet up with the group and you've taken care of all
possible mechanical problems.
T-CLOCS might be a good place to go if you are unsure
what to check. Don't let your mechanical be a reason to
stop the group if you could have
prevented the problem.
11)
If it's going to be a large group, consider establishing a
buddy system among the riders, or divide the group into
smaller five- or seven-rider packs. That way, if something
goes wrong, you don't have 25 motorcycles sitting on the
side of a busy highway. Also, smaller groups can more
easily navigate through city streets.
12)
On the road, motorcyclists should have at least a 2-second
cushion in front and behind them. If you want to keep the
group tight, consider a staggered formation. Leave enough
room per lane so each rider can maneuver side-to-side if
need be. Avoid side-by-side formations as they shrink your
space cushion.
13)
Trikes and sidecars should stay in the center of the lane,
and should be given the same amount of cushion as if they
were a car. Some groups prefer to put these them at the
rear of the pack.
14)
As turns get sharper, or as visibility decreases, move
back to a single file formation. You'll also want to use
single file when entering or exiting a highway, at toll
booths, or when roads have a rough or questionable
surface.
15)
At intersections where you've come to a stop, tighten the
formation to side-by-side to take up less space. As the
light turns green, or when traffic opens up, the bike on
the left proceeds through first.
16)
Remember we share the road with many other vehicles, and
it's against the law to block an intersection.
17)
When parking, try to get the group off the roadway as
quickly as possible. If you can, arrange in advance to
have pull-through parking at your destination, or at the
very least, make sure there is ample parking for your size
group.
18) If you are a new
rider to riding in groups we suggest you take our online
workshop and that
might help you a little in riding in groups. |
