When riding with the LI VTX Riders the following rules will be adhered to.
Riding Etiquette
The following are a few common sense guidelines to use when riding in a group. Some are extremely basic but may be useful for the first time group rider or even for some of the more experienced riders who have simply not had an opportunity to give it much thought until now.
1) Your first priority must be safety. Do not mix alcohol and motorcycle riding. There should be no attitudes while with the group. Top off your gas tanks and secure saddlebags before you begin a ride. Do a personal and bike safety check before beginning a ride. Bikes should be in good running condition before riding (anytime). Riders should wear eye protection and a DOT certified helmet. Everyone must ride their own ride in a manner that keeps them in their comfort zone. Never exceed your capability or comfort zone just to keep up. If the pace is too quick for you - back off until you feel comfortable. There is no need to rush to avoid becoming lost or separated from the group. Road Captains will make sure the group stays together.
2) Discipline is essential. When riding in a group, you automatically forfeit some personal autonomy. You should normally maintain your relative position within the group unless doing so would compromise safety. Randomly changing positions is an indication of an undisciplined rider, increases risk for everyone else and should not be condoned. There may be times when changing your position in the formation is the safe thing to do. But before you do, try and await instruction to do so by a Road Captain. There should be good reason to move and it shouldn't be frequent.
3) Trust your leader. This is a two-way deal. You should trust your leader and he must be competent to lead. A common practice will be a concise briefing by the Road Captains and leader just before the ride. As a minimum, the Road Captains and leader should outline the route and establish the overall tone for the ride. Questions should be addressed before the helmets go on.
4) Pay attention and don't assume. This is so basic and elementary that it should not need to be addressed. However, far too many accidents have occurred during group rides where someone just stopped paying attention for a split second and ran into the person in front of them. Be aware of your spacing behind the rider in front in terms of time. Know your own reaction time and stopping capability and don't ride any closer in point of time. Never assume the rider in front will continue at his current pace and never look away for any longer than an instant.
5) Each rider is directly responsible for the rider behind them. This enhances mutual support. If the rider behind you starts to fall back, so should you. If you lose sight of the person behind you, slow down for a while. If that doesn't work after a period of time - turn around. Something has obviously happened and he probably could use your help. As you can see, if the last person in the formation had his engine quit (ran out of gas) or crashed, eventually the entire group would be at his aid. If it is necessary to stop or if you decide to take a different route, it is essential that someone in the group knows where you are. In the event of an accident, pull over with the group. Do not panic stop or rush to the scene. This may cause more problems. Do not move an injured person or remove their helmet.
6) Formation and spacing. This depends on your environment (weather, road type and condition, speed, congestion, etc.), and your mission. One extreme would be in heavy stop and go rush-hour traffic at very slow speeds. A close staggered formation with no less than nose/tail clearance (unless stopped) might be the smartest formation.
The other extreme would be a "spirited" ride out in the hill country on a twisty open road with no traffic. Here the smart formation might be an extended staggered formation, just keeping the guy in front and in back of you in sight. If a vehicle wants to break through the group on a multi-lane road, give them space to safely do so. Close the formation once the vehicle exits the lane. If the vehicle does not move, cautiously and carefully pass to reform. Bikers do not own the road. Be considerate of other vehicles.
When pulling up to a stop, stopping two abreast is a good idea. It gives you the chance to chat.
Unless briefed otherwise, during the course of a typical informal group ride, your position (formation and spacing) should be fluid and dictated by the overall situation. You might find yourself going from a close staggered to an extended staggered formation and back again all in a relative short amount of time.
At times you may want to have increased spacing to avoid road hazards while at the same time desire to keep the formation relatively tight.
Novice and inexperienced riders should ride at the rear of the group until they are comfortable riding in a group. The Road Captains should also be at the very rear of the group…this is done to maintain order. Know hand signals, and pay attention to them. Signals are passed back by every rider so that everyone is informed. Be certain it is a real signal, and not a wave to a passing motorcycle. Maintain a steady pace with as few (dramatic) speed changes or sudden moves as possible. Ride as if your motorcycle were as long as the entire group. When turning, a Road Captain should safely block oncoming traffic. The group should continue through a red light only if blockers have the intersection secured. Blocking intersections is risky and very often an unsafe practice which should only be performed by a Road Captain! Unless there are Road Captains “floating”, intersections will be blocked utilizing Road Captains from the rear only. They will pass the group to go ahead and block, ultimately falling back in at the rear. Riders are urged to tighten up and move as quickly as possible through blocked intersections. The group should know who is blocking. DO NOT FOLLOW BLOCKERS! Group riders should NEVER block unless asked to do so by a Road Captain. When a single file signal is given, the bike on the left always proceeds (in front of) the bike on the right.
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7) Establishing the spacing. Look at the graphic above. Because there are so many variables that could dictate the optimum spacing, number two in the formation should normally set the spacing for the group. A minimum spacing of one second to the rider in front of you should try to be maintained. Two seconds should be the maximum spacing.
Although you may be number five and can't see number two, you would only need to maintain the spacing that number four has on three. In other words, set your own spacing based on the spacing taken by the guy in front of you. Don't exceed your comfort level in order to maintain spacing. Those riders who wish to maintain two seconds are urged to stay to the rear of the group.
8) Speed and lanes. It depends. The leader initially sets the pace but eventually the slowest rider should normally determine it. We would like to maintain a speed of about 60 mph on the highway. If everyone follows the guidelines above then speed will take care of itself. A common misconception is that going slower is always safer. Not true.
With few exceptions, the Road Captains and leader must tailor aggressiveness and average speed to the lowest level of capability in the group. Capability is defined and limited by skill, experience, machine or a combination of all three. Speed preferences should be discussed and agreed upon before the ride begins.
On multilane roads the group should strive to be in the same lane as the leader. However, don't compromise safety to get there. If a car cuts into the formation, analyze the best course of action to get back in formation. You might just want to ride it out behind the car for a while if other options aren't obvious.
Normally, the leader should be in what he considers to be the safest lane for conditions. Many times with modern bikes and competent riders this is the furthest left lane going just slightly faster than the general traffic flow. This limits, but doesn't negate your vulnerability from the rear by the hyper-speeders. Generally the right lane has the most hazards in the form of exiting and entering cars at sometimes drastically different speeds. A middle lane also has its hazards. In a middle lane, you are subject to “crazies” on both sides of you and it is difficult to “isolate" the threat. When parking, the group shall follow the leader to a parking location. Riders should park as a group and refrain from scattering and parking all over. It looks sloppy.
9) The Long Island VTX Riders Motorcycle Club is not responsible for accidents, injuries, thefts, etc. Each individual is responsible for any violations of the law. Riders ride at their own risk. The group should meet before and during the ride regularly to pass along information. If you do not understand something, get clarification. If you leave your place in the group, Re-enter at the rear, in front of the rear Road Captains. Lastly, it is every rider’s obligation to report noncompliance of any group-riding rule to a Road Captain…a life may depend on it. Showoffs and hot rods should not ride with the group. Any questions or concerns should be addressed to any Road Captain.
