Greenville Chapter

Southern Cruisers Riding Club

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                                                          Guidelines for Group Riding Safety

The intent of this guideline is to provide our Chapter members information to help 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 you should always ride within your capabilities and that of your machines.

The following guidelines are compiled from a number of sources and based on guidelines set by The SCRC. 

As these are our guidelines, they can be discussed and modified if needed.  The proper place to do this is at our monthly meetings and in our mailgroup. Not on a ride.  

Drinking and Riding is not Condoned by the Southern Cruisers Riding Club®. Members must use their best judgment when on a club ride, to limit consumption of Alcoholic Beverages. It is the Right and Responsibility of the Ride Leader to dismiss a participant from the ride if in the Ride Leader's judgment, the participant's drinking may be a hazard to themselves, other participants in the ride or the general public.


Formation Riding:  Will be in a standard State Patrol (staggered) formation. In staggered formation, the bikes form two columns, with the Ride Leader at the head of the left column, so he/she will be able to view all bikes in the formation with the rearview mirrors, and be able to see around vehicles the group approaches. The 2nd bike will head the right column, and will ride approximately 1 second behind the Ride Leader in the opposite side of the lane. The other riders will position their bikes 2 seconds behind the bike directly in front of them, which puts them 1 second behind the diagonal bike.  The last rider, or Tailgunner, may ride on whichever side of the lane he/she prefers. The Tailgunner wil change sides during the ride, based on the situation.  All riders will remain in formation unless there is an emergency.

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.  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 interval should be consistent throughout the formation.

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

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Ride Leader:  The Ride Leader must be aware of the length of the columns, and must gauge requirements for passing, merging, highway entrances and exits, etc., and to allow for maximum safety and keeping the group together. The Ride Leader must insure that there is enough time/space for the formation to get into the appropriate lanes before exits, etc. All directions come from the Ride Leader. The Ride Leader makes all decisions regarding lane changes, stopping for breaks and fuel, closing of gaps, turning off at exits, any concerns of what lies ahead. No individual will assert themselves independently without direction from the Ride Leader to do so.  The Ride Leader shall choose the 2nd Bike and Tailgunner.

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2nd Bike: The 2nd bike is to assist the Ride Leader in Monitoring the group. Specifically the right hand lane. This position will normally be held by the 2nd Officer.

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Tailgunner:  The Tailgunner serves as the eyes of the Ride Leader. He/she watches the formation, and informs the Ride Leader of any potential problems within the group. The Tailgunner watches other vehicles, and protects the formation from hazardous conditions approaching from the rear, such as vehicles trying to cut into the formation and trucks passing with potentially dangerous wind blasts. The Tailgunner will watch for merging lanes, and will move into a merging lane, or stay in a merging lane just vacated by the group, in order to "close the door" on other vehicles that may otherwise find themselves trying to merge into the formation. At the Ride Leaders request, the Tailgunner changes lanes before the formation, to secure the lane so the formation can safely move into it.
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Emergencies:
In the unlikely event of an emergency condition, the Ride Leader will make every attempt to move the formation to  a safe location, and stop in an orderly manner. If a bike breaks down, let the rider move to the right. DO NOT STOP. The Tailgunner will stop with the problem bike. The Ride Leader will lead the group to a safe stopping place.  The Tailgunner and Ride Leader will then communicate via cell phone.

If any rider sees an emergency or a problem that warrants the formation stopping, flash your bright lights continuously until the Ride Leader acknowledges your signal by waving his left arm in a sweeping motion above his head. Any rider seeing another rider flashing their lights will do the same The Ride Leader will  stop the formation as soon as safely possible when he/she sees any group rider flashing their lights.
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Group Signals:
Each rider (and passenger) should duplicate all hand signals given by the Ride Leader, so that the signals are passed all the way back to the Tailgunner. The following signals are used in addition to the standard right turn, left turn, slow / stop hand signals.

Single up:
When conditions warrant single file (narrow road, anticipated wind-blast from trucks, obstruction, pedestrians, etc.) the Ride Leader will raise his/her left hand straight up, holding up just the index finger. All other riders will repeat this signal, and the two columns will merge into one behind the Ride Leader.

Staggered Formation:
When single file is no longer necessary, the Ride Leader will raise his/her left hand with the first and last fingers extended, other fingers closed, rotating the wrist back and forth (indicating left, right, left, right). All other riders will repeat this signal and resume a staggered formation.

Tighten Formation:
When the formation should be tighter, bikes need to move closer together or fill in any gaps, the Ride Leader will raise his/her left hand with fingers spread wide and repeatedly open and close them into a fist   All other riders repeat this signal and close up all unnecessary space and gaps in the formation.

Road Hazard:
Anyone seeing a hazardous condition on the road surface (road kill, oil, gravel, significant pot hole, etc.) will point at the hazard with their foot. All following riders will repeat this.
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General

If the formation is split for any reason (stop lights, cars cutting into the pack, etc.) do not panic, do not speed excessively to catch up. The Ride Leader will see the split.  The formation will not turn onto any other road until the group is reunited.  The Ride Leader will slow the formation until the rest of the group catches up.  If a turn is approached, the Ride Leader will pull the formation over and stop until the separated riders reunite with the group.  The lead bike in the split group will become the Ride Leader for that group until the formation is reunited. The last bike in the original group will become the Tailgunner until the groups are reunited.

All riders will obey all state and national laws.  Riders must stop if a traffic light turns red and you can do so safely, and not endanger the riders behind and beside you.  

As always, If you disagree or have a better idea, speak up and we will discuss it.  Remember, this is our club so everyone's ideas are important.