 | Make sure your vehicle is in good operating condition.
|
| Arrive to participate in a group ride with a full tank of gas.
|
| Familiarize yourself with the route and scheduled stops.
|
| Keep a safe distance behind the bike in front of you.
|
| Try and maintain a constant speed. Don’t “rubber band,” or
speed up and slow down. |
| Always ride in staggered formation; it gives you and extra
margin for safety. |
| Try and keep the pack tight without crowding each other. Stay
close enough through intersections and traffic lights so that the
group doesn’t become separated. Remember, some riders may not know
where they are going and could end up “leading” the remainder of
the pack with no idea how to reach their destination. |
| If there is a vehicle that needs to get onto the freeway, let
that vehicle through and close the gap. |
| It’s unsafe for a large group to stop on the side of the road.
If someone needs to pull over, the remainder of the group should
continue to the next stop. At that time, the group can decide to
wait for the missing members or to send riders back to assist. A
mobile phone is invaluable in this situation. |
| A group of motorcycles is not a single vehicle. Be courteous
and allow cars to enter and exit the highway and change lanes.
Generally speaking, a car will not want to ride in the middle of a
group of motorcycles and will get out of the group as quickly as
possible. |
| Always ride with your headlight on; it’s a law in most states.
Riders should do everything possible to help other motorists
“notice” their motorcycle. |
| Protect yourself from the elements. Being too hot, or too
cold, can affect your alertness. Be sure to pack protective
clothing, such as a long-sleeve cotton shirt for protection from
the sun, helmet, eye protection, jackets, gloves, rain gear, etc.
|
| Drinking and driving never mix. This is especially true when
participating in a group ride. |
