Guidelines for a Safe Group Ride

Riding with other motorcyclists is a great way to enhance your ride, however, riding in a group safely will require you to adhere to some conventions and limitations. When you decide to ride in a group ride you are electing to follow the route and pace set by the ride leader. You can choose to leave the group at any stopping point if you inform the ride leader before you do so. Remember, your safety is always your own responsibility when you ride a motorcycle, and this doesn’t change when you join others for a group ride. Here are the rules of the road:

Rule #1 Use ATGATT Every Ride.

  1. First and Foremost – BE SAFE
  2. Ride your own ride…that is, maintain a pace that is comfortable.
  3. Arrive at the departure point on a well-maintained motorcycle, with good tires, a full tank of gas and a grateful attitude.
  4. Leave your ego at home.
  5. Wear appropriate attire.
  6. Notify the Ride Leader of any concerns, mechanical, emotional, skill level, etc.
  7. In urban areas ride in staggered formation so that the entire group can transition the area with alacrity.
  8. On highways, country roads, etc. spread out keeping approximately two seconds elapsed time behind the bike ahead, depending on the speed and technicality of the road…wider gaps for higher speeds and/or technical turns.
  9. Keep the rider behind you in view. If he or she disappears for more than a minute, stop at the nearest safe place and wait until the rider reappears. If, after waiting for 2 minutes, the rider does not reappear, backtrack along the route until the rider is found and render whatever aid is appropriate or possible. For riders that are lost or have mechanical problems, simply park the bike in an obvious and safe position, hopefully where you last saw the preceding rider, and wait for someone to come back for you.
  10. Inform the Ride Leader of any plans to depart from the group before the ride is completed.
  11. Do not pass members of the group while en route. If you wish to ride at a more spirited pace, notify the Ride Leader at the earliest opportunity that you wish to change your position or precede the group for all or a part of the ride.
  12. Wheelies and other stunts conducted among members of the group are not acceptable and such behavior will necessitate expulsion from the group.
  13. The Ride Leader will wait until the entire group is together after traffic signals, before changing roads or thoroughfares and after gas or human endurance breaks…. So be safe, relax and enjoy the ride.