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Safe and courteous group riding

The Missouri Bicycle Federation recently posted a story about
safe and courteous group riding, and I'm passing these along as a service to cyclists everywhere. Many of the conflicts between cyclists and motorists take place on group rides, and I hope these tips will help reduce them.

Safe and Courteous Group Riding
Based on the principles taught in the League of American Bicyclists Bike Ed program.

Cycling with friends, traveling rapidly and safely with confidence in your companions, is a joy. However, there is a certain cycling etiquette, or Rules of the Road, of which you should be aware whenever cycling in a group.

Ride Leaders-Please take the initiative to educate your riders about and continually remind them of the rules of the road. It takes only a minute or two to emphasize one or two of these points at each ride. Educated riders are safer and have fewer conflicts among themselves and with motorists.

Getting along with other bicyclists

1. Be Predictable - Group riding requires even more attention to predictability than riding alone. Other riders expect you to continue straight ahead at a constant speed unless you indicate differently. Being predictable will make motorists happier and keep you safer.

2. Use Signals - Use hand and verbal signals to communicate with members of the group and with other traffic. Use hand signals for turning and stopping. Extend left arm for left turn and right arm for right turn. Put left hand down at the side with fingers slightly spread for STOP. When moving left to avoid an obstacle such as a parked car or debris, signal by extending your arm to the left to tell cars and cyclists behind you that are moving left.

3. Give Warnings - Warn cyclists behind you well in advance of changes in your direction or speed. To notify the group of change in path, the lead rider should call out "left turn" or "right turn" in addition to hand signals.

4. Change Positions Correctly - Generally, slower traffic stays right, so as a rule pass other cyclists on their left. Say "on your left" to warn the cyclist ahead that you are passing. If you are approaching someone on the right or need to pass someone on the right, say "on your right" clearly since this is an unusual maneuver.

5. Announce Hazards - When riding in a group, most of the cyclists do not have a good view of the road surface ahead, so it is important to announce holes, glass, gravel, grates, and other hazards. The leader (or rider in front of a group) should indicate road hazards by pointing down to the left or right and call by "hole", "bump", "road kill", etc. where required for safety.

Getting along with motorists

1. Watch For Traffic Coming From The Rear - Since those in front cannot see traffic approaching from the rear, it is the responsibility the riders in the back to inform the others by calling out "car back". Around curves, on narrow roads, or when riding double (side-by-side) it is helpful if those up front call out "car up" to those in the back. When you hear "car back" move right to become a single file line. Be courteous to motorists.

2. Watch Out At Intersections - When approaching intersections that require vehicles to yield or stop, the lead rider will say "slowing" or "stopping" to those behind of the change in speed. Do NOT say "clear" to indicate no crossing traffic. This is a dangerous practice that should be abandoned. Each cyclist is responsible for verifying that the way is indeed clear.

3. Leave A Gap For Cars - When riding up hills or on narrow roads where you are impeding faster traffic, leave a gap for cars between every three to four bicycles. That way a motorist can take advantage of shorter passing intervals and eventually move piecemeal around the entire group

4. Move Off The Road When You Stop - Whether you are stopping because of mechanical problems or to regroup with your companions, or just shooting the breeze with someone you haven't seen in a while, move well off the road so you don't interfere with traffic (both cars AND other cyclists). When you start up again, each cyclist should look for and yield to traffic.

5. Ride One or Two Across - Ride single file or double file as appropriate to the roadway and traffic conditions and where allowed by law. Most state vehicle codes permit narrow vehicles such as bicycles to ride double file within the lane. Even where riding double is legal, courtesy dictates that you single up when cars are trying to pass you. (Note from Roger: Riding more than two abreast is against the law in almost all cases on streets and highways in Illinois.)

These guidelines are available as a printable, freely reproducible and distributable PDF file. I encourage you to print out a copy, and do your best to follow the guidelines.

Roger 3 comments 10:09 AM

Comments:

I jog a lot on the river trail here in Tulsa, and we have some cyclists who seem to have more enthusiasm than common sense. These should go without saying, but since they apparently don't, let me add three bits of advice for coexisting peaceably with runners:

1. Contrary to popular belief, you will not go blind, develop scoliosis, or be damned to hellfire eternal if you say, "On your left" as you prepare to pass a runner from behind. Say it good and loud. If I fail to hear you coming and decide to pass another runner or reach my turnaround spot and suddenly change directions just as you start to pass, we both have a problem.

2. If you are sharing a narrow, crowded trail with runners (or walkers), please do not attempt to set a land-speed record. I would like to live to see my next marathon. For your safety, my safety, and the safety of your expensive racing bike, PLEASE slow down in congested areas.

3. If you have access to a trail more than 20 miles in length, and you know that the first five miles of that trail pass through a heavily populated residential area and contain three parking lots, two concession stands, a playground, a rugby field, an outdoor fitness center, a lake, a fishing area, a giant ornamental fountain, a spillway, seven drinking fountains, and a disc golf course, it would probably be a good idea to consider starting your Saturday-morning ride at mile marker five rather than mile marker zero.

# posted by  Anonymous : 11:23 PM

 

Emily, I agree with you in part, but not completely.

You're right that cyclists should tell other cyclists, runners, walkers and rollerbladers "on your left" when they're passing. The problem that I encounter when I do that is that people who are biking, running or walking side by side tend to scatter in several directions when I do that, making it more difficult to figure out how to pass. Saying "passing on your left" works a little better on the trails, but some people still panic. It would be more helpful if the people cycling, running or biking side-by-side would not take up the entire path, making it easier for a faster cyclist to pass.

I also think it would be unfair for cyclists not to use a section of the trail simply because it has a lot of activities surrounding it. Afterall, the trail is built for cyclists, pedestrians and rollerbladers. I think a better solution would be for River Parks and cycling, running and rollerblading groups in the Tulsa area to develop a trail guide that explains concepts such as "on your left" and ways everyone can get along on the trail.

# posted by  Roger : 12:15 PM

 

Tulsa has a very active running community. Large groups of runners wearing Fleet Feet or Runner's World T-shirts can all be counted on to know what "on your left" means and to keep right when they hear it. Your concern may be a valid excuse in Belleville, but it doesn't fly in Tulsa.

The trail is built for everybody, and everybody is welcome to use it, but a little common sense would be nice. Trying to ride at race pace on the River Parks trail in Tulsa at 8 a.m. on Saturday is like trying to drive the speed limit on the Poplar Street Bridge at 5 p.m. on Friday: You simply can't do it -- and if you try, you're just going to endanger yourself and everybody around you.

I share the road -- and the trail -- with bicyclists, but it would be a nice gesture if they'd return the favor. Most do, but the ones who don't are spectacularly obnoxious. Hopefully a few of them will read pages like this and realize they need to do things differently.

# posted by  Anonymous : 5:13 PM

 

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