Group Formation Requirements

The following are a list of guidelines for group riding:

  1. Riding will be in staggered formation unless the Ride Captain calls for single file. In staggered formation, the bikes form two columns, with the Ride Captain at the head of the left column unless conditions warrant the change to the right column. The second bike will head the opposite column, and will ride approx. 1 to 2 seconds travel time behind the Ride Captain. New Riders will take their positions respectively staggered behind either column in the lead. More seasoned riders will take their position behind these, also in staggered formation. All riders should stagger the travel time of 1 to 2 seconds ( or greater as riding conditions warrant) from the rider diagonally in front of them. Anything greater than 2 second travel time between diagonal riders will encourage other traffic to cut into the formation. Riders should try to keep the columns fairly tight so as to discourage this activity while still providing enough reaction time to avoid an accident.
  2. The Tail Gunner may ride in whichever lane that he chooses and as conditions warrant to insure the safety of the group.

Lane Changes

  1. All lane changes are to be initiated by the Ride Captain and either radioed back to the Tail Gunner or through the use of hand and turn signals. The Tail Gunner will then move into the turn lane (when it is safe to do so) and will inform the Ride Captain when the lane is clear. If a radio is not present, the Tail Gunner will either have to use a predetermined hand signal or the Ride Captain will have to watch in his / her rear view mirror for the signal that it is safe to proceed.

At this point the Ride Captain has three choices:

  1. A Simple Lane Change. This is an ordinary lane change, and can be used in most situations.

After the Tail Gunner secures the lane, the Ride Captain will put on his directional signal as an indication that he / she is about to order a lane change. As each rider sees the directional signal, he also will turn his / her signal on. Each rider in the group will turn on their signal and follow the Ride Captain as he initiates the change. NO rider is to initiate the change until the Ride Captain does, and NO rider is to move before the rider in front of him has started the move.

  1. Block Lane Changes. This can be used interchangeably with the simple lane change. While it requires more work it displays the unity of the group to act as a team.

After the Tail Gunner has secured the new lane, the Ride Captain will put on his / her directional signal as an indication he / she is about to order a lane change. As each rider sees the directional signal, he / she also turns his / her on so that the riders following him / her sees the signal. The Ride Captain then raises his arm straight up and each rider repeats the signal. Then, as the Ride Captain lowers his arm to point to the lane into which he / she is moving, he actually initiates the change. All other riders lower their arms at the same time and change lanes too. This allows the entire formation to move from one lane to the another as a single block.

  1. Rear Fill-in. This is sometimes necessary is a long gap cannot be maintained in the new lane. in e.g. when trying to move from the right lane to the center and vehicles from the left lane keep cutting into the opening.

After the Tail Gunner has secured the new lane, the Ride Captain (usually at the suggestion of the Tail Gunner) will call for the group to fill in space from the rear. He / she signals this by raising his / her hand to shoulder height and "pushing" it towards the new lane. All rider will repeat this hand signal, and the last bikes move into the space in the new lane ahead of the Tail Gunner, then the bikes proceeding the first bikes move into the space in ahead of those, and so on until the Ride Captain lastly moves into the space ahead of the entire formation.

Emergencies

  1. In the event of an emergency condition, the Ride Captain will make every attempt to move the formation to the shoulder of the road in an orderly manner. If a bike breaks down, let the rider move to the right, but DO NOT STOP. The Tail Gunner will stop with the problem bike. The Ride Captain will lead the group to a safe stopping place.

Tolls

  1. The Ride Captain should be aware of tolls and collect monies from all riders prior to the start of the ride. When the formation arrives at the toll booth, the Ride Captain pays for all the bikes. Then all bikes will proceed through the toll gate single file and allowing for enough room between the rider in front of them to stop in case the gate should close behind a rider.
  2. In the event that some people are using an EZ pass, they will split from the group in an orderly fashion and reform at the other side of the toll booth. The people using and EZ pass should notify the Ride Captain before the ride commences, that they will be using the pass so that he / she can plan appropriately.

Hand Signals

  1. Each rider should duplicate the hand signals given by the rider in front of him / her, so that the signals get passed all the way to the back of the formation.

Pulling out from a Parking Lot

  1. Riders should fall in behind the Ride Captain and should not separate and come in at an angle. Each rider will line up in their formation position as outlined by the Ride Captain before commencement of the ride with the Tail Gunner falling to the rear position. Riders who have not been assigned the spot of the Tail Gunner should NOT take up this position.