Ride
Rules
All riders must
complete a Ride Waiver and turn it in to our Chapter Secretary before you are
permitted on a chapter ride.
All bikes will be
maintained in a safe condition. Motorcycles with malfunctioning lights, brakes,
or worn tires (less than 1/32) tread will not be permitted to participate in
Chapter rides.
All motorcycles will
be fueled (topped off) prior to arriving at our meeting area.
No drinking or drugs
while riding is allowed. All traffic laws will be strictly obeyed.
When riding in a pack
formation, motorcycles will be ridden in a staggered formation except for when
coming to a stop, when riders will stop side by side in order to save space.
One or more riders
will be designated as the Ride Captain. Shall ride in the front left position
in the pack and lead each group of road hazards as they are found by hand
signal to be passed back through the group.
One to two riders
will be designated as Tail Gunners. The Tail Gunner is responsible for keeping
all riders in formation. Should a rider need to leave the formation, only the
Tail Gunner will stop to assist them. A Chapter Officer may designate him.
Riders who elect to
drop out of a ride (i.e. they do not desire to continue) will notify the Tail
Gunner prior to doing so. One rider will be designated as Sergeant at Arms.
The Sergeant at Arms
is responsible for keeping the peace, enforcing chapter and charter rules, and
collection of monies for tolls, etc.
Ride Signals:
All riders will
familiarize themselves with the following hand, light and horn signals. These
signals will be strictly adhered to at all times.
If a rider needs
fuel, they will waive their left hand from side to side while pointing at their
fuel tank.All forward riders will relay the signal until the Ride Captain
acknowledges it. If a rider has a mechanical malfunction, they will wave their
hand in a circle above their head (if it can be done safely).
That rider may drop
out of the group if necessary and the forward riders will be responsible for
relaying the signal up to the Ride Captain. The Tail Gunner will assist the
rider in any way possible and join the group at a later time.
If the Ride Captain
wants the group to ride in a Single File Formation, he will raise his left hand
above his head with his index finger extended, all
riders will relay this back to Tail Gunner. Two fingers extended (index &
pinkie) while waving the hand, indicates resume staggered formation. To signal
the group must SLOW DOWN, the left hand will be held downward with the open
palm facing back.
To signal the group
must STOP QUICKLY, the left hand will be moving in a pumping motion along the
left side of the bike, while using a closed fist.
If the group becomes
separated the last rider in the first group will flash the motorcycle high beam
lights off and on, the signal will relay forward to the Ride Captain he will
acknowledge by slowing to a safe speed and wait until the group reforms (in
some cases he may pull over and reform the group).
If a rider needs a
REST STOP, that rider will tap the top of their helmet with the left hand. This
signal will be relayed forward to the Ride Captain until he acknowledges.
FREEWAY LANE CHANGES
will be made in the following order. The Ride Captain will signal the lane
change using hand signals ONLY. The hand signal will relay thru the group to
the Tail Gunner who will check the lane for traffic and move over, then and
only then the group will move over from the rear to the front.