Safety Policies: Stay Alert. Stay Alive
Your bicycle is a vehicle. When you cycle on public roadways in any country, you assume all the same rights and responsibilities, and are subject to the same laws and local ordinances as the driver of an automobile.
Participants are required to follow the following principles and policies:
Helmets required. You must properly wear an ANSI, Snell or ASTM approved helmet while on the ride.
Group riding. Riding in a group is very different from riding by yourself. Your riding behavior affects not only your life, but others' lives as well. Your actions on your bike will affect others. Remember-there will be riders of all skills and abilities on the ride. Keep safe distances from other riders at all times!
Riding unsafe. Unsafe riding is foolish. You should never ride in such a way as to endanger the lives of others. The ride is not only non-competitive; it is a context of community and support that does not tolerate unsafe riding behavior. Unsafe riders will be removed from the ride.
Distractions. The use of earphones, radios or cellular phones is not permitted while riding. Riders need to remain alert at all times.
Drafting. Drafting is the act of following closely behind another cyclist. Drafting can be dangerous, especially for inexperienced cyclists. Drafting is discouraged on the ride at any time, regardless of cycling experience. The ride is not a race. You will be sharing this experience with cyclists who are not familiar with drafting, and you will endanger your life and limbs and theirs if you draft. Please keep safe distance from other riders at all times.
Alcohol and drugs. This is absolutely not permitted while on the ride, including breakpoints and lunch.
Obey Traffic signs and signals. Cyclists must ride like motorists if they want to be taken seriously. Doing so is the safest behavior. When approaching a stop sign or red light, you are required to come to a complete stop and proceed only when safe to do so. If a certified law enforcement officer waves you through an intersection - you must continue as directed by the officer. Follow lane markings and do not turn left from the right lane. Obey all traffic signs!
Never ride against traffic. Motorists are not looking for bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the road. Many other hazards threaten the wrong-way rider.
Use hand signals. Riders who use hand signals to tell other road users what they intend to do is the safest method while traveling with other vehicles and cyclists.
Ride in a straight line. Whenever possible, ride in a straight line, to the right of traffic but about a car door's width away from parked cars.
Always pass on the left. Motorists and cyclists will never expect you to pass them on their right. So do not! Always pass on their left, giving them at least three feet of clearance. Announce "passing on left" when approaching another cyclist.
Maintain your bike in good working condition. Keep tires properly inflated, and make sure bike is in top notch condition before starting this bike ride.
