Highway Group Riding 'rules'...
One Right of way lane change to Remember
There are some common misunderstandings as to what are the 'RULES' for group riding. For example, virtually everyone who has ridden in a group understands that they should try to keep the group together. That has become almost 'gospel' knowledge, yet is absolutely wrong if doing so involves increasing risk. Said another way, though group riders know that they are to follow the lead bike, there is a caveat to that understanding: Don’t do so if it creates a dangerous situation. Keeping a group together can never have priority over safety.
Let's look at a common highway scenario to explore this from a realistic perspective. A group finds itself riding in the right lane of a two lane highway as they approach a freeway on-ramp. The lead biker has apparently failed to notice that a car is about to try to merge into the highway traffic.
Now if the group insists that it keep itself in a group that means one or more bikes in the group will have an encounter with a car's bumper. So, what should they do? Well, for sure it is NOT up to the lead bike to determine what actions to take as EACH rider is responsible for his own safety. Each rider in the group must decide for themselves what to do about the threat. However, there are a couple of things that they can do as a partial group in order to try to keep some semblance of order within their ranks.
For example, the third biker might turn on his turn signal and, after doing his head check, begin moving to the left lane. Group dynamics in that event will probably find that all the bikes behind that third bike will follow him into the left lane.
That is not the best thing they could have done but it demonstrates positive action on the part of at least one of the group's riders. What it leads to, however, is that after they move to the left the group now covers two full lanes and blocks all following traffic totally. Since group riders understand that they are not supposed to pass the lead rider under any normal conditions, the group in the left lane will probably not do so. And that leaves the car that entered the highway boxed in - and probably angry!
A second, and in my opinion, far more appropriate action to be taken by biker number 3 is to simply slow down and widen the gap between his bike and the bike ahead of him. That allows the car to gracefully merge with traffic, and you can be sure that as soon as that driver sees a way to move left into the next lane he will do so. (It apparently is 'uncomfortable' for many car drivers to find themselves in the middle of a group of motorcyclists.)
When the car has entered the lane there are then two independent motorcycle groups in that lane - that is, they are no longer 'family.' The third biker has become the lead biker of the second group and he is then responsible for the navigation of that group. If the car does not move left and out of their way after awhile he can decide to move his group into the passing lane and increase speed until they can safely merge back into the right lane behind group one. Or he can decide to bide his time and simply maintain visual contact with the group ahead of him until the car moves out of the lane.
This has merely been an example of a real world situation in which keeping the group together MUST be subordinated to safety. It points out that it is often believed that only the lead and drag bikes make decisions for the group. In fact each rider is REQUIRED to make decisions on behalf of him or herself first, and to follow the group decisions second.
Obviously the first thing that should have been done was to move the ENTIRE group into the faster left lane BEFORE approaching an on-ramp. And though that is not always appropriate it usually is.
Now, please, consider the situation in which the same group is approaching an off-ramp instead of an on-ramp. If there is a car in the left lane that must make that exit, there is going to be an accident unless someone in the group is courteous enough, AND SAVVY ENOUGH, to slow down and let that car gracefully (and safety) merge through the group and exit the highway.
One more thing - this example demonstrates one more reason why groups should be limited to smaller groups and not one large group.
If I had one thing to tell every rider on the road, it would be to take control of your own bike, make your own decisions, and never, never follow a bike into another lane without first checking that lane for yourself.
Group Riding - Hand Signals
Communications on rides is extremely important to the success and enjoyment of all who are attending. There are some general hand signals that everybody should know before joining any group of riders. At the start of each ride we review the hand signals that are used and what they mean. It is extremely important to your safety and that of the group that you learn and use these hand signals to let others know what you are doing. Memorizing these hand signals will be extremely beneficial while on your group ride. They are universal and can be used in any group. By understanding the signals; you will know what is going on, when and where the group will stop, if there is a hazard in the road, or when someone needs to stop for a break. The more you know about motorcycling, the safer you will be, the more fun you'll have...... and you'll ride another day! And please remember, SAFETY FIRST.
Some of the following signals SUHOG doesn’t acknowledge but I’ve put them in for your own info.
