Please be aware that we have riders of all levels of experience and skills on our rides. We encourage more experienced riders to mentor those who are new to cycling. Safety rules are necessary to ensure everyone's well being and enjoyment during the ride. The links below contain more tips. Ride safe!
- Wear a helmet
Riders with no helmet will not be allowed to ride with the group. Many of us have cracked a helmet in the past--some of us more than once. We could have cracked our heads instead.
- Communicate
Talk, talk, talk. Call out when passing cars, bikers and runners, signal turns verbally, and point out road hazards such as potholes, sand, road kill, etc. The most important hand signals are left turn, right turn, and stopping. Click here for other examples and illustrations or here for a video clip. Note that flipping a bird is not a recommended hand signal.
- Pace lines
How to ride in a group: link
- No aero bars
- Be prepared to fix simple mechanical failures, such as flat tires
It's a good idea to bring tire levers, a spare inner tube, a tire pump or CO2 cartridges, a multi-tool.
- Call out hazards
Cars, joggers, dogs, children, sand, ice, rocks, falling water bottles, tree limbs
- Obey traffic laws
Stop at stop signs and red lights
Don't ride on the left side of a 2-way street
- Where to ride
Ride single-file when there's only 1 travel lane going in your direction. Single-file riding is required.
Ride in the direction of traffic, not against it.
If there is a marked bike lane, use it – except as limited by doors of parked cars or other hazards.
Your next choice would be the right road shoulder. However, shoulders are often too narrow and can have broken pavement, potholes, debris, parked cars, and/or opening car doors.
If there is no bike lane, and the road shoulder is unsafe, then you belong in a travel lane. Use the rightmost travel lane of a multilane road.
Stay on the right side of the lane except on multilane roads when the lane is too narrow for you to be safely passed by a motor vehicle. In that case, "take the lane" by riding near the center of it. Also see applicable.
At an intersection, avoid the right-turn-only lane unless you are making a right turn.
- Be predictable
You present less of a hazard when your actions are predictable. Ride in as straight of a line as possible, consistent with road conditions. When riding single file in a group, stay directly behind the bike in front of you.
- Be visible
A motorist who sees you is less likely to hit you, although he is probably less concerned with your life than with his car's paint job. Riding in a lane makes you more visible than riding on the road shoulder. At night, wear bright or reflective clothing and please use lights, front and rear.
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