RIDER RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Maintain your bike in good working condition.
   
2. Choose your ride carefully to match your current abilities for both speed and distance.
   
3. Sign in on the ride leader forms so that the leader knows how many members are on the ride.
   
4. Inform the ride leader if you must leave the group before the end of the ride.
   
5. In case of physical or mechanical problems, members should aid each other and inform the ride leader.
   
6. Follow the bicycle rules of the road at all times.
   
7. Helmets are required.
8. Headphones are not allowed.

Group Riding Tips (courtesy of LAB)

1. Be predictable
• In a group, your actions affect those around you, not just yourself
• Riders expect you to continue straight and at a constant speed
• Signal your intention to turn or slow down before you do so
2. Use signals
• Use hand signals to indicate turns and point out hazards to others
• Left or right arm straight out to indicate left or right turn
• Left arm out and down with palm to the rear to indicate stopping
3. Give warnings
• Ride leaders should call out right turns, left turns and stops in addition to signaling
• Announce turns before the intersections to give riders a chance to position themselves
• Try to avoid sudden stops or turns except for emergencies
• When announcing conflicting traffic-indicate the direction and where the conflict is expected, i.e. "Up-Right (or Left)", "Back-Right (or Left)", "Car-Right (or Left)", etc. It is more important to indicate where the conflict is than what it is. *
4. Change positions correctly
• Slower moving traffic stays to the right; faster traffic to the left
• Pass slower moving vehicles on the left; announce your intention to do so
• Announce passes on the right clearly as this is not a usual maneuver
5. Announce hazards
• Most cyclists do not have a full view of the road while riding in a group
• Announce potholes and other hazards so others can avoid them
• Call out the hazard and point down to it, either left or right
6. Watch for traffic from the rear
• The last rider should frequently check for overtaking cars
• Announce "car back" clearly and loudly
• It is also helpful to announce "car up" on narrow roads or when riding two abreast
7. Watch out at intersections
• Leader should announce slowing or stopping at intersections if necessary
• Cyclists should not follow others through intersections without scanning
• Each cyclist is responsible for checking cross traffic; if you must stop, signal
8. Leave room for cars
• On narrow road or during climbs, leave space between every three or four riders
• Motorists will utilize the shorter passing intervals to pass the group
• Good relations with motorists is the responsibility of every cyclist
9. Stop off road
• When stopping for mechanicals or regrouping, always move clear off the road
• Only if conditions permit should you move back onto the road as a group
• Always yield to traffic in the roadway
10. Ride single file
    • It is illegal in some areas to ride more than two abreast
    • Ride single file between intersections; double up when the group stops
    • When taking the lane, double up and take the whole lane