Here in the Tampa Bay chapter of the Southern Cruisers Riding Club we focus extensively on safety issues while riding. Motorcycles are dangerous enough as it is without inflaming the situation with foolish antics. Please understand that this chapter will NOT tolerate any type of unsafe behavior when on rides. The Road Captain, Tail Gunner, or any other officers on the ride will ask those who are behaving in any unsafe fashion to leave the ride. The safety of ALL members on the ride is of utmost importance to all of us in the Tampa Bay chapter.

Below you'll find the procedures we use to insure a safe ride for everyone. Tampa Bay has a Safety Officer whose responsibility it is to make sure that all members are aware of and following our safety procedures. Please read the following and follow any supplemental links. Your safety on rides is as important to us as it should be to you. If at any time on a ride you feel unsafe or threatened by someone else's behavior, when you can safely do so, please let the Road Captain or any other officer on the ride know what's happening.

Safety

 

Chapter 5 Safety Procedures

How are rides classified?

SCRC Rides

 

These rides are Official SCRC Rides and not Official Chapter Rides. (No chapter miles are given for these rides)


1)    Any SCRC member can get together with any other SCRC member and go on a ride. They can post on the forum the desire to meet up with other members and go for a ride. These are called impromptu SCRC rides.

 

2)    These rides are conducted and follow all SCRC ride guidelines.

 

3)    Any time two or more members get together for a ride, and it is not a chapter scheduled ride. This is an SCRC ride.

 

Chapter Rides


Chapter 5 uses a Mileage program for all chapter rides. We use this program to track the miles that you have ridden with the chapter.

In order for any ride to be considered a Chapter 5 Ride the following criteria must be met.  (See HERE for  Mileage Program rules)

 

  1. 1) All chapter rides, will includes a Ride Leader. For groups over five bikes, there must be a Tail Gunner.

  2. 2)All rides must be posted on the Forum at least 24 hours in advance with meeting spot, time and date of ride. And an email must be sent out by the 1st or 2nd officer to all members. This is called a Scheduled Chapter ride.

  3. 3)A Mileage form shall be signed by each member who participated in the ride.

  4. 4)All chapter ride plans will be approved by the 1st or 2nd officer prior to the ride being posted on the Forum or sent out as an email.

  5. 5)Chapter scheduled weekly bike events, if members meet at a weeknight event and want to go on a ride, miles will count as long as these rides follow chapter safety procedures.  These rides must also include a Ride Leader and if over five bikes a Tail Gunner.


Info

Motorcycle Safety Foundation 

SAFETY - an excellent site created and maintained by North Carolina's State Officer, Greg "Dragon" Love.

How to Survive On a Motorcycle - some great riding tips for you from Pirates' Lair.

Group Riding Hand Signals

Motorcycle Tire Safety - be sure to take the PSI quiz.

MSF Group Riding Video

1. All rides will follow SCRC Rules for Group Riding Safety.

2. A pre-ride safety briefing will be held at the beginning of every ride:

Pre-ride SAFETY Briefing


SAFETY is of primary importance to all the members of Tampa Bay (Chapter 5).  Although each rider is responsible for the SAFETY of his/her motorcycle, our main concern is that you have a SAFE and enjoyable ride with our chapter.  Please read and follow the following SAFETY information.  If you have any questions concerning the interpretation of any SAFETY item, please ask your ride leader during the pre-ride SAFETY briefing.


1.Hand signals (left turn, right turn, slow down, stop, obstruction, single file, back to stagger, speed up, close up, blinker, railroad crossing).  Note:  It is important to pass all hand signals back to the tail gunner. 

2.Rider lane spacing (2 second/1 second rule for stagger, left or right third of lane).  Note:  It is important to keep this interval to help prevent other vehicles from coming into the formation.  However, if another vehicle insists on coming into your lane, don’t argue.  You will loose.  In addition, maintaining the proper lane spacing will help prevent “yo-yo”-ing.

3.Lane changing.  The ride leader (Road Captain) will signal intention to change lanes.  Pass this signal back to the tail gunner who will secure the requested lane when it is safe to do so.  Once the tail gunner is in position, the ride leader will signal the move and move to the secured lane.  DO NOT change lanes until the rider in front of you starts to move.

4.Separation at traffic signals.  Do not run through a red light.  Instead, stop safely and blow your horn so the front group is aware that someone did not make it through the light.  The front part of the group will slow down or pull over at the first safe opportunity and wait for the following group to catch up.

5.Leaving the ride.  If it becomes necessary for you to leave the ride for any reason, please notify the ride leader or tail gunner of your intention.  If you have a mechanical problem that requires stopping, the tail gunner will stop to assist and will stay with you until help arrives.  The rest of the group will stop at the first safe place and the ride leader will send a runner back to assist.

6.Rest or fuel stops.  The ride leader will schedule rest and fuel stops based on the needs of the group.  Please make your stops as quickly as possible so you and the remainder of the riders will be able to enjoy the rest of the ride.

Again, your SAFETY is our main concern.  We hope you have a SAFE and enjoyable ride with our Chapter.

3. Less experienced riders will be placed toward the front of the group formation to insure their safety.

4. Rides will be planned and ridden with utmost consideration for the least experienced rider on that ride.

5. All chapter rides require a Ride Leader (usually a Road Captain) and a Tail Gunner.

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