SAFETY IN A STAGGERED FORMATION
As all of you who ride with the Southern Cruisers know, our group rides are done in a staggered formation. This is done for several reasons, but the primary reason being - SAFETY!
Riding side by side limits escape routes if a threat arises and is not generally safe when riding with inexperienced riders. New riders are generally kept towards the front of the group so they don't feel overwhelmed by the size of the group ahead of them. This will lead to a feeling of comfort within the group the more they ride.
After spending time in the back riding tail gunner, I have noticed that the proper spacing has not been maintained during many of our rides. This spacing is very important for the overall safety of the group. You should be maintaining a 2 second interval behind the bike directly in front of you and 1 second behind the bike diagonally ahead of you. A gap of more than this leads to possible invasion by cagers.
Should you be in the formation and a car or truck is attempting to get in, back off and let them in. Usually it is because they need to exit shortly and they will be out of our way in no time. Trying to block them could jeopardize the safety of the group. That said, by keeping our proper intervals, this will help eliminate intrusion to some extent.
Do not be surprised if, during a ride, the tail gunner or other road captain may come up to you and motion you to close the gap if they notice you are too far apart. Again, do not take this personally, but know it is for the safety of the group.
Another very important tip about group riding, DO NOT CHANGE LANES UNTIL DIRECTED TO DO SO! When the lead rider signals to make a lane change, turn on your signal so it passes down the line. This will be the indication to the tail gunner to secure the lane. When the tail gunner moves to secure the lane, WAIT for either the lead rider (front left) or the second rider (front right) to confirm the lane is secured and motion to the group it is clear to move. Only then should the group change lanes. It should look like poetry in motion when done correctly.
If you are not comfortable riding in a group or feel in any way unsafe for any reason, fall behind the group and ride about one mile or so behind the group and let the tail gunner know that you will not be riding within the formation so they do not feel responsible to hold up the group for you. It is “socially acceptable” to leave the group and ride behind it and still be able to meet up with the group at stops and the final destination. You do not need to explain to anyone why you felt unsafe or that “so-and-so” was making you uncomfortable as this may sometimes put other riders in a defensive mode and cause strife within the group. Always keep your safety and the safety of others in mind when riding in a group or as an individual rider.
By following these simple tips, our group rides will be fun, exciting, and most of all, SAFE!