Many of us joined BRBC because it’s safer to ride with a group, rather an alone. Group rides are also great for camaraderie, efficiency, support and security. Cycling in groups can be safer and more fun when we act cooperatively and predictably.
Can you pass the Adult Bicycle Safety Quiz? North Carolina Bicycle Safety Quiz (bikewalknc.org)
There are many tips for riding in town and at night. But our group rides are typically in the day and on rural roads. The safety tips below focus on riding in a group during the day on a rural road. Please review the “Group Bicycling Best Practices” on the BikeWalk NC website: Group Bicycling Skills and Techniques (bikewalknc.org)
1) Follow the Traffic Laws
- Bicyclists follow the normal rules of the road for drivers in order to deter collisions with cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists.
- Bicyclists have the legal right to use public roadways as well as a legal responsibility to negotiate traffic safely and predictably. § 20-4.01(49)
- Bicyclists must obey red lights and stop signs. § 20-158
- When traveling slowly, use the right hand thru lane except when approaching turns. § 20-146(b)
- Ride entirely within a single marked travel lane. Do not ride on a lane line; allow drivers to use the adjacent lane to pass. § 20-146(d)(1)
- Look and yield to adjacent traffic before moving laterally. § 20-146(d)(1)
- Do not pass stopped traffic queues on the right; get in line with other traffic (wait the middle of the lane) at intersections. § 20-150.1
- Respect the traffic laws for operating around school buses and emergency vehicles. § 20-217 § 20-157
- When stopping to rest, talk or regroup, move completely off of the roadway. § 20-161
For additional information on laws, see Important NC Traffic Laws Applicable to Bicyclists
2) Communicate
- Verbalization – Announce your movements when slowing, stopping, overtaking, and changing formation.
- Signaling – Use hand signals before moving left, right, stopping/slowing, and point out surface hazards and conditions that require moving laterally.
- Call out unexpected or potentially unseen hazards such as potholes, animals, and cars overtaking under unsafe conditions. Don't call "car back" for every vehicle that overtakes; save warnings for situations that are unsafe or unexpected, such as when other cyclists are encroaching on the left lane, or there is a conflict with oncoming traffic.
- Surface hazards are hard for following bicyclists to see in a group, so take special care to call and/or point them out and lead followers into a safe path around them.
- If you call out, use a direction (ex: “Hole Left” or Hole center”) so following cyclists can avoid the hazard.
- Tell people right away if you experience a mechanical or health problem – this reduces the danger of a collision should you need to slow down or move suddenly, and they can help you with your issue.
- Don’t use headphones, earbuds, or cell phones while cycling. You need to be able to hear other cyclists and to be focused on your surroundings.
3) Be considerate of your fellow cyclists
- Riding in close proximity to other cyclists requires additional care.
- The benefits of proximity include greater efficiency (lower wind resistance, less wasted effort), greater speed, and higher traffic throughput.
- Close formations require cooperation and trust. Don't follow another cyclist at close distance without their consent.
4) Be predictable
- Visibility is important. Approach other road users from where they are looking for traffic. Use daytime visible front and rear lights.
- Changes in speed and position should be gradual and not unexpected when in a group.
- The most visible and predictable group formation is a double paceline.