Purpose of this thread is to start brainstorming ideas in order to create the Portland Velo Code of Conducts for club ride. The end goal will be a single page document clearly listing our riding expections in addition to: [list:777f07b257]Representing Portland Velo Support Safe Riding Provide a referece for Ride Leaders when faced with confrontations during rides. [/list:u:777f07b257] This is a work in progress and something we''d like to have available shortly after the incorporation work has been completed. Please list suggestions in this thread.

This is something we will make visible to new riders so they know what they can expect from the quality of riding within our club.

The end result of this is to be a simple one page document. We want it to be enough, but not overwhelming.

Thanks in advance for your help in this.

John

I promise to:

Obey traffic signs and markings (stop signs, bike lanes, etc).
Call out obstructions in the road ahead.
Call out "Car back" or "Car up" when vehicles are approaching.
Signal changes in my riding: slowing, stopping, turning, etc.
Come prepared with appropriate food, water, and repair supplies.
Maintain my bike so that it''s safe me me and those I ride with (brakes, lights, fenders, etc).


It''s a start...

In addition to Mike''s excellent list, when in the capacity of Ride Guide (I like that term) I promise to:

not ride like an idiot
come prepared with appropriate clothing
use full fenders with mudflaps on damp/wet days
not leave any rider, until they''ve got committed pickup/rescue in hand
stop at blue rooms
not sneak up on anyone''s right side
stop at Maggie''s if it is on the route

How about extending Lynn''s suggestion for full fenders and mud flaps to All riders. When a rider who is ahead of me with no fenders in a pace line runs through standing water, I have a natural reflex action to shift my position left or right slightly to avoid a face full of road mud. This can further disrupt the pace line behind me.

other suggestions

-any opinion on the policy of aerobars in pace line rides?

-Include a short list of fines for Cyclists off to the side of the page. eg failure to obey stop sign $$$

-don''t ride more than 2 a *** on quiet roads, single file on busier streets.

-where possible avoid fast breaking in pace lines especially when there are fixed gear bikes in the line- feather rear brake and signal that you are slowing. Avoid overlapping wheels whenever possible.

Riding on your aerobars in a paceline is a [u:fb2525a3e5][b:fb2525a3e5]definite no-no[/b:fb2525a3e5][/u:fb2525a3e5]. The only exception to this is if you are doing TTT practice and everyone is on board. When we do this it is in small groups and you are not aloud to hit your brakes.

Another suggestion:


[b:59a37b11a2]No Earphones permitted when participating in a group ride[/b:59a37b11a2]

And another: [b:2568715b8f]FUN IS MANDATORY[/b:2568715b8f].

Custom Portland Velo mudflaps would be cool...

no, not volunteering.

A few more suggestions.

[list:bdb689c72a]Stay within the limits of the designated speed for the group.

Notify someone in the group, preferably the ride leader, if you
are in trouble or are going to leave the group.

Make safety your highest priority. Be honest about your biking
skills. If you are not comfortable in a pace line, ride at the
back of the pack until you gain the confidence that you are not a
liability to the other members of the group or yourself.

[color=blue:bdb689c72a]Adhere to the guidelines established. Don''t turn the ride leader
into a "bike cop". Remember, they are there to enjoy the ride
and have fun just like you are.[/color:bdb689c72a][/list:u:bdb689c72a]

A 77 year old man got mowed down in Australia by a cyclist on a group ride who ran a red light.

Imagine how we would all feel if it was *our* group ride this happened on.

They''ve put together a code of conduct that we should pay attention to when constructing our own...

http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/Participation/CyclistsCodeofConduct.pdf

Thanks Jason-

 

Great resource for our Code.  Thanks for bringing this forward.  

 

We are looking at finishing our Code by the end of January Team.  Keep the ideas coming forward. 

Jason, this is a great find! Not the bit about the 77-year old dude, (which, BTW, is exactly what we could be taken to the cleaners over in court) but the actual code of conduct document. I downloaded it and put a copy on our site for folks to read and consider - I think it has some very clear, common-sense principles that we should feel comfortable sharing with new riders. http://portlandvelo.net/files/folders/members/entry47961.aspx

I agree with every word in that document.  I especially like this statement, and it should be emphasized:

You should always be focused on safety over performance when cycling in a group

And as for the previous statement about fun is mandatory...  I agree.  It is.  But it stops being fun when everyone is not playing the same game.  And when the ride leader has to be the "enforcer", it is definitely not fun for the ride leader, which discourages folks from volunteering.