By Randolph Williams and John Allen

At Charles River Wheelers (CRW), safety is our top priority. Whether you’re riding on city streets, suburban roads, or multi-use paths, one of the most common interactions you’ll have is with pedestrians. Here are some simple guidelines to help keep everyone—cyclists and pedestrians alike—safe and comfortable.

1.  Be Alert and Anticipate
Pedestrians can be unpredictable. They might suddenly step into a crosswalk, veer off the sidewalk, or fail to hear your approach if they’re wearing headphones. Train yourself to stay alert:

• Scan ahead for people walking, jogging, or standing.
• Slow down when you see pedestrians up ahead, especially in congested areas.
• Communicate early by calling out or using a bell well before passing.
• Inform other riders of the approaching hazard.
• Maintain enough spacing from other cyclists so you can look ahead and brake as needed. Reserve paceline riding for roads where complicated encounters are unlikely.

2.  Respect Crosswalks & Right of Way
You are required to yield right of way to pedestrians in marked (and sometimes unmarked) crosswalks, and must always exercise due care. As a cyclist:

• Come to a full stop if a pedestrian is already crossing or about to cross.
• Watch for visual cues—sometimes pedestrians hesitate or are unsure you’ve noticed them.
• Yield even if it seems they’re pausing for you; better to err on the side of caution.

3.  Pass with Care
When you do need to pass a pedestrian:

• Alert other riders with a loud “Walker up!” (add a pointing hand signal if safe to do so)
• Announce your presence with a friendly “Behind you!” and/or a bell ring.
• Give them space—leave at least a few feet if the road or path width allows.
• A group should pass behind rather than ahead of a pedestrian who is crossing the street.
• Pass slowly if pedestrians are clustered or if children or pets are involved. Crowded space (ride starts, rest stops, farmer’s markets, etc…)  is pedestrian space. “Scooter’ your bicycle or walk.

4. Ride Predictably
Just as you want pedestrians to be predictable, they need you to be predictable, too:

• Do not “edge ride” where a pedestrian could walk out from concealment by a parked vehicle or other sight obstruction. Maintain enough clearance that you and the pedestrian would see each other in time to avoid a collision.
• Maintain a steady line rather than weaving.
• Use clear signals if you need to turn or slow down suddenly.
• Make sure that a crossing pedestrian is looking in your direction before you pass. This helps everyone navigate safely.

5. Observe Good Path Etiquette
On a path, bicyclists are the fastest users and must take special care with pedestrians.

• Keep right and pass on the left with plenty of clearance.  (Note: Rhode Island is unique in requiring pedestrians to walk on the left on paths, so be extra alert in Rhode Island.).
• Moderate your speed so that you can avoid pedestrians who unexpectedly change direction. Be aware that a child or dog may be concealed ahead of a pedestrian you are about to pass.
• Pass only once a pedestrian has responded to your bell or voice, or with plenty of clearance so that the pedestrian could not turn and collide with you. If a pedestrian is wearing headphones, you may have to get close before your bell or voice is noticed.
• Be alert to oncoming path traffic and wait until you have safe passing distance. You may have to slow to walking pace and follow a pedestrian until it becomes safe.
• Get the attention of oncoming pedestrians holding a conversation or looking at their phones – make sure that they have noticed you.
• Be especially cautious around children, who can be erratic.

6. Stay Courteous
A courteous attitude goes a long way.

• Smile or offer a simple “Thank you!” if pedestrians step aside to let you pass.
• Remember, we’re all out there to enjoy public spaces. Mutual respect keeps paths and roads welcoming.

Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. By staying aware, signaling your intentions, and respecting right-of-way rules, we can all enjoy a safer, friendlier cycling experience. Share these tips with fellow riders or new club members, and let’s continue to keep CRW rides safe and enjoyable for everyone.

By Barbara Jacobs and Amy Juodawlkis

On a group ride, there are some cycling customs and etiquette points CRW expects riders to follow, for the safety and enjoyment of all. Riding safely in groups requires a mature and positive frame of mind. This guidance applies to all CRW group rides. Riding in a pace line or drafting requires skills and rules in addition to these basic guidelines (we will cover those in future articles).

In general:

• Always ride smart, ride safe.
• Communicate with other riders around you.
• Maintain your personal space, avoid close proximity to other bikers.
• Avoid sudden sideways movements; be predictable and always hold your line. 
• Be considerate of slower and faster riders around you
• Be careful, signal, and let others know when you are slowing or stopping.
• Learn how to safely pass and be passed, both critical skills.
• Remember that we are riding for fun!

Let’s begin with some essentials:

1. Get the info in advance: Before you join a group ride for the first time, read the ride description to find out how long and difficult the ride will be, average speed, what the route is like, if there are planned refueling stops, and other important info. Contact the ride leader directly if you have any questions not covered in the ride description.
2. Come prepared: Make sure you have adequate hydration and snacks for the whole ride, as well as a spare tube and the tools needed to change a flat or deal with other roadside mechanicals. Look at the weather forecast and make sure you have the right clothing for the ride. A fully charged cell phone, credit card/cash, and medical cards are essential. Upload the ride route to your device (phone or bike computer).
3. Respect the ride leader: Most organized group rides have a designated ride leader. This person is usually one of the most experienced riders in the group. Their job includes keeping the group together, safe, and harmonious. Follow the leader’s instructions and take your cues from them, as different group rides may have slightly different practices. Bonus suggestion: Thank your ride leader! CRW cannot exist without theses volunteers’ hard work and dedication.
4. Follow the rules of the road: This includes stopping at traffic lights and stop signs, and riding single file or two abreast (when safe to do so).

While on the road the following are important:

Communication: Talking and signaling to group members about your intentions and possible obstacles is important. Below are standard terms and ways hazards are communicated, but you may hear and see some variations in style or terms, depending on the group. Repeat the warning for those behind you. 

Signal and vocalize (loudly) upcoming turns, stops, or issues in the road;

• Turns: When the route turns, use hand signals appropriate for a left-hand turn or a right-hand turn. It is also a good idea to call out, “right turn” or “left turn,” as appropriate.
• “Slowing!”: There is something causing them to slow down. This could be a traffic light, slower bikes, or some road hazard.
• "Stopping!”: Planning to stop. This could be a stop light or major road hazard, so you must be prepared to stop.
• “Rolling!”: Moving again after a stop. This is your cue to check if it is safe for you to also proceed. (Do not use “Clear,” as each rider must decide when it is safe to get moving again.)
• “On your left”: Rider is passing you on your left side. You should never hear “On your right.” Riders will keep as far right as safe, and might be about to pull aside or turn right.  NEVER PASS ON THE RIGHT.
• “On your wheel”: If you catch up to a rider ahead, and suspect they may not be aware you are now behind them, let them know.
• “Car up”: Beware of an approaching vehicle and stay to the right/get in single file. When you hear this, repeat the call so that others know that you are aware of the approaching vehicle and to alert others.
• “Car back”: Vehicle coming up from behind. When moving to the right/single file would allow a driver to pass safely, do this to allow passing. Repeat the call so others ahead of you are aware. When passing is unsafe (oncoming traffic, blind curve, etc.,) communicate with the driver with a slow signal, then once passing becomes safe, move right and give a friendly wave. If you  are the rearmost rider in a group, you need to take responsibility for the safety of others ahead.
• Obstacles to the side: Call out the specific obstacle, while tapping your hip or waving your hand in toward your body, on the side of the obstacle (e.g., mailbox, parked car, etc.). Be prepared to avoid these hazards without swerving into other riders.
• “Car right (or left)”: A car is turning onto the roadway from the group’s right (or left).
• “Runner (or walker) up”: A pedestrian is in the roadway; give as wide a berth as safely able, to avoid collisions.
• Obstacles on the ground: Point out and vocalize obstacles on the road that could cause flat tires or crashes if not avoided. For example, “Hole!,” “Bumps!,” “Glass!,” “Road kill!”, etc. Be prepared to avoid these hazards without swerving into other riders.
• “Crack”: There is a crack parallel to your direction of travel. These cracks can catch your wheel and cause a spill. Many riders will wave their left or right arm forward and back with their palm facing their body to let riders behind know which side the crack is on. Pass the warning back while signaling with one hand if you can. Spot the crack and move over if needed, as smoothly as possible to avoid it.
• “Gravel”: Gravel on the road, or on the side of the road; signaled by waving hand, palm down, over the side with the gravel. Ride around the gravel, when possible, although you may be able to ride through it safely if you hold a straight line. Gravel in a corner warrants caution when turning. Slow down and keep the bike more upright by pushing with the outside hand as you steer through the turn.

Positioning: When riding close together, it is important to position yourself and your bike properly to keep everyone safe:

• Never overlap wheels with another rider. This is dangerous and could lead to a crash.
• Hold your line. Do not make any sudden movements, changes in speed, or deviations in your trajectory. Be predictable, so the riders around you feel comfortable and everyone can ride safely.    
• Following Distance: Maintain adequate space between you and the cyclist ahead. For beginners, stay at least 1-2 bike lengths behind to have time to react to sudden stops (like at traffic signals). Experienced riders who trust each other may ride closer in certain situations but should always maintain safe reaction distance. Increase spacing at higher speeds, on descents, or in wet conditions.

Passing: Passing on a bicycle is a two-way process. Generally, the person passing has primary responsibility for a safe pass; however, both the “passer” and “passee” have a few simple responsibilities to make a pass safe and friendly.

The passee(s) should:

• Be aware of approaching riders (look behind and listen!); consolidate to single file to allow a safe pass;
• Acknowledge calls to pass; saying “Thank You” is a GREAT way to do this!
• Maintain a steady speed and hold a consistent line - do not suddenly slow down or speed up as you are being passed, and do not swerve.

The passer(s) should:

• Check the road behind to ensure no approaching vehicles, making sure there is enough room to safely pass.
• Call “Passing on you left” after the other rider has acknowledged your presence.
• Move left to allow adequate space as you come around as you smoothly accelerate to your previous speed to make the pass.
• Allow plenty of room before pulling back in to the right to not cut off those being passed.

Be a cycling ambassador: As a club, we travel along the roadways and through the many communities along the way. Please do not hog the road; let local traffic get through safely.

The above rules of cycling etiquette have grown out of the need to keep everyone on the road safe while enjoying our wonderful sport. Thank you for adhering to these guidelines when you join a CRW club ride.

Some information for this article was taken from the Giant Website - https://www.liv-cycling.com/global/campaigns/road-cycling-etiquette/26307 and Bike MS: 2013 Cycling Etiquette http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/Bike_MS_Cycling_Etiquette.pdf

Check out the CRW Code of Conduct for additional information.

Our volunteers are the heart of CRW, making it possible to offer the diverse rides and events that bring our cycling community together. Your dedication and enthusiasm help make CRW one of New England's premier cycling organizations.

Safety First

• Follow all safety protocols and club policies
• Ensure all participants are registered and wearing helmets
• Report any incidents promptly

Code of Conduct

• Act as a club ambassador
• Create a welcoming environment for all
• Treat everyone with dignity and respect
• Follow club policies and applicable laws

Getting Started

• Complete any required training for your role
• Familiarize yourself with relevant procedures
• Use official CRW channels for communication
• Direct questions to your committee chair or board@crw.org

Financial Guidelines

• Get approval before spending:
  • Up to $50: Program Coordinator
  • $51-$250: EVP/VP of Rides
  • $251-500: President
  • $500+: Board
• Submit receipts promptly for reimbursement

Need Help?

Contact:

• Your committee chair is your primary contact
• Use our Contact Us form on crw.org for general questions

Thank you again for helping make CRW a vibrant and welcoming cycling community!

We all owe the members of CRW a fiduciary duty to spend club funds prudently and effectively. CRW is a non-profit charitable organization. Our fiscal year is the same as the calendar year and we will continue having an annual budget.  Note that budgets are for spending and activities during the same fiscal year.

Budget:

We are asking each Program Coordinator to provide a budget for the year to the EVP or VP of Rides.  Our VP’s will be available to help the Program Coordinators with their budgets.  We will incorporate the Program budgets into the overall annual budget for submission to the Board.

For each budget, we will be asking for:

• The number of unique members expected to be attracted to the Program.  What is the constituency that you expect to serve?
• A rough outline of events for the year: educational, kick-off, end of season, social
• Number of riders expected for each event;
• Amount for each event;
• Location of each event.

We understand that budgets are rough projections at best, so the EVP and VP of Rides will be available to talk about adjustments to the budget during the year. Adjustments over $250 need the approval of the President and adjustments over $500 need the approval of the Board. These adjustments are not just to the total budget but for a single event that reaches those caps.

Spending Philosophy:

• Maximize cost effectiveness;
• How will it look to members who are not participating?  Is the spending a good use of club funds?  We encourage hosting an event at someone’s home or a public park (such as picnics) as opposed to a restaurant or bar if possible;
• Maximize the spread of benefits to as many unique riders as possible.  We want to avoid the appearance of a small group of “insiders” enjoying a disproportionate share of club spending;
• Modest spending for one-time rides, such as an “ice cream” ride or “cider and donuts” is fine.  For a ride series, having a treat for the first ride (kick-off the season) and last ride (celebrate the end of the year) is fine, but not on a recurring, regular basis.  The guiding principle is whether the treat would work for a ride of 60 riders as well as a ride of 10 riders;
• If money is being spent on a club ride or event, it must be posted on the calendar and email;
• When in doubt, run it by the EVP or VP of Rides.  It never hurts to have a second opinion.

Spending Levels:

Budgets will be imprecise, so to the extent that there are discretionary amounts built into the budgets, the following spending authority applies:

• $50 is within the discretion of Program Coordinator.
• $51-$250  requires approval from the EVP or VP of Rides.
• $251-500 Requires approval from the President.
• $500+ requires board approval.

These spending approval requirements do not apply to budget items already approved,

Merchandise:

• Prizes/raffles should be open to the whole club. To the extent that Programs purchase merchandise, they should be raffled rather than just for participation or “showing up” to an event.  Try to avoid giveaways that also are limited to a small subset of members as a practical matter, such as raffles for a ride that only Primož Roglič would be able to complete.
• Merchandise shop.  We will be creating a merchandise shop for members to purchase items like CRW water bottles, jerseys, etc.
• Ride Leaders/volunteer thank you gifts.  Our Ride Leaders and volunteers are important, so CRW will be including these gifts in the budget
• Club-wide challenges available to all are okay.  

Centuries/Charitable Donations:

These guidelines do not apply to the Centuries or charitable donations.  These two categories of expenditures will be handled separately. Charitable donation will require approval by the Board in advance of the donation. 

Reimbursements/Expenses:

As an initial matter, all CRW expenses should be paid by the individual running the program and quickly reimbursed by CRW with a detailed receipt submitted to the Treasurer with an approval as noted above. For substantial expenditures (over $500), a request for a direct CRW payment can be submitted to the Treasurer, who can either issue a club check or make payment by the club’s credit card.

Alcohol Policy:

If alcohol is served or paid for by CRW, it must be available to everyone who participated in the program that day and offered in a prudent manner. This is the insurance guideline.

Special Events per Insurance Guidelines:

Certain events trigger a special event status from CRW’s insurance company. Special Event criteria include the following:

• There is a charge for the event.
• New Members are signed up specifically for the event.
• There is social media or other advertising for the event outside of normal club channels.
• There are benefits to the ride that are not typical for the average Club Ride.
• Festivals with a ride.
• Races.
• Camps or Clinics with a Fee.
• Time Trials.
• Large number of riders.

A special event determination can only be made by the insurance company, so please contact the EVP or VP of Rides to discuss if any of the criteria are present in your proposed ride. Often a special event determination can be avoided by limiting registration to members (e.g. the fall century or the Adventure rides) which would otherwise require separate insurance policies.

Charles River Wheelers (CRW) members and guests are club ambassadors. They are expected to practice good sportsmanship and act respectfully at all CRW rides and events to foster a trusting environment free of harassment, intimidation, and discrimination and to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all. Behavior that is found to be inappropriate will be subject to disciplinary action.

As a CRW Member or guest, I will:

Code Violations:

Members are encouraged to promptly report inappropriate behavior to a club official or via an online incident report. Upon request, the name of the reporting party will be kept confidential.

The Board assigns an impartial investigator for credible Code of Conduct violation reports. The President or EVP (if the President is conflicted) can end investigations or give warnings. Expulsion or suspension requires a 2/3 vote of unconflicted Board members.

Approved by CRW Board on 9/30/2023

April 1, 2022 On April 1, 2022 CRW updated its policy regarding non-members participating in Club rides. In the past, non-members could participate in an unlimited number of club rides without joining. Non-members are now limited to two club rides in their lifetime. The change is being made to comply the Club insurance liability coverage. Our registration system tracks how many times a guest registers for a ride. If they try to register a third time, they’ll be sent to the membership page and invited to join the club. How can Ride Leaders Enforce This? We’re not asking for you to be the registration police. As you prepare to start your ride, wander the parking lot, welcome everyone, and ask if they’ve registered. This applies to both members and guests. If anyone hasn’t registered, asked them to go to CRW.org and register. FAQ What if someone doesn’t want to sign up for the ride? Let them know our policy and explain that they can’t be on the ride. Leave it at that. These are public roads and you can’t and shouldn’t try to stop them. How does this relate to our insurance coverage? Should someone be injured on a ride, whether it’s a member or guest rider, leader, or innocent bystander, our insurer provides liability and supplemental medical insurance. For the insurance to apply, we must be able to prove that the rider was on the ride. Registration is the way to do that. Why is the club being so fussy about this? We do not want you or the club to have any liability exposure. Additionally, people who continuously ride for free without joining the club are not paying their fair share and are adding a burden on ride leaders. The fee to join is nominal and anyone with a bike should be able to afford this. What does the insurance company ask for in the event of a mishap or accident? They ask for a copy of the signup roster, the liability waiver signed for the ride and a person's membership status. What if I still have questions? Contact the VP of Rides: ridesvp@crw.org. What if a rider has questions? They can contact anyone on the Board. The contact info is on the website.

Members and qualified guests of the Charles River Wheelers may ride bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) on all club group rides and events with the same benefits and responsibilities of any rider, provided:

• The bicycle must be pedal-assist (specifically, the bike does not move without pedaling). Throttled e-bikes are prohibited.
• Riding other than on a public roadway is under the rules and the jurisdiction of the governing body.
• It is the rider’s responsibility to know and obey CRW’s policy and the law.
• All riders are to conform with CRW guidelines and policies.
• An e-bike rider should be certain they have sufficient battery reserve for the ride they have chosen. It is not CRW’s responsibility to ensure that the e-bike rider is returned to the ride start should they run out of battery.

Back in the day, CRW had an answering machine set up in someone’s house. To learn about upcoming rides, you called the phone, on a seven digit number, and listened to the recording so you’d know what rides were coming up. We now have a website where rides can be posted and updated with a few clicks.

Rides always had cue sheets that were created by the ride leader by hand, after carefully laying out the route on a paper map and hoping there weren’t any errors. If you go back far enough, the cue sheets were in the telltale blue ink of a mimeograph machine. We now have “RidewithGPS” that spits them out, with multiple options for formatting.

That cue sheet once sat in a plastic map case on your handlebars. It’s been replaced by a cellphone with an app or an overpriced but highly addictive Garmin. The cellphone app is free to all CRW club members.

Oh, and Wheelpeople appeared in your mailbox once a month, arriving via snail mail. Eventually we moved to a PDF and now onto an email format.

CRW has always moved forward when technology is available to do the job better and more easily. It’s time to take the same approach with arrows.

Why?

• Arrowing is a tremendous amount of work and takes a lot of volunteer hours.
• Arrowing can only be done when the roads are dry. If it’s windy, you’ll end up with spray paint on your bike and cleats plus an undiscernible paint splotch instead of an arrow.
• Arrows disappear when disgruntled community members black them out, the local DPW tears up or paves the road, or someone parks over them.
• Many towns no longer allow us to arrow their roads or require special permission before we are allowed to do so.
• Too many arrows for different rides using the same roads can be confusing to follow.
• Spray paint is environmentally unfriendly.
• There’s a better way.

CRW has embraced RidewithGPS and it’s a great way to create and follow a route. There’s a free app for your phone and we’ll teach you how to use it. You can always print a cue sheet and links are available on all ride listings. Many of our club rides have a ride leader that will take a group at a specified pace. It’s a great way to meet other riders and let someone else handle the navigation. Finally, those volunteer hours used for arrowing can be redirected to other initiatives in the club.

Effective in January 2020, CRW will no longer be arrowing rides, including centuries. Arrowing may still be done at the discretion of the ride leader.

 

CRW Board approves new policy on non-members

by Larry Kernan

At the May 9^th meeting of the CRW Board, a new policy regarding nonmembers was approved.  Formal new policies are rarities in the club. The only other policy that I’m aware of is that “All riders on CRW rides must wear helmets.  The new club policy is:

As required by our insurance carrier, non-members may participate in only one CRW ride per calendar year.

Century events are not affected by this policy nor does participating in a paid century event count as the one-time guest ride.

I admit to feeling partially conflicted by this new policy.  On one hand, I want CRW to be welcoming to all riders. On the other hand, we have an obligation to protect the interests of our club, our members, our officers and our ride leaders.

Why does CRW feel the need to institute this policy?  Our liability insurance policy only covers CRW members and first-time guests.  A non-member who shows up on a club ride for a second time will result in our insurance carrier not providing liability insurance for accidents related to that rider.  Unfortunately, no waiver or release can solve the problem. This issue is not about the guest getting hurt. This issue is about a guest who gets into an accident doing property damage or worse, injuring or killing another rider or pedestrian.  The injured party may very likely sue the guest, the club and the ride leader. In the case of a non-member on his second ride with CRW, our insurance carrier will not cover these damages nor defend the club and ride leader.

This new policy goes into effect on June 1^st.  Mary Kernan, our Rides VP, has created a comprehensive implementation plan which has been shared with all Ride Leaders.  This document includes new non-member releases which make clear that it allows a rider to ride with the club only once during the year.  We also have a form which allows a guest to become a member on the spot. If you are not a Ride Leader and want a copy of this plan, please contact Mary.

As members, you should not see much impact from this new policy.  Ride Leaders will see a small change. Before the safety talk and route rap, the Ride Leader will ask as they do today, “Are there any non-members here?”  They will then ask, “Have any of you already done your first-time guest ride?” First-time guests will be asked to sign a waiver if they have not already signed one online.  Second time guests will be asked to join the club or not participate in the ride.

I’m sure there will be a learning curve as we implement this new policy but overall it means that we will be able to better serve our members and protect our Ride Leaders and volunteers.  Please feel free to address any questions to Mary (ridesvp@crw.org) or myself (president@crw.org).

Club policy	All participants in a Charles River Wheelmen-sponsored ride are required to wear properly attached ANSI-, SNELL-, or CPSC-approved bicycling helmets.  The CRW will enforce this policy by requiring that members agree to wear helmets as a condition of membership and non-member participants agree to wear helmets as part of the non-member liability waiver.
Membership/ waiver statement	I hereby agree to wear a properly attached ANSI-, SNELL-, or CPSC-approved bicycling helmet during  ·         [for non-member waiver] CRW rides. ·         [or for membership renewal] any CRW ride during the term of my membership.
Website & WheelPeople	Helmets required on all CRW rides.
Ride leader statement (or equivalent)	All of you have agreed to wear properly attached helmets as a condition of your participation in today’s ride.