Our insurance provider requires that we give a safety talk at the start of each ride. Why? For the same reason that flight attendants still tell you, on every flight, how to buckle your seat belt.
For some ride leaders, the safety talk is really difficult because they don’t like talking in public or in front of large groups. For this reason alone, you should recruit a co-leader and assign this to them. Alternatively, write it down on a piece of paper (or use the sample below) and just read from the page. Some people will pay attention and some won’t, so don’t stress over it.
Most importantly, keep this relatively short. Pick the points you feel are most salient and emphasize them. Below is a list you can pick from.
1. BE LEGAL - On bikes we are subject to the same laws as motorists, including observing red lights, stop signs and one-way streets. Obey all traffic laws: stop signs, traffic lights, pedestrian crosswalks, blocking "right turn on red" traffic lanes, etc.
2. PAY ATTENTION to all road conditions, traffic, other riders.
3. SIGNAL YOUR INTENTIONS - Use hand and voice signals for all your moves. Yell out "stopping," "slowing," "passing," "left turn", etc. Let other riders in your group know what is happening. Demonstrate hand signals to new riders.
4. CALL OUT DANGERS - Sand, runner up, hole, etc. Use hand signals as well whenever it is safe to do so. Point out road hazards to riders behind you.
5. OVERTAKING AND APPROACHING CARS - Riders near the rear of a group should call out, "Car back!" when a vehicle is approaching from behind. Riders near the front should call out “Car up” on narrow roads when a vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction. Riders near the front of a group should call out or give a hand signal when there is a vehicle, pedestrian, or other obstruction that requires the riders to move left into the middle of the road so that it can be avoided. Be courteous to motorists and relinquish the right of way. On a narrow road, when you can see it is clear ahead, slow down and move to the far right side of the road to let the vehicle pass.
6. OVERTAKING AND APPROACHING PEDESTRIANS: Always anticipate pedestrian movements and announce your presence early with "Behind you!" or a bell. Pass on the left with ample clearance, slow down near children or in crowded areas, and yield at crosswalks. Alert other riders with "Walker up!" and maintain a predictable line while riding. Stay courteous and ensure pedestrians acknowledge your presence before passing, especially on shared paths or when pedestrians are wearing headphones.
7. DO NOT YELL “CLEAR” WHEN IN AN INTERSECTION – Cars can approach very quickly and the conditions might be very different for a rider a few seconds behind you.
8. RIDE SINGLE FILE - Stay in single file when there is automobile traffic, not two and three abreast. Communicate with other riders in your group to also do so. Long pace lines are very difficult for motorists to pass. Break up the line, if necessary, let the car pass, then rejoin.
9. DISPLAY SAFETY AND COURTESY - Pass other riders on the left only. Ride on the right side of the road, not in the middle. Call out, "On your left!" to let riders ahead of you know you are behind them and about to pass.
10. MOVE COMPLETELY OFF THE ROADWAY whenever stopping, even if only briefly. Stop only where traffic approaching from either direction can see you clearly. Be sure all riders in the group move completely off the roadway.
11. DO NOT REGROUP AT STOP SIGNS – Regrouping at a stop sign only confuses drivers, who think you’re trying to cross the road. Go safely through the Stop sign, then find a place to move off the road and regroup on the other side.
12. GROUP RIDING - Encourage riders to limit groups to 6-8 riders. When more than 6-8 riders are involved in tight groups, there is no improvement in drafting, there is increased risk of accidents among riders, and it is significantly harder for cars to pass the group.
13. CARS ARE BIGGER THAN YOU - REMEMBER, in any accident with an automobile, YOU LOSE!!
14. CLOSING - "We can be an overwhelming presence on the road and in the small communities we pass through. Please help CRW with our community relations. Make an extra effort to be courteous to one another and to local citizens. Thank you and have a great and safe ride."
15. ANECDOTES - If you have a particular incident or accident to talk about, make it short and make your point.
16. PAY ATTENTION - Most accidents happen because someone is not paying attention to his or her surroundings. Be constantly aware of cyclists and motorists behind, in front and beside you. If there are riders behind you and you do something without warning, you may cause an accident.
