Waterloo County Wanderers Cycling Club Safety Guidelines

The Waterloo County Wanderers cycling club wants to provide a safe and relaxed environment for cyclists to enjoy the quieter country roads in the area. We have a broad spectrum of cycling experience in our membership and we would like to ensure that everyone has a level of competence that keeps us all as safe as possible; some experienced riders have fallen into sloppy habits, sometimes we are distracted, some newer riders don't yet know the ropes, etc. So let’s all be safe by focusing our attention on how to ride safely in a group.

Firstly we have researched what other clubs do and composed an outline of common basic club safety protocols and recommendations - see below. We will revisit these from time to time, as needed.

Secondly, share your experience and wisdom on the ride if someone is operating outside of these protocols, but do it kindly! We are responsible for each other out there - we need to have each other's backs.

Thirdly we are happy to offer a “group-riding skills” ride on Tuesday or Thursday night if there is sufficient interest.

Let’s have fun and be safe.

WCW Club Safety Protocols and Recommendations

1. Equipment
2. Communication
   • Verbal cues
   • Hand signals
3. Etiquette, protocols and recommendations

1. Equipment

• Mandatory: helmets, rear light, front light if out at dusk, no use of tribars when riding in a group
• Highly recommended: mirror (helmet mount or bike mount), bright clothing, cycling computer, basic tools (patch kit, spare tube, tire levers, multitool)

2. Communication

Verbal (to be called out loud and clear)

Communicate about your surroundings:

• car back; car up; car right or left (at intersections);
• walker up;
• tracks;
• hole, bump;
• dog;

Communicate about your actions:

• on your left;
• slowing;
• stopping;
• standing - when hill climbing, if you go from sitting to standing, your bike will slow so good to warn those behind you to anticipate your change in pace;

Communicate about group wellness:

• rider off the back;
• ease up – if you notice someone struggling with the pace;
• flat – if someone has a flat tire or mechanical problem;

Hand Signals

• left turn - L arm straight out to left;
• right turn - R arm straight out to right or L arm at 90° angle up;
• stopping - L arm out and 90° angle down;
• road hazard - hand at side (usually R) with some type of wiggling motion;
• straight - either arm straight out front if it seems appropriate or helpful;

3. Etiquette, Recommendations and Protocols

• Stagger start time to avoid bunching up: Longest leaves first, followed by medium minutes later, then short.
• Communicate clearly.
• Keep a straight course, don’t weave (same as a car, staying in their lane).
• When cornering, follow your line (same as a car stays in its lane) when going around corners so you are predictable for those behind you.
• Do not ride in tri bar position while in a group – do so only when riding solo.
• Only ever pass on the left, and call it out “passing on left.”
• Cross train tracks as close to right angle as possible; be extra cautious if wet; slow down as necessary.
• Single file when in traffic – “tight to the right.”
• Know your ability, pick the right pace group.
• Always be looking beyond the rider in front of you so you can anticipate hazards, pace changes, etc.
• Try to avoid braking hard - keep space around you, and be mindful of what’s ahead.
• Don’t accelerate too quickly off the front – keep your acceleration smooth to keep the group together.
• Avoid overlapping front wheel with rider ahead.
• During the start of a rainfall, the roads will be extra slick from oils – be cautious cornering in these situations.
• Start together, finish together... second to last rider always aware of last rider, and communicates if group needs to ease up.
• Never leave group without communicating intentions.
• Don’t pass on the right – that space belongs to the cyclist ahead of you and they are not expecting you on their right.
• Break-downs - offer assistance, don't abandon.
• Stop in a safe spot, whether at an intersection or along the road, and get well off the road – if stopping at an intersection, it’s safest to go through the intersection and then stop in a safe spot on the other side so motorists aren’t guessing which way you’re going.
• Don’t draft farm machinery or other slow-moving vehicles.
• Be mindful of car traffic in parking lots, especially at the start of ride, or on busier streets with cars parked along the road.