Group Riding Etiquette

The following guide provides information on group riding etiquette.

1. Don’t make sudden movements/decisions:
  • Fellow riders expect you to continue straight and at a constant speed.
  • Look around before making any manoeuvre.
  • Signal your intention to turn or slow down before you do so.
2. Change positions correctly:
  • Slower moving traffic stays to the left; faster traffic to the right.
  • Pass slower moving vehicles on the right and announce your intention. to do so.
  • Announce passes on the left clearly as this is not a usual manoeuvre.
  • Shout ‘on your left’ as you approach and pass.
  • If needing to get to the front of a group riding in pairs, do so carefully and announce “on your right” as you come up to pass.
3. Announce hazards. Most cyclists do not have a full view of the road while riding in a group. Riders should help fellow riders verbally or with signals and pass any signals up/down the group:
  • “Car back” if a car is behind.
  • “Car up” for oncoming traffic
  • “Hole left” or “Gravel” to alert following riders as well as pointing out if possible.
  • “Cars” / “Horse” / “Runner” along with hand-behind-back signal (if
  • possible) to alert following riders of a hazard on the left.
4. Use hand signals if safe to do so.
  • Right or left turn: arm parallel to ground in direction of turn.
  • Slowing: arm moving up to down as well as calling out “Slowing”.
  • Stopping: hand in air palm forward as well as calling out “Stopping”.
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