Blocking traffic for a group ride?

[Jeff K]

Though I have been guilty of this in the past my opinion on this practice has changed with the years.
Saturday i had to make a run to the hardware store. There is an intersection a mile from our house on a busy 70mph state hwy that is littered with crosses. There are accidents there almost weekly. Most have to do with people getting rear ended while waiting to turn left, or waiting for someone to turn left. As I am approaching the the intersection I see a group of riders crossing the hwy, they were making me nervousness because they were cutting it close to being in the road when I got there. As I got closer a group of them had stopped at the stop sign and one of them came from behind dressed all in black on a black sportster and pulled into the middle of the intersection and stopped. I laid on the brakes and the horn as he waved his buddies through the intersection.
What are your thoughts on this practice?

To me this is a dangerous practice without LEO involved and it would be more sensible to break the groups down into manageable sizes.

[GiG]

I want to get through any intersection as quickly as possible, since it is a great chance for something to go wrong there..

The guy in black sounds like a wannabe.

Do not linger in the intersection - get yer ass outta there! 

[PAVALKER]

Mixed emotions on this.  While I tend to believe it best to keep the group together for safety of the bikers and general traffic and so that they aren't individually struggling to catch up or get back into position.... I think the people performing road guard duties should be brightly dressed so as to catch the eye of other traffic.  Obviously police and/or fire depts are better equipped for doing this during an organized ride, sometimes you just can't get that done.  I can also see and understand smaller manageable groups being beneficial, provided again that the trailing groups didn't try to play catch up and just ride their own group ride as is and meet everyone else at the meeting place.


Littered with crosses meaning "crosses" to mark the area of an accident or death I assume?   Wouldn't that "littered" area indicate a need for some kind of traffic control device in that area?

[Jeff K]

Mixed emotions on this.  While I tend to believe it best to keep the group together for safety of the bikers and general traffic and so that they aren't individually struggling to catch up or get back into position.... I think the people performing road guard duties should be brightly dressed so as to catch the eye of other traffic.  Obviously police and/or fire depts are better equipped for doing this during an organized ride, sometimes you just can't get that done.  I can also see and understand smaller manageable groups being beneficial, provided again that the trailing groups didn't try to play catch up and just ride their own group ride as is and meet everyone else at the meeting place.


Littered with crosses meaning "crosses" to mark the area of an accident or death I assume?   Wouldn't that "littered" area indicate a need for some kind of traffic control device in that area?

They have flashing lights, and rumble strips. It is a small country road crossing a busy state hwy. People get killed there pretty often. i can't tell you how many bike outlines Ive seen painted in the road.

[doubletee]

I'm okay with this practice when the cross traffic has to stop (e.g. at a four-way stop intersection). If the cross traffic does not have to stop, I believe it's a very dangerous practice. When I'm leading a group and can't get them all through the intersection together, I simply find a suitable place to pull everyone to the side of the road, or off the road, and wait for the rest to rejoin.

[fudgie]

I'm okay with this practice when the cross traffic has to stop (e.g. at a four-way stop intersection). If the cross traffic does not have to stop, I believe it's a very dangerous practice. When I'm leading a group and can't get them all through the intersection together, I simply find a suitable place to pull everyone to the side of the road, or off the road, and wait for the rest to rejoin.

Yes. 

[Jess from VA]

Around here, larger SCRC groups all have CBs and Road Captains.  At many intersections one of two captains at the front (just behind the leader) move out and block the opposing lane allowing the entire group to pass (30-40 not 100s).  As soon as the road permits, they scoot back to the front.  Fairly common.  Also purely illegal in VA.  I have never seen it ticketed though.  

I have pretty much quit local organized SCRC rides..... just too many wobbly noobs in the crowd anymore.  The rides turned into slow parades and sucked all the fun out of the day.

However, most group rides are planned out in the country where riding is nice, not in the bloomin' suburbs.  Because of heavy traffic and cops, I've never seen it used in town, only out in the country.  Most cagers don't seem to mind.  No one is held up more than 60-90 seconds or so.

Last year at a huge DC Tea Party event, city drivers were not letting the people cross the street.  I ran the Valk down and blocked two busy lanes of city traffic for several long minutes.  Got cheered by the people and honked by the city dwellers.  Lucked out and got no ticket either.  Knowing DC, I was also probably on 35 different cameras.  

[PAVALKER]

Mixed emotions on this.  While I tend to believe it best to keep the group together for safety of the bikers and general traffic and so that they aren't individually struggling to catch up or get back into position.... I think the people performing road guard duties should be brightly dressed so as to catch the eye of other traffic.  Obviously police and/or fire depts are better equipped for doing this during an organized ride, sometimes you just can't get that done.  I can also see and understand smaller manageable groups being beneficial, provided again that the trailing groups didn't try to play catch up and just ride their own group ride as is and meet everyone else at the meeting place.


Littered with crosses meaning "crosses" to mark the area of an accident or death I assume?   Wouldn't that "littered" area indicate a need for some kind of traffic control device in that area?

They have flashing lights, and rumble strips. It is a small country road crossing a busy state hwy. People get killed there pretty often. i can't tell you how many bike outlines Ive seen painted in the road.

We have some like that in our area, but I have noticed that corrective measure have been taken to help that.... specifically;

-  In one area, it was blocked off in the median that you could no longer cross both lanes and had to turn with the flow of traffic and do your turn around at a designated turn around down the road a bit.

-  In the other area, the traffic turning right with the flow of highway traffic had their own turning lane and merged with traffic after a complete stop.  Those turning left onto the major highway only had to worry about the traffic coming from the left, also after a complete stop,  since the opposite highway lanes of traffic were forced to merge into the far right lane so that people entering the highway at that so called intersection and crossing traffic could enter the left lane safely.  However... just a little further down that highway there is a left turn into a busy business and without a turning lane so no sooner you get up to speed and the person in front of you could end up making a left into the business.  Sometimes ya just can't win....

But there are other traffic control devices that might help alleviate those accidents... it's just the traffic might not warrant it (but that littering of crosses might indicate otherwise).

[R J]

Jeff, it is illegal in California, but it is ignored as long as it is a short row of bikes.

Back in the day when I would go on rides in California, at the drivers meeting, we listed all the bad intersections and where we would stop for them to catch up, we also keep our groups to a maximum of 40 or less bikes.   Tried to get a CB on bike 2 and the last bike.   I had a CB, but I wanted another one behind me.

The only time the CHP would halt traffic was for a Parade or a Funeral, no one got their feathers in a bunch that way.

Maybe I should also list the Biker's Toy Run, we worked traffic for them.   Had a lot of irrate people on those cause they had to wait so long.

One time I was working traffic for the Toy Run, and a guy had been waiting for a few minutes and he was honking his horn repeatedly.   Walked over asked him to stop and he said I want your Badge #, I gave it to him, opened his hood and tore the horn wires off.     Got called in on that one and got a 1 day suspension.

It was worth the suspension, but I hated to see it on my CHP records.

[Art708]

One time I was working traffic for the Toy Run, and a guy had been waiting for a few minutes and he was honking his horn repeatedly.   Walked over asked him to stop and he said I want your Badge #, I gave it to him, opened his hood and tore the horn wires off.     Got called in on that one and got a 1 day suspension.

It was worth the suspension, but I hated to see it on my CHP records.

    People in CA must be a lot more tolerant than they are around here. I think here if you opened some guy's hood around here and started yanking wires you'd have some Bubba either open a can of whup ass on you or shoot you.  Of course that wouldn't happen since they moved the hood release back inside the cars.

[Serk]

I used to do this on group rides. Being... non-petite, I'd often get selected to block traffic.

Until one day, I was trying to get to the pharmacy to get some pain meds for my wife (I was in the cage), who was in excruciating pain from a medical procedure.

...and I got stuck at an intersection for 30-45 minutes waiting for a large group ride to go by with the intersection illegally blocked.

By the end of it, I was finding myself considering running over the next person I saw on a motorcycle, and I got to thinking, if even an avid rider such as myself had this thought, what would someone who already doesn't like bikes be thinking?

So now, no, I won't do it, and I generally avoid any group ride that might do it either.

[Donut]

Believe it is against the law in most states if not all.....

[Big Rig]

Around here, larger SCRC groups all have CBs and Road Captains.  At many intersections one of two captains at the front (just behind the leader) move out and block the opposing lane allowing the entire group to pass (30-40 not 100s).  As soon as the road permits, they scoot back to the front.  Fairly common.  Also purely illegal in VA.  I have never seen it ticketed though.  

I have pretty much quit local organized SCRC rides..... just too many wobbly noobs in the crowd anymore.  The rides turned into slow parades and sucked all the fun out of the day.

However, most group rides are planned out in the country where riding is nice, not in the bloomin' suburbs.  Because of heavy traffic and cops, I've never seen it used in town, only out in the country.  Most cagers don't seem to mind.  No one is held up more than 60-90 seconds or so.

Last year at a huge DC Tea Party event, city drivers were not letting the people cross the street.  I ran the Valk down and blocked two busy lanes of city traffic for several long minutes.  Got cheered by the people and honked by the city dwellers.  Lucked out and got no ticket either.  Knowing DC, I was also probably on 35 different cameras.  

So I was not the only Valk blocking traffic in DC that day, I had been doing that the entire ride down from Delaware....Got the same sort of response....mostly from LEo's on foot patrol thru the city...

[The emperor has no clothes]

Most people don't approve of motorcycles to begin with, doing something illegal just reinforces that.

[Tx Bohemian]

...and I got stuck at an intersection for 30-45 minutes waiting for a large group ride to go by with the intersection illegally blocked.

By the end of it, I was finding myself considering running over the next person I saw on a motorcycle, and I got to thinking, if even an avid rider such as myself had this thought, what would someone who already doesn't like bikes be thinking?

Yeah, although I was never in that type of situation I often wondered how I'd feel if I was attempting to get somewhere, such as you were, and this happened. Even if I just had to pee...

The only ride I was on with a large amount of bikes (3-400) was the Warriors Weekend this past summer and as we were heading down the SW freeway we pulled off and went down the main street of each little town and then got back on the freeway which the cops stopped the traffic for us to get back on.
I thought; yeah, although this is a good cause I'd be one pi$$ed bohemian if I was stuck in that line of cars... 4-5 buses and that many bikes it was a 20-30 minute wait.

I doubt I'll do that ride again. We had like 12-13 bikes I rode up there with but we all got separated in the group ride back and I had no idea who was behind me, on the side of me and what riding skills they had.  Almost got rear-ended a couple of times.  About 10 miles into it I had the thought of peeling off and making my own way back down side roads!
But I stuck with it to see what it's like.  But now I know so probably not again.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

If you are on a LEO Motorcycle, it's ok, otherwise wait your turn.

But I have done it. Stopped Traffic for the group. It's not suicide if you do it right.

[mike4sho]

Jeff, it is illegal in California, but it is ignored as long as it is a short row of bikes.

Back in the day when I would go on rides in California, at the drivers meeting, we listed all the bad intersections and where we would stop for them to catch up, we also keep our groups to a maximum of 40 or less bikes.   Tried to get a CB on bike 2 and the last bike.   I had a CB, but I wanted another one behind me.

The only time the CHP would halt traffic was for a Parade or a Funeral, no one got their feathers in a bunch that way.

Maybe I should also list the Biker's Toy Run, we worked traffic for them.   Had a lot of irrate people on those cause they had to wait so long.

One time I was working traffic for the Toy Run, and a guy had been waiting for a few minutes and he was honking his horn repeatedly.   Walked over asked him to stop and he said I want your Badge #, I gave it to him, opened his hood and tore the horn wires off.     Got called in on that one and got a 1 day suspension.

It was worth the suspension, but I hated to see it on my CHP records.

The things you could get away with back then.  If you did that today you would be gone!

[Fritz The Cat]

This is just one of the reasons I don't do group rides anymore. They're too dangerous to suit me.

[cookiedough]

I don't think it is right or smart to block very busy intersections for any size group of cycles.  Not worth the risk.

Now, if on a non busy country road like most of the roads around here,  then no problems since chances of seeing more than 1-2 vehicles is highly doubtful. 

[John Schmidt]

If it's a large group, then common sense demands you break it down into smaller groups of a half dozen or so. The lead group can pull off to the side and wait for the others to catch up, but it's absolutely stupidity in motion to have a bunch of 30, 40, or more all try to get through together. Unless you have an escort for that large a bunch, break it down to manageable groups. Personally, I won't ride with a large group for the same reason RJ gave....too many inexperienced riders.

[Dave Ritsema]

To me this is a dangerous practice without LEO involved and it would be more sensible to break the groups down into manageable sizes.

Could not agree more, bad practice and a good way to get hit. And also if an accident happens who do you think is going to take the blame? The fool in the middle of the intersection who didn't have the right of way.

[john]

                   " I was finding myself considering running
                over the next person I saw on a motorcycle "       ???          

 

[sheets]

The scenario as presented makes me cringe. I'm a retired Calif. highway worker. 38 years - 28 years boots on the ground. Technically, nobody has the authority to stop traffic or close a road except law enforcement. EMS and road crew workers do it routinely as a matter of necessity due to crashes or other road hazards. The LEO's, EMS and resident road crews have the appropriate experience and bright lights to light up everyone's life to give them advance warning of the changing conditions. I've done it more times than I could begin to count, but I was on the job and with many-many years of traffic handling experience to get me through the moment. The ensuing consequence and collateral damage of unexpectedly stopping traffic is of paramount importance. Having some dork deciding to stop traffic on a busy state highway is inconceivable to me. After a multi-car pile-up that citizen dude will have some explaining to do as to who gave him the authority to step out and take traffic matters into his own hands. I was on a group ride recently with CHP doing the control at signalized intersections. That was bad enough. I'll never participate again. Having some ordinary citizen take it upon himself to be the supreme commander of traffic operations is simply absurd. Yrmv, sheets         

[Jess from VA]

Around here, larger SCRC groups all have CBs and Road Captains.  At many intersections one of two captains at the front (just behind the leader) move out and block the opposing lane allowing the entire group to pass (30-40 not 100s).  As soon as the road permits, they scoot back to the front.  Fairly common.  Also purely illegal in VA.  I have never seen it ticketed though.  

I have pretty much quit local organized SCRC rides..... just too many wobbly noobs in the crowd anymore.  The rides turned into slow parades and sucked all the fun out of the day.

However, most group rides are planned out in the country where riding is nice, not in the bloomin' suburbs.  Because of heavy traffic and cops, I've never seen it used in town, only out in the country.  Most cagers don't seem to mind.  No one is held up more than 60-90 seconds or so.

Last year at a huge DC Tea Party event, city drivers were not letting the people cross the street.  I ran the Valk down and blocked two busy lanes of city traffic for several long minutes.  Got cheered by the people and honked by the city dwellers.  Lucked out and got no ticket either.  Knowing DC, I was also probably on 35 different cameras.  

So I was not the only Valk blocking traffic in DC that day, I had been doing that the entire ride down from Delaware....Got the same sort of response....mostly from LEo's on foot patrol thru the city...

[Flrider]

Though I have been guilty of this in the past my opinion on this practice has changed with the years.
Saturday i had to make a run to the hardware store. There is an intersection a mile from our house on a busy 70mph state hwy that is littered with crosses. There are accidents there almost weekly. Most have to do with people getting rear ended while waiting to turn left, or waiting for someone to turn left. As I am approaching the the intersection I see a group of riders crossing the hwy, they were making me nervousness because they were cutting it close to being in the road when I got there. As I got closer a group of them had stopped at the stop sign and one of them came from behind dressed all in black on a black sportster and pulled into the middle of the intersection and stopped. I laid on the brakes and the horn as he waved his buddies through the intersection.
What are your thoughts on this practice?

To me this is a dangerous practice without LEO involved and it would be more sensible to break the groups down into manageable sizes.

Jeff

I know the road you speak off and there are some dangerous intersections on it.
I am a road captain and we ride your part of town every so often.
As a regular practice, we do not block traffic.
In that particular road, if you are patient, you can wait for the whole group to make it through in one shot.
If the group is larger than 15 bikes, we break it up in two or more, we try to keep it at 12 bikes or less per group.
We do have CB communication so if the groups get split, the first group just pulls off in a safe place to wait for other groups.

I believe that it is not only dangerous to block traffic depending on the intersection but it also might be against the law to do it here in Florida.

[old2soon]

On the P G R rides generally we have L E O escort from Church/Funeral Home to Cemetery. The last 9/11 ride I was on had partial L E O support. I had 4-ways installed by my brother(da prez)back in July and I have blocked the intersections BUT I also had on my white helmet and neon green mesh jacket. And-YES-without L E O support it is illegal to block intersections here in Missouri but up to this point in time have not been ticketed. On the last Mo. Fall color ride we split it into smaller groups for the turns pulled up about 1/2 a mile to 1 mile and waited on the rest. THAT worked out rather well. RIDE SAFE.

[GotValk]

Only good if the LAW is stopping traffic!,JMO

[rainman]

I'm okay with this practice when the cross traffic has to stop (e.g. at a four-way stop intersection). If the cross traffic does not have to stop, I believe it's a very dangerous practice. When I'm leading a group and can't get them all through the intersection together, I simply find a suitable place to pull everyone to the side of the road, or off the road, and wait for the rest to rejoin.

Yes. 

[Fla. Jim]

I think a group of bikers that think they are above, and entitled to break the law,because of their way of thinking,need to be prosecuted... And made an example of. Period !! But then I have never been of the Herd mentality.

[RainMaker]

Was asked to do it on the Big Toy Run one year and did, but was challenged continuously by the cage drivers and some were pretty nasty about it.  That was the first and last time I volunteered for road control at the Big Toy Run.

As a motorcycle escort on the MS-150 Bike Rides, I do block intersections occasionally to protect the bicyclists but it's for less than a minute at a time.  I have no issue with that.

[Jeff K]

Another batch of crosses. This is so sad. I don't know how this happens so often here. There are rumble strips and red flashing lights.

http://www.wfla.com/story/24938543/two-dead-after-crash-involving-semi-in-polk-city

[Flrider]

That is sad news, that is just down the road from you Jeff.

I am sure the county will be implementing some other type of traffic sign or road surface device so that vehicles can see that stop sign on Dean Still, can't help this family but may help others in the future.

[Rams]

As a motorcycle escort on the MS-150 Bike Rides, I do block intersections occasionally to protect the bicyclists but it's for less than a minute at a time.  I have no issue with that.

Will most likely take some heat on this but, I don't believe bicycles should be allowed on roads (major streets) unless there's a bike lane.    They are a hazard to traffic and endangering others and themselves.      There is a huge amount of bicyclist that ride the Bluegrass in Kentucky where the roads are barely wide enough for two lane traffic with no bike lanes.   They don't pay road taxes, they can't maintain established minimum road speeds and normally aren't even possessing slow traffic signage or bright colored clothing.     

I pull a very large gooseneck trailer, it's as wide as is legally allowed.   I'm constantly on the lookout for them.   Honestly, they scare the crap out of me and I'm afraid someday I'm going to run over one.