ATV Group Riding Suggestions

ATV Group Riding Suggestions

Retreived from http://www.utahatvtrails.com/atvinfo/groupriding.html 4-11-2012

Following too close

Following too close is the cause for many broken fenders and bent racks on ATVs. It can also result in serious injuries to their occupants. In many areas following too close is not a problem because the dust from the ATV in front of you would be too thick to swallow. However, there are some who will still try to stay within arm's reach of their riding buddies. Group rides should be planned with instruction that riders following one another should never be any closer than 30 feet behind the rider in front.

Dusty White Out

Large group activities are especially prone to creating a greater than normal amount of dust. If rides are conducted in "pods" as described above, this will be minimized, but never will it be eliminated. Even on a cold day in March, you will still find a dust cloud behind a group of riders.

A white out occurs when there is so much dust that a person can no longer see the trail or the rider in front of them. The appropriate thing under such conditions is to do is to reduce your speed so that there is sufficient space between the riders so as topermit the breeze to clear the visual path between the riders. Keep in mind that you are responsible to maintain a distance of 30 feet between you and the rider in front of you. DO NOT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAIL. If you feel that conditions are so limited that you can not proceed, you need to pull out of the trail so that those behind you do not run into the back end of you. If you can not see, chances are the person in back of you is suffering from the same problem. Do not stay in the trail if you must stop!

Speed beyond control varies by individual

When it comes to speed and control there is no question that the skinnier you are the better agility and control you will have on an ATV. Does this mean that those of us who suffer from the affects of too many years behind a desk should not ride? No, absolutely not. But when it comes to people of different body types riding together the laws of physics do not permit people to have the same ability to go around corners safely at the same speed. Those with greater body mass require slower speeds in order to make a turn and not loose control. The laws of physics require that momentum travel in a strait line. Please trust me on this. There is a gravestone in the Salt Lake City cemetery with my very own brother's name on it, at this very moment, simply because there was too little attention given to the limitations and capabilities of the total membership of a motorcycle riding club. The same laws of physics apply to ATVs.

Hand signals

One important, yet often overlooked, courtesy is the hand signal. Hand signals will tell the people you meet on the trail how many are in your group. The first rider in the group is responsible for sending the first signal to the on coming riders, or hikers, horsemen etc. The hand signal is accomplished by holding up the number of fingers representing the number of machines in the group. All members of the group should participate in sending the hand signals indicating the number of machines to follow. The message is completed by the last rider who indicates that they are the last rider by holding up a closed fist indicating that there will be no riders to follow.

Hand signals are particularly valuable when traversing very narrow trails. Riders coming down a trail should give right of way to riders going up the trail

Know Your Hand Signals and Use Them

Left Arm raised from the shoulder, extended straight up over the head with palm flat. / Left Arm extended straight out from shoulder and pointing in the direction of the turn.
Left Arm raised at shoulder height, elbow bent and forearm vertical with palm of hand flat. / Left Arm extended out and down from the side of the body, with a downward flapping motion of hand to signal warning or caution.
*Left Arm raised, elbow bent, with thumb pointing backward. In hitchhiking motion, move arm forward to backward over your shoulder. / *Left Arm raised at shoulder height, elbow bent and forearm vertical, wrist bent, move arm from left to right over head, pointing to right side of trail.
Left Arm raised at shoulder height, elbow bent and forearm vertical with hand clenched in a fist.

Communication

Nothing can be more frustrating than trying to find the rest of the group when you are out in the back country. There are two methods that can be employed under such conditions. The first method is to leave someone from one group to wait for the second group. That is not always very fun, so a better alternative is to employ technology.

If you have FRS radios you can stay in touch with one another by using the radio. While it would be nice if everyone in the group had an FRS radio there should be at least one FRS radio at the front and rear of the group. It also helps to have several dispersed throughout the group as well. That way the various riders can find each other more quickly or call for help when needed.

ATV FRS Channel 5

You will remember in the 70's the Truckers designated channel 19 on the CB as the trucker channel. Well it is about time that the ATVer's designate a channel on the FRS radio so that they can find each other for help, local information or what have you.
Since no one else has suggested a channel for this purpose, I recommend channel 5 for ATVers. If you ride as a group monitor channel 5 for your communications. If other groups are within transmission range then the second Group can communicate on 5-1, or the other 38 privacy channels on that band.

Cell phones are a great idea for this purpose, but you don't know the phone number of the people in the next gully over do you? Cell Phones don't always work and it may get a little costly to be dialing your buddy every time you want to chit chat on the trail. You may be able call Salt Lake for help, but how long will it take to get some help to you from there? If we monitor a single channel or a FRS band it would be much easier to help each other out of a dilemma.

By having a ATV monitored channel it will give the ability for others to call for help without having to search through 15 bands and 14 privacy channels on each band to find someone who can help.

One other advantage that FRS Channel 5 offers is that it is within the range of bands that are interconnected with GMRS radios. These are the radios that are used by many search and rescue groups. In many areas there are GMRS repeaters that would permit use of this channel for excellent communication with the search and rescue teams.

Help spread the word. Channel 5 on the FRS for ATVers!

Group Responsibility

Members of a group who ride together can not escape the responsibility that they have to stay together. When any member of a group is not within visual range of another member of the group, the responsibility of all the group is to locate that member of the group immediately. This is a matter of safety more than anything else. It should never be considered a person's responsibility or obligation go faster to catch up to the group. Trying to catch up or keep up with a group is a sure way of causing someone to attempt to go faster than their personal skill level.

Personal Responsibility

Notwithstanding the responsibility of members of a group to stay together, this does not dismiss the responsibility and liability of each individual to be accountable for their actions. ATV riding is inherently a dangerous activity. Participation with a group does not somehow magically transfer responsibility for accidents to the other members of a group or the sponsors of the ride. All groups who sponsor rides will specifically disclaim any responsibility or liability for any accidents and injuries that may result from participation in such activities. This is perfectly reasonable and appropriate. If you do not agree with this, then you are perfectly free to ride by yourself, although this is not recommended under any condition, nevertheless you are free to do so.

Under group riding conditions it is simply not appropriate, unsafe and downright stupid to attempt feats of wonder and awe with your machine. If you have the mistaken impression that someone may be impressed with your physical prowess or machine's ability to withstand abuse under the control of an idiot, then you should reconsider carefully.

The more people there are participating in group rides, the more important it is for people to work together closely and cooperatively to achieve a safe and enjoyable experience. The less regard to and consideration for the safety and enjoyment of all participants there is on the part of individuals, the greater risk there is to all.

Fools who act as though they are accountable only to their own selfish desires of thrill and excitement are a blight on any community. This is especially true of such participants in the ATV community. Irresponsible actions like doing wheelies in the staging areas are a complete breach of safety and appropriate consideration for the community as a whole. According to national statistics there are hundreds of people killed each year using ATVs. How many of these could be avoided by the use of common sense and good judgment? Possibly a vast majority, but certainly not all. Just for example 73% of all recorded deaths were in cases where there were no helmets worn. Please, do not let stupidity be the primary cause of death in our sport, it does not speak well for those of us who choose the ATV sport.