RIDING STAGGERED

We generally ride in a stagger formation for safety reasons.  The minimum recommended spacing to the bike directly in front of you should not be less than two seconds (the two second rule).  The bike in the lane to your left or right should not be less than one second ahead of you.  You will find that two seconds is a long distance when riding at highway speeds.  That is it's a long distance when everything is going well.  When things go wrong, however, two seconds distance is gone in the time it takes to figure out you are in trouble.

The two second rule is a rule of thumb should try to adhere to this rule when possible, especially at highway speeds.  There are times, however when it is best to squeeze together while in city streets & while slowing for a stop.  This will help prevent cars from entering the group.

The last bike should ride in the middle of the two bike lanes with all head lights and running lights on.  This will help the lead bike see the last bike.  Refer to the image to the right.

PASSING ON A FREEWAY INTO
A FASTER LANE

As a group, it can be difficult to pass a slow moving car on any road with two or more lanes of same-direction traffic.  This is especially true with moderate to heavy traffic.  Often there is not enough room for the entire group to get between cars in the faster lane.

The way to accomplish this is for the last bike (tail gunner) to pull over one lane to the left and hold their position.   Each rider should move to the left lane as the cars in front of the rear biker pass them.  You can then pass the slow car as a group after the lead rider moves to the left lane.

The lead rider (Road Captain) should move back to the right lane after passing the slow car by a safe distance.  It is very important that the lead rider maintain speed to make room for all the other riders.  Each rider should move back to the right lane one at a time once they have safely cleared the slow car.  This can be a real slick choreographed move for other motorists to observe.  Make sure to maintain the faster speed after passing so there is room for the following bikes.

PASSING ON A FREEWAY INTO
A SLOWER LANE

During a lane change into a lane moving slower than the group (usually to the right), the FRONT bike moves over first.  Now, what do the rest of the bikes do? Legally, if the whole group moves like a "brick" (everyone changing lane together in one movement), that is considered to be parading and can cause problems if any emergency arises. Also, as you probably remember from your MSF classes, you learned that you and you alone are responsible for your own safety. So, if each bike individually changes lanes in order following the first bike to change lanes (normally from the front to the back), you can reduce your risk factor, change lanes legally, and still look REAL GOOD while doing the maneuver!

It is important that the lead (Road Captain) and tailing biker (Tail Gunner) talk to each other before the ride and come to an agreement on how they intend to pass cars.

STOPPING AS A GROUP
AT AN INTERSECTION

When stopping as a group at an intersection, break stagger formation and pull up beside the bike in the adjacent lane.  This will reduce the length of the group by half.  Stay in this formation until you are through the intersection.  Because the group is half as long it will take half the time to clear the intersection and increase the odds of  keeping the group intact.

If you don't make it through the intersection with the group, don't worry.  Don't take a chance and run a red light.  The leader will know that you are not with the group and will slow down, or wait for you down the road.