6.3 Group Riding Formations and Tactics

Group Riding Formations and Tactics

Riding in a group is a popular aspect of the motorcycle culture in Alberta, allowing riders to share the experience of exploring the province's scenic highways. However, group riding introduces unique safety hazards. If group members do not coordinate their movements, communicate effectively, or maintain a proper space cushion, a single mistake can cause a multi-bike collision. Under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, riders must maintain safe lane control, and specific formations are used to maximize visibility and safety.

Pre-Ride Planning and Organization

Before the group departs, a brief meeting must be held to ensure all riders are aligned. This meeting should cover the route, planned stops for fuel and rest, the speed to be maintained, and the hand signals to be used.

• Group Size: Large groups are difficult to keep together and can frustrate other drivers, leading to dangerous passing maneuvers. It is best to keep groups small, ideally between 5 and 7 riders. If a group is larger, split it into smaller sub-groups, each with its own lead and sweep riders, departing a few minutes apart.
• The Lead Rider: The lead rider must be highly experienced, have excellent road-scanning skills, and be familiar with the route. They ride in the left third of the lane and set a steady pace. They are responsible for spotting hazards, signaling lane changes, and deciding when to change formations.
• The Sweep Rider: The sweep rider (or tail gunner) is the last rider in the group. Also highly experienced, the sweep rider assists if anyone falls behind or experiences mechanical trouble. They also secure the target lane first when the group makes a lane change.

Staggered Formation

The staggered formation is the safest and most efficient way to ride in a group on open highways. It allows the group to remain compact while giving each rider a sufficient space cushion.

• Left-Third Positioning: The Lead Rider travels in the left third of the lane (the left tire track).
• Right-Third Positioning: The second rider travels in the right third of the lane (the right tire track), at least one second behind the leader.
• Alternating Pattern: The third rider travels in the left third of the lane, two seconds behind the leader (and one second behind the second rider). The fourth rider travels in the right third, two seconds behind the second rider, and so on.
• Following Distance: In a staggered formation, each rider has a full two-second following distance from the rider directly in front of them in their respective tire track. The one-second diagonal gap between alternating riders prevents the group from stretching out too long, which would invite other vehicles to cut in.

Single-File Formation

A staggered formation is not appropriate for all road and weather conditions. The group must transition to a single-file formation in the following situations:

1. Curves and Winding Roads: In sharp turns, riders need the entire width of the lane to select the safest cornering line.
2. Poor Visibility or Weather: Rain, fog, or darkness requires greater space cushions.
3. Poor Road Surfaces: Gravel, sand, wet leaves, or construction zones require maximum lane maneuverability.
4. Entering and Exiting Highways: Merging onto or off a highway is easier when riders line up single file.
5. Narrow Bridges or Roads: Anywhere the lane width is restricted.

When transitioning to single file, the following distance for all riders must be increased to at least two seconds.

Alberta Traffic Laws for Group Riding

Riders must adhere to Alberta's traffic laws during group rides. Two specific illegal practices often appear on the Class 6 knowledge exam:

• Riding Side-by-Side is Illegal: It is strictly illegal in Alberta for two motorcycles to ride side-by-side in the same lane. Each motorcycle is legally entitled to the full width of a traffic lane. Riding side-by-side eliminates your lateral "escape route" and makes it impossible to swerve to avoid a sudden hazard (such as a pothole, animal, or debris) without colliding with the rider next to you.
• Passing in the Same Lane is Illegal: You must never pass another motorcycle or vehicle within the same lane. All passes must be conducted in accordance with normal passing rules, using an adjacent lane.

Group Maneuvers and Tactics

Passing Other Vehicles

When the group needs to pass a slower vehicle on a two-lane highway, they must do so one at a time:

1. The Lead Rider checks for oncoming traffic and blind spots, signals, and makes the pass. Once past, they pull far enough ahead in the left third of the lane to allow room for the next rider.
2. The second rider moves to the left third of the lane, checks the road, and passes when it is safe. They then occupy the right third of the lane.
3. Each subsequent rider performs their own safety check and passes individually. Never follow the leader blindly.

Lane Changes

To make a lane change on a multi-lane highway:

1. The Lead Rider signals the intention to change lanes.
2. The Sweep Rider checks the target lane, signals, and moves into the target lane first. This "blocks" the lane, preventing other vehicles from entering the space the group will occupy.
3. Once the lane is secured, the remaining riders signal and move into the new lane, starting from the back of the group and moving forward, or all together if the entire lane is clear.

Hand Signals for Communication

Hand Signals for Communication

Hand signals are essential when engine noise prevents verbal communication. All hand signals must be made with the left arm so the right hand can remain on the throttle and front brake.

• Left Turn: Extend left arm straight out, palm facing down.
• Right Turn: Extend left arm out and bend it 90 degrees upward at the elbow, fist clenched.
• Stop / Slow Down: Extend left arm straight down, palm facing backward.
• Single File: Raise left arm straight up with the index finger pointed upward.
• Double File / Staggered: Raise left arm straight up with the index and middle fingers pointed upward.
• Hazard on Road: Point with the left hand toward the ground (if the hazard is on the left) or point with the right foot outward (if the hazard is on the right).
• Police Ahead: Tap the top of your helmet with your open left palm.
• Fuel Stop: Point to the gas tank with your left index finger.

Summary of Group Riding Formations

Multi-Lane Highways With Three or More Lanes

When a highway has three or more lanes in the same direction, the Rider's Guide says the usual best choice is for the group to ride in the lane farthest to the right. The second choice is the far left lane. If the group must occupy a middle lane, the leader rides in the dominant portion of that lane for the stretch of road, and the rest of the group adjusts their staggered positions to the leader. Keep staggered spacing (about one second to the rider diagonally ahead and two seconds to the rider directly ahead in the same track) and never ride side-by-side in one lane.