“Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.”
— John Forester
C4 believes that predictable, lawful riding is the foundation of cyclist safety
and earns the respect of motorists. All participants are expected to follow the
guidelines below.
Membership and Liability
All C4 ride participants must comply with Massachusetts Bicycle Law and these
C4 Riding Etiquette Guidelines. Every cyclist is required to wear an approved
helmet and must either maintain a current C4 membership or sign the required
liability waiver before participating in a ride.
Legal Compliance
Cyclists are subject to all Massachusetts traffic laws and regulations,
including stopping at stop signs and obeying traffic signals. Riders must
signal all turns whenever it is safe to do so. Continuous signaling is not
required if both hands are needed to safely control the bicycle.
Speed and Spacing
Ride predictably and maintain a steady pace that is comfortable for the group.
Avoid sudden acceleration or abrupt braking, which can disrupt the group and
lead to crashes. Respect riders of all experience levels by maintaining
consistent spacing and avoiding unnecessary gaps. Never overlap your front wheel
with the rear wheel of the rider ahead, as even a slight swerve can result in
an immediate crash.
Be Alert and Communicate
Remain alert and communicate hazards and intentions clearly. Call out hazards
such as potholes, gravel, sand, or debris, and announce “car back” or
“car up” when appropriate. Signal and announce your intentions before passing,
turning, slowing, or stopping.
- Pass on the left and announce, “On your left.”
- For a left turn, extend your left arm straight out.
- For a right turn, either extend your right arm straight out or bend your left arm upward at a 90-degree angle.
- When slowing or stopping, extend your left arm downward.
Lane Positioning
For safety and visibility, ride in groups of fewer than ten cyclists whenever
possible and maintain adequate spacing between separate groups. C4 strongly
encourages riding single file except where conditions safely permit otherwise.
Hold a steady line, ride near the white shoulder line when appropriate, and
avoid wheel overlap or looking back while riding, as either may cause you to
swerve unexpectedly.
Drafting and Pace Lines
Experienced riders may choose to ride in pace lines to improve efficiency
through drafting. Maintain a comfortable following distance, keep a steady
speed while pulling at the front, rotate smoothly to the side when your pull is
complete, drift safely to the rear of the line, and share the workload by
taking regular turns at the front.
Road and Sidewalk Usage
Ride to the right of vehicular traffic using either the roadway or shoulder as
appropriate. Bicycles may be operated on sidewalks outside business districts
unless prohibited by local ordinance. When riding on sidewalks or shared-use
paths, always yield to pedestrians and provide an audible warning before
passing.
Equipment
All cyclists must wear helmets. Bicycles operated after sunset must be equipped
with functioning front and rear lights. E-bikes equipped with throttles are not
permitted on C4 rides. Riding on aero bars while in a group is prohibited.
Cell phone and earbud use while riding is discouraged and should be limited to
navigation or emergencies.