The purpose of riding in an organized group instead of an undisciplined pack is the additional safety that a well-organized
group inherently generates.   This comes from within the group and from the outside.   When a group rides in an
orderly fashion, people don't get in each other's way, and the organization of the formation itself discourages cars from
attempting to cut in.   I have even seen trucks move to the far side of their lane to minimize wind blast when they
see a well-ordered formation.

Once riding rules have been adopted by a chapter, EVERYONE riding with the chapter is expected to follow them.   Anyone
violating the rules, and compromising everyone else's safety, will be warned, and if their actions continue, will no
longer be welcome to the ride with the club.

The following rules are compiled from a number of sources.   Most clubs that ride in orderly formations follow
similar rules.   Details may vary from one club to another, sometimes because of the style of riding they do, or
sometimes because there are a number of reasonable options, so they chose the one that they prefer.

1. Formation
Riding will be in a standard staggered formation unless the leader calls for single file. In staggered formation, the
bikes form two columns, with the leader at the head of either the right or left column as he chooses.   The second
bike will head the opposite, and will ride approximately one second behind the leader (and in the opposite side of the
lane).   The other riders will position their bikes two seconds behind behind the bike directly in front of them,
which puts them one second behind the diagonal bike. This allows ample time for any quick maneuvers or hard breaking
should such occur. This formation allows each rider sufficient safety space, and discourages other vehicles from cutting
into the line.

2. Ride Leader
The Ride leader is responsible for the safety of the entire formation.   He must be aware of the length of the
columns, and must gauge the passing of merges, highway entrances and exits, etc., to allow for maximum safety and keeping
the group together.   He must make sure that he leaves enough time/space for the formation to get into the
appropriate lanes before exits, etc.

All direction comes from the Ride Leader. The Ride Leader makes all decisions regarding lane changes, stopping for breaks
and fuel, closing of gaps, turning off at exits, any concerns of what lies ahead, accepting/rejecting radioed messages
from other individuals, and so on. NO individual will assert himself independently without direction from the Ride Leader
to do so.

3. Tail Gunner
The Tail Gunner serves as the eyes of the Ride Leader. He watches the formation, and informs the Ride Leader of any
potential problems within the group. He watches other vehicles, and informs the Ride Leader (and anyone else with
radios) of hazardous conditions approaching from the rear, such as vehicles trying to cut into the formation and trucks
passing with potentially dangerous wind blasts. He will watch for merging lanes, and will move into a merging lane
(or stay in a merging lane just vacated by the group) in order to "close the door" on other vehicles that may
otherwise find themselves trying to merge into the formation.   At the Ride Leader's request, the Tail Gunner changes
lanes before the formation, to secure the lane so the formation can move into it.

4. New Riders
The position of new (inexperienced with GROUP riding) riders within the group is significant.   New riders should be
positioned as close to the front as possible.

5. Lane Changes
All lane changes start with a radio request from the Ride Leader to the Tail Gunner.   The Tail Gunner will (when it
is safe to do so) move into the requested lane and will inform the Ride Leader when the lane is clear.

At this point, the Ride Leader has three options:

A. Simple lane changes
This is an ordinary lane change, and can be used in most situations.   After the Tail Gunner has secured the new
lane, the Ride Leader will put on his directional signal as an indication the he is about to order a lane change. As
each rider sees the directional signal, he also turns on his signal, so the riders following him get the signal.  
the leader then initiates the change.   All other riders change lanes too.   The important concept is that
NO ONE moves until the bike in front of him has started moving.

B. Block Lane Change
This can be used interchangeably with the Simple Lane Change.   It requires a little more work, but it is well worth
the effort.   It's quite impressive to watch, and gives the riders a tremendous feeling of "togetherness".  
This sounds a little complicated, but is actually very simple to do.

After the Tail Gunner has secured the new lane, the Ride Leader will put on his directional signal as an indication that
he is about to order a lane change.   As each rider sees the directional signal, he also turns his on, so the riders
following him get the signal.   the leader then raises his left arm straight up.   Each rider repeats this
signal.   Then, as the leader lowers his arm to point to the lane into which he's moving, he actually initiates the
change.   All other riders lower their arms at the same time and change lanes too.   This allows the entire
formation to move from one lane to another as a single block.

C. Rear Fill-in
This is sometimes necessary if a long enough gap cannot be maintained in the new lane, for example when trying to move
from the right lane to the center and vehicles from the left lane keep cutting into the opening.

After the Tail Gunner has secured the new lane, the leader (usually at the suggestion of the Tail Gunner) will call for
the group to fill in the space from the rear.   He signals this by raising his hand to shoulder height and quot;pushing"
it towards the new lane.   All riders repeat the signal, and the last bikes move into the space in the new lane
ahead of the Tail Gunner,  then the next-to-last bikes move in ahead of those, and so on until the Ride Leader
finally moves into the space ahead on the entire formation.

6. Emergencies
In the unlikely event of an emergency situation, the Ride Leader will make every attempt to move the formation to the
shoulder in an orderly manner.   If a bike breaks down, let the rider move to the right. DO NOT STOP. The Tail Gunner
will stop with the problem bike.   The Ride Leader will lead the group to a safe place.

7. Toll
The Ride Leader should be aware of tolls and collect money from all riders in advance.   When the formation arrives
at the booth, the Ride Leader pays for all bikes to proceed through the toll.   Many toll booths have counters that
count the number of vehicles coming through.   To accommodate these, ride through the toll booth one at a time.

If some people in the group are using FastTrack, they will split out from the group, and the formation will reform on the
other side of the toll booth.   Make sure the Ride Leader knows in advance how many bikes he is paying the toll for.

8. Hand Signals
Each rider (and passenger) should duplicate all hand signals given by the rider in front of him, so that the signals get
passed all the way to the back of the formation.   The following signals are used in addition to the standard (right
turn, left turn, slow/stop) hand signal.

Block Lane Change
The Ride Leader (after having the Tail Gunner secure the lane) raises his left arm straight up.   Each rider repeats
this signal.   Then, as the leader lowers his arm to point to the lane into which he's moving, he actually initiates
the change.   All other riders lower their arms at the same time and change lanes too.

Fill in from rear
After having the Tail Gunner secure the lane and putting on his directional signal (which is repeated by each rider),
the Ride Leader raises his left hand to his shoulder and "pushes" his open hand toward the lane into which he
wants to move.   This signal is repeated by all riders, and each rider in turn, rearmost first, moves into the
space ahead of the riders behind them.
Single up
When conditions warrant single file (narrow road, anticipated wind blast from trucks, obstruction, pedestrians, etc.) the
Ride Leader will raise his left hand straight up, holding up just his index finger.   All other riders will repeat
this, and the two columns will merge into one.

Staggered Formation
After singling up, when single file is no longer necessary, the Ride Leader will raise his left hand with the thumb and
pinky out, other fingers closed, rotating his wrist back and forth (indicating left, right, left, right).   All
other riders will repeat this and resume staggered formation.

Tighten Formation
When the Ride Leader thinks that the formation should be tighter (bikes closer together) (usually after being informed by
the Tail Gunner), he raises his left hand with fingers spread wide and repeatedly close them into a fist.   All
other riders repeat this and close up all unnecessary space in the formation.

Road Hazard
This is the one signal that can be initiated by ANYONE.   Anyone seeing a hazardous condition on the road surface
(roadkill, oil, gravel, significant pothole, etc,) will point at it.   All following riders will repeat this, and
all riders will point at the hazard.

Starting of the ride
About five minutes before departing on the ride all riders start mounting their bikes and prepare for the ride.
   Riders of each group must know where the group will be stopping for a rest and how long the ride will be.
  It is always a good idea to go over hand signals with all those participating in a group ride and make sure that
everyone understands them.

Link to hand signals can be found here.. hand signals