Star Touring & Riding Association
Houston, TX – Chapter 221

RIDE RULES & REGULATIONS

1. All bikes will be maintained in a safe condition. Motorcycles with malfunctioning lights, brakes, or worn tires (less that 2/32 thread) will not be permitted to participate in a Chapter ride.
2. All motorcycles will be fueled (topped off) prior to arriving at our meeting area.
3. No drinking or drugged driving is allowed.
4. All traffic laws will be strictly obeyed.
5. When riding in a group, motorcycles will be ridden in a staggered formation at all times. One rider will be designated as the Ride Captain. The Ride Captain is responsible for planning, mapping and coordination the ride.
6. One to two riders will be designated as the Tail Gunner. The Tail Gunner is responsible for keeping all riders in formation. Should a rider need to leave the group, only the Tail Gunner will stop to assist them.
7. Riders who elect to drop out of a ride (i.e. they do not desire to go further due to time constraints, prior commitments, etc.) will notify the Tail Gunner before doing so.
8. One rider will be designated as Sergeant of Arms. The Sergeant of arms is responsible for keeping the peace, enforcing chapter and charter rules and the collection of monies for all tolls, etc.

Ride Signals

All riders will familiarize themselves with the following hand signals. These signals will be strictly adhered to at all times.
1. To signal a right turn or lane change to the right, the Ride Captain will hold his left arm out, bent at the elbow, while the hand along the rider’s head.
2. To signal a left turn or lane change to the left, the Ride Captain will hold his left arm straight out from his body, parallel to his back.
3. To signal that the pack must SLOW DOWN, the left had will be held downward with the open palm facing back.
4. To signal that the pack must STOP QUICKLY, the left hand will be moved in a pumping motion along the left side of the bike, while using a closed fist.
5. If the Ride Captain wants the pack to ride in a SINGLE FILE FORMATION, he will raise his left hand above his head with his index finger extended. All riders following the Ride Captain will relay this signal back to the Tail Gunner.
6. If the Ride Captain wants the pack to ride in a Double file Formation, he will raise his left hand above his head with two fingers extended, and waive the hand from his left to his right.
7. All riders following the Ride Captain will relay this signal back to the Tail Gunner.
8. If the pack becomes separated (i.e. some of the bikes didn’t make it through a signal light) the last rider in the first group will flash the motorcycles high beam lights off and on. This signal will be relayed forward, until the ride Captain acknowledges it
9. Freeway Lane Changes will be made in the following order. The Ride Captain will signal the lane change using hand signals only. The hand signal will be relayed down the pack to the Tail Gunner. The Tail Gunner will move over into the lane and hold that lane open for the pack. Once the lane has been secured. The two riders preceding the Tail Gunner will move over only if it is safe to do so. Turn signals will be used at this point. This procedure will be repeated, two bikes at a time, until the entire pack has moved over.
10. BREAKING INTERSECTIONS must be done with the total cooperation of other motorists on the road. We are requesting permission to BREAK the intersection, not demanding it. The two lead bikes will begin by securing the intersection. Once the intersection has been secured, the two lead riders will signal the pack through. AS the pack drives through the intersection, they will travel no faster than 30miles per hour. The two lead bikes will follow the pack through the intersection and cautiously pass the pack on the left. As pikes are passed, they may fall back into the double file formation. (Check with your state authority to determine the legality of this maneuver)