1. Each OPM club ride shall have a ride leader. This person can be designated in the event calendar or decided upon at the start of the ride.
2. The ride leader has the final decision on all matters related to the ride and his/her decisions must be respected by all participants.
3. Ride leaders make the final decision regarding ride cancellations due to weather or road conditions. OPM club rides will not start if lightning is present and will be cancelled if lightning is sighted during a ride.
4. Ride leaders will carry cell phones for emergency use on rides that they lead, or ensure that another rider in the group is carrying one.
5. Each individual rider will conduct themselves in a responsible manner and retains liability for their own actions. This includes ensuring that their bicycle is in good working order.
6. OPM club members are responsible for bringing sufficient liquids and food, as required, for each club ride, as well as appropriate tools/ spare tubes, etc.
7. OPM club members are responsible for ensuring that they are sufficiently fit for the desired activity.
8. New OPM club members who have not ridden in groups before are strongly advised to attend one of the group riding clinics held by the club in the early season.
9. All road traffic laws must be obeyed
10. All participants must be members of either the OPM or another OCA affiliated club.
11. All riders must wear a CSA approved crash helmet.
12. If an ineligible rider insists on participating even after being asked not to then the OPM CLUB ride may proceed. However, the ride leader shall advise the ineligible rider, with a witness present, that he or she is ineligible and is not covered by any CLUB insurance and is responsible for all his/ her actions.
13. The ride leader will identify himself/herself to the group so that everyone is aware of who is leading, provide details of the route and scheduled stop(s) and emphasize the need to ride safely, mentioning any safety-related issues that have arisen in recent rides.
14. Riders must not be left behind during any ride unless they first confirm that they are detaching from the group. Rider will advise the ride leader with a witness present that he/she is detaching from the group.
15. If a rider is in some difficulty and requires escorting back to the start point the group leader will designate a person for the task should no-one volunteer. This does not apply if the rider is turning back early due to a personal time restriction.
16. A headcount will be conducted just prior to departure and thereafter periodically during the ride to ensure that all participants are present.
17. If the group size is too large for safety on the intended route (a size of up to 12 is reasonable) the group shall be split into packs of no more than 12 riders. The tour leader will designate experienced riders as leader for the extra pack(s). If the packs formed from a group will be riding at different speeds, the fastest packs shall start first. The distance between any two packs should be at least 200 meters to allow other vehicles to pass safely in two maneuvers.
18. Any accident on OPM CLUB Ride resulting in personal injury or 3rd party property damage shall be reported by the Ride Leader to the OPM BOD using the OCA Accident Report Form within 12 hours of the accident. The Board will review the report, revise as required and forward it to the Provincial Cycling Association within 48 hours of the accident.
19. Members of other OCA club wishing to come out for a single ride must present themselves to the ride leader at the beginning of the ride and bring the signed OPM waiver and proof of OCA Club membership

Helmets required on all rides

• Bike in working order

• Arrive before the start time. We leave on time

• Be self-sufficient, bring your own:

• Water, food
• Money, cell phone, ID, membership card (digital)
• Spare tube, pump / CO2, repair kit

• Zero tolerance

• Riders who break safety rules will be warned ONCE
• Next time they will be asked to leave the ride
• If it happens on two rides in a row they will be asked to leave the club

• Etiquette

• Wait at top of hill or next intersection for dropped riders If they are being dropped repeatedly
• Ask if they are okay to ride alone and/or drop back to next group
• Do not let a rider that is trying to get back on dangle off the back
• Ease up so that they can get on. Do not stand ON the road
• When we stop for any length of time, get off the road

• Share the Road

• Be kind, make it easy for them to pass
• Do not engage angry drivers
• Report belligerent and/or dangerous drivers to Police if necessary

• Sprints

• Only sprint at known safe spots, with clear lines of sight and NO following or approaching traffic
• Do not cut-off other cyclists by changing your line

• Hazards and Hand Signals

• Call “Car Back” – vehicle approaching from behind
• Call “Clear” – no vehicles when going through an intersection
• Point to road hazards (hole, debris)
• Move to other lane passing buggies

• Mechanicals (+ flats)

• The group stops until it is fixed or the rider waves you on

• Accidents

• The group stops
• Care for anyone who is injured (911 if necessary)
• Ride leader to record info for OCA

• Weather

• We cancel rides if there is a Severe Weather Warning or Lighting on the route.
• Use common sense – choose to ride when it’s safe!