Risk Management Plan – 2023

Our club goal is to ensure that rides be conducted with the maximum degree of safety for all participants. All participants share the responsibility for ensuring that this policy is followed to make our rides as safe as possible.

Standards of Care

All participants must be members of the Velocity Cycling Club (“VCC”). Non-club members wishing to participate in a ride must have complied with the Ontario Cycling Club Try-Out Program to participate including 5 days advance notice and the club may only hold up to 10 Try-Out sessions per year. If an ineligible rider insists on participating even after being asked not to then the ride must be cancelled.

All VCC rides shall adhere to the rules and regulations of VCC, the Ontario Cycling Association and the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. Any safety issues related to a VCC ride should be advised to the Ride Captain and other members on the ride. If a member feels unsafe on a ride, they should withdrawal from the ride. Members are encouraged to report safety matters to the clubs Board of Directors.

To participate in a club ride a rider must adhere to the following:

• wear a CSA approved cycling helmet
• have functioning front and rear lights
• bringing sufficient liquids and foods, as appropriate
• tools/spare tubes etc
• must carry proof of membership in good standing including emergency contact details which can be easily accessed in the event of an accident

VCC encourages all riders to be comfortable and proficient with group riding. To support skills development, VCC will periodically hold skills development programs through its Clips and Tips ride program. Riders may be requested to attend a program prior to attending regularly schedule VCC rides. All members should be proficient in the club’s Ride Guidelines https://www.velocitycyclingclub.com/club/ride-guidelines/

General

• All riders participating in VCC rides will abide by VCC’s riding rules and cycling etiquette, which are required to be read by all VCC members upon joining.
• Riders that do not obey the VCC’s rules may be sanctioned from riding and could be removed from the VCC.
• The Ride Captain will identify himself/herself to the group so that everyone is aware of who is leading.
• The Ride Captain has the final decision on all matters pertaining to the ride and his/her decisions must be respected by all participants.
• Each individual will conduct themselves in a responsible manner at all times and retains liability for their own actions.
• A headcount will be conducted just prior to departure and thereafter periodically during the ride to ensure that all participants are present.
• Chosen routes should be planned to avoid busy roadways if at all possible.
• Riders must not be left behind (dropped) during any ride unless they first confirm with the Ride Captain that they are detaching from the group.
• If a rider is in some difficulty and requires escorting back to the start point the Ride

    Captain will designate a person as the escort. This does not apply if the rider is turning back early due to a personal time restriction.

• If the group size is too large for safety on the intended route the group should be split into one or more manageable sizes and the Ride Captain will designate riders as leaders for the separate groups. A size of not more than 18 is the club limit per group. The two groups should be at least 100 meters apart on the road to allow other vehicles to pass safely in two maneuvers. The last group to leave will be the designated “no drop” group.
• When there is more than one group on a ride, riders may drop from their group to one of the following groups.
• Riders must be proficient in the club’s Concussion Policy related to returning to riding post having suffered a concussion