Safety tips - Staggered Formation Riding

Staggered Formation Riding
by Greg Swallow (diagram colourized by Randolf Richardson)

Rules for groups riding in Staggered Formation:

• This is the primary riding formation.
   
• Single file is used when directed by the ride leader.
   
• One-second rule:  the bike in the lane to your left or right should not be less than one second ahead of you.
   
• Two-second rule:  maintain at least two seconds between you and the rider in front of you.
   
• Four-second rule:  look ahead four seconds at your immediate path of travel to give yourself more time to react to a hazard.
   
• Twelve-second rule:  also look ahead at your anticipated path of travel.  Twelve seconds is approximately one city block.