Blocking traffic (legal)?
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: Territory of Tucson
What makes bikers think they can block the road to stay together. If the Mini Cooper club blocked traffic so they could all stay together and the Honda club did the same and so on and so on, what an UNSAFE mess the highways would be.
I used to ride with an AMA club who rode in groups of 5, we could move thru traffic easier and safer and not **** off the cages who don't like us anyway. We would have 4 or 5 groups at times and the leader of each group new the route. We would be maybe a whole minute behind the group ahead of us and cars could safely pass and get in on two lanes with out risking our lives. Just my .02
I used to ride with an AMA club who rode in groups of 5, we could move thru traffic easier and safer and not **** off the cages who don't like us anyway. We would have 4 or 5 groups at times and the leader of each group new the route. We would be maybe a whole minute behind the group ahead of us and cars could safely pass and get in on two lanes with out risking our lives. Just my .02
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 12
From: Commerce, Mich.
Our Chapter rides in groups of 10-12 MAX. we do NOT block. If the group gets seperated at a light, the lead will slow up till we catch him.
Blocking is ILLEGAL in every state to the best of my knowledge, without a permit or ON DUTY Leo's doing the blocking.
Off Duty LEO's can not block without the permission of the city or a permit to do so.
We have one group up hjere that does that, and they get ticketed about 1-2 times per year. They won't learn..We are NOT above the laws.
besides, when you have that many bikes, you are going to have problems. Accidents are waiting for you, inexperienced riders are in the pack t tight to be comfortable, so many things can and eventually will go wrong. Including some pissed off Cager pushing into the group because you are simply too large a group to allow them to get into the lanes they need for turning ect..
Blocking is ILLEGAL in every state to the best of my knowledge, without a permit or ON DUTY Leo's doing the blocking.
Off Duty LEO's can not block without the permission of the city or a permit to do so.
We have one group up hjere that does that, and they get ticketed about 1-2 times per year. They won't learn..We are NOT above the laws.
besides, when you have that many bikes, you are going to have problems. Accidents are waiting for you, inexperienced riders are in the pack t tight to be comfortable, so many things can and eventually will go wrong. Including some pissed off Cager pushing into the group because you are simply too large a group to allow them to get into the lanes they need for turning ect..
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
Yep, absolutely illegal....Last year, a local hospital had an annual, yet I'll bet their last, poker run for the benefit of a fallen police officer. The road guards decided to block traffic on an interstate highway while nearly 500 bikes came down the ramp. The ramp was right before a blind curve. That action caused a multiple car pile up where several vehicles were totaled..........I haven't heard who all is getting sued yet.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 7
From: Michigan
To the best of my knowledge, its not LEGAL in any state to impede the flow of traffic. Having said that, most groups have done this at one time or another. We prefer to refer to the act as "securing" intersections, and not "blocking", as we always try to not stop traffic, but hold them at a stop until our group finishes the intersection. In our HOG chapter only those who have taken extensive riding as well as first aide, and accident scene management are allowed to secure intersections. In our case it works well, but we always have the safety of not only the riders in our group, but also the road traffic in mind.
Last edited by HDRider2002; Feb 19, 2009 at 07:01 PM.
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 2
From: Florida Panhandle
i have been a road captain for many yrs. it is absolutely iileagle to block traffic under any circumstances UNLESS you are a leo in performance of an escort or duty. many folks think by blocking they are stopping traffic but iin reality they are asking for an accident to happen and then YOU would be held liable
With the state of Road Rage who would want to invite the ire of mentally unstable cager anyway?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,341
Likes: 714
the only way its legal is if u get a parade permit.or an on duty leo helps ya out (had that happen once)we always break into smaller groups depending on #of road captains that show up ussually its not more than 10 bikes at a time. we leave the last group the smallest so they can pick up any stragglers.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 15,259
Likes: 5,383
From: Delaware
The first time I saw this was a ride with a local Indian group, (remember those?). I couldn't believe what I saw. A dude with a very loud, straight piped Chief pulls into the traffic lanes in front of a coffee shop. He sits there, in the middle of the road, reving his engine and holding a hand in there air. Mean while the rest of us are supposed to pull into the roadway then ride slowly until everyone is in line and we can proceed. Not me!. You guys want to get hit or **** off the locals, ok. I'll ride alone.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,875
Likes: 32,912
From: King George, VA
Its just somethin a lot of clubs do. Read it again. I said a lot of em do it, not all. I don't think any H.O.Gs do it. Not as dangerous as driving while texting or talking on a cell phone. Heck, you can sit on the side of an intersection and count at least 10 cell phones on ears a minute, while at the same time, you might count one intersection blocking in maybe,,,,,, a month.
I think it is one of the last things that needs to be policed as we approach that perfect world.
I think it is one of the last things that needs to be policed as we approach that perfect world.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,356
Likes: 8
From: Roswell, NM
It ain't legal unless the law does it or gives you permission. Size and staying together doesn't have a thing to do with it. We didn't do when we convoyed in the Army, and I know we had a lot of vehicles. But all driver knew where we were going and what the catch up speed was.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Charlottetown Prince Edward Island
I was in a 750 bike poker run in Sydney Nova Scotia last year and there was blocking at all intersections until the parade of bikes was outside of town. The local police did most of it...but there was an offramp we needed to take leaving a divided highway, and had a stop sign at end where we turned left. Out of respect for the well run charity event, most people stopped to let us through. A guy in a cube van was impatient though, and tried to break thru the bikes. End result was a Gold Winger with busted bones.
Having said that, some of the guys I ride with will slow traffic on a slow, two way street so we can pull out of a parking lot or something, but never stop cars at an intersection-that's really nuts in a small group.
Having said that, some of the guys I ride with will slow traffic on a slow, two way street so we can pull out of a parking lot or something, but never stop cars at an intersection-that's really nuts in a small group.