Blocking traffic (legal)?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,749
Likes: 16
From: sand mountain Alabama
You need a permit in order to stop traffic. A LEO will be posted with ya, that's what the permit is for. I ride the "Trail of Tears" every year and the least we have had was last year with a couple thousand in the group. We do not stop for red lights or stop signs. Some folks get real uptight waiting so long. That's why you need the LEO's helping. With only 10-20 in the group you do not need blockers. You will most likely stop every hour or 100 miles for rest and fuel any way. The Trail of Tears goes from Chattanooga. Tn. to Okmulgee, Ok in 3 days
Have a safe ride and plan it without blockers unless you have a permit.
dd
Have a safe ride and plan it without blockers unless you have a permit.
dd
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Newport News, VA
It's not legal here in VA either.
I have ridden in groups that were being escorted by the police and really didn't care for it. The constant speeding up and slowing down is a pain. The riders at the rear of the group describe the ride like a slinky. The better way is to set your route and have everyone start on a staggered basis...even if just a few minutes apart. The ride is much better that way!
Just my opinion!
Andy
I have ridden in groups that were being escorted by the police and really didn't care for it. The constant speeding up and slowing down is a pain. The riders at the rear of the group describe the ride like a slinky. The better way is to set your route and have everyone start on a staggered basis...even if just a few minutes apart. The ride is much better that way!
Just my opinion!
Andy
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: Southern MD
Who cares!! My riding boys and i always slow traffic or even block just so its safe for the last rider to get through the intersection (usually no more then 4 or 5 bikes). It seems a lot safer to do that instead of seeing some AHOLE not see the last rider. IMO
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 176
Likes: 2
From: South Carolina
Legal or not is the least of your worries .... on one ride with the Patriot Guard Riders in Georgia we did use road guards for about 60 bikes. Problem was at one of the intersections when the light turned green, the gager stepped on the gas and ran slap over the road guard bike directly in front of her...... Yep, cops wrote her a ticket, but the bro took a ride in the little white truck with broken leg, arm, collar bone, and a few ribs. Ticket's not your main problem.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 17,717
Likes: 1
From: NY
Not legal here in NY. On all the large rally's I've been on the LEO were there doing the blocking.
On short club rides we typically don't do it. If we get separated at an intersection the group that is ahead pulls over and waits.
On short club rides we typically don't do it. If we get separated at an intersection the group that is ahead pulls over and waits.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 8
From: Retired and living in the mountains of NE PA
I agree. Forget the traffic summons. If your illegal blocking caused an accident (for instance, if the car you blocked/stopped got rear-ended and caused injury to the occupants), you and your group could and very likely would be sued. It's just plain stupid (not to mention dangerous) to do without police assistance.
Last edited by XTrooper3936; Feb 20, 2009 at 05:24 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
If the person blocking the intersection is an on-duty cop, firefighter, someone designated by the city via a permit etc, then yes. If the person is just a motorcyclist with an inflated ego, then HELL NO! Keeping a group of riders together has no legal significance at all unless they have a permit from the city.