The Chapter's newest activity section offers the opportunity to ride in a social setting and to experience nature on two wheels. Everyone who has their own bicycle and can safely ride at a steady endurance pace is welcome.
You can find bike rides by searching our online activities calendar. Filter for bike rides by selecting "Show activity search options" at the top of the calendar. Then, under Activity Type select "Biking" and click "Filter Activities".
If you have questions or wish to become a bike leader, contact the Bicycling section at bicycle at sfbaysc.org.
Below you'll find:
- Ride participant guidelines and requirements
- Bike outing rating system
- Bike leader qualifications and requirements
- Bicycling Section bylaws
Ride Participant Guidelines and Requirements
GUIDELINES FOR ALL RIDE PARTICIPANTS:
- Wear a helmet.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Be courteous to others: bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers.
- Obey all traffic laws.
- Signal before you make a turn (left or right), and before you stop.
- Always pass on the left when overtaking another rider or pedestrian.
- Call “on the left” when passing another rider or pedestrian.
- Point out/call out when there is an hazard on the road.
- Assist other riders in case of emergency or mechanical problems.
- Respect the environment: leave no trace, practice low-impact cycling.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL RIDE PARTICIPANTS:
To participate on a ride, a rider must:
- Be 18 years of age or have a parent’s written consent.
- Comply with the guidelines for all riders (above).
- Sign a liability waiver.
- Have a bicycle in good working conditions (brakes, shifters, tires, etc.)
- Have a helmet, pump, tire irons, and extra tube.
- Bring two water bottles, and/or a CamelBak.
- Bring a photo ID.
Bike Section Rating System
Bike Leader Qualifications and Guidelines
QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME A BICYCLE SECTION LEADER:
- You must be a Sierra Club member, and at least 18 years of age.
- You must fill out an Application Form.
- You must have completed basic Wilderness First Aid training (same requirement as for hike leaders). Full (two-day course) WFA training is strongly encouraged. Additionally, some form of bicycle safety class, for instance offered by Bike East Bay, is encouraged.
- You must complete Outings Leader Training 1, either online or in a chapter-sponsored class. For the online training click here (password available by emailing info@sfbaysc.org).
- You must first have participated in at least one cycling outing.
- After completing all the above steps, you must then 'provisionally lead' one cycling outing and receive a positive evaluation by a Mentor Leader (a qualified and objective leader).
- You should comply with the guidelines for Bicycle Section leaders (see below).
GUIDELINES FOR BICYCLING SECTION LEADERS:
- Read John S. Allen's booklet, "Bicycling Street Smarts: Riding Confidently, Legally and Safely."
- Comply and enforce the guidelines for all leaders and requirements for all ride participants.
- Once approved, you should lead at least two cycling outings each year to maintain your active leadership status.
- You must renew your First Aid certification every three years to maintain your active leader status.
- Ride leaders should very briefly talk about the guidelines for all riders before the start of the ride.
- Ride leaders are encouraged to provide sufficient detail in ride listings to ensure that a reasonable rider will not be taken by surprise.
- Ride leaders are strongly encouraged to provide a route sheet and/or map.
- Ride leaders are expected to have familiarity with the chosen route.
- The ride may be canceled if the probability of rain, according to the weather forecast, is 30% or higher.
- Leaders are encouraged to start rides with introductions and ask if anyone is new to our rides.
- The ride leader is expected to ride at a pace consistent with the average speed listed, or wait at regroups, even if most of the pack rides faster.
- If a rider decides or needs to leave the ride earlier, they need to notify the leader in advance.
- If a rider is injured on a ride, the leader will fill out an incident report.
- Carry the sign-in sheet on the ride, in case the emergency information is needed.
- The leader(s) should sign in as well, giving appropriate emergency numbers.
- Nothing in these guidelines precludes a leader from meeting the ride at the announced start and making changes to the ride or canceling the ride based on any circumstances that the leader judges would make it imprudent to continue with the ride as originally announced.
- Ride leaders are encouraged to speak about safety issues at the beginning of the ride and/or during the ride as the occasion or need arises.
- Ride leaders are encouraged to start their rides, as much as possible, from a BART station to encourage the use of public transportation and/or encourage carpools.
Bicycling Section Bylaws
ARTICLE I - PURPOSE
To give Sierra Club members and others enjoyment of the outdoors and a firsthand reason for conservation through a program of cycle rides emphasizing the conservation goals of the Sierra Club.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
A) CYCLING SECTION. Cycling Section membership shall consist of members of the Sierra Club who organize or lead activities for the Cycling Section (leaders) or hold a position, elected or appointed, on the Steering Committee. Members who do so shall be considered leaders in good standing.
B) RIDE LEADERS. While it is encouraged for cycling section leaders to also lead rides, leading rides is not a requirement to participate in leadership of the section. Cycling Section ride leaders must meet the outings leader training (OLT) requirements of the Sierra Club. See Article V below.
C) STEERING COMMITTEE. The Cycling Section Steering Committee shall consist of a minimum of three and a maximum of five members as described in Article III. The section shall strive to meet the Sierra Club’s leadership diversity goals.
ARTICLE III – ORGANIZATION
A) OFFICERS. The Steering Committee shall be elected by the members of the Cycling Section, and shall, at a minimum, consist of the following officers: Chair, Treasurer, and Outings Coordinator (Schedule Reviewer/New Leader Coordinator). The Steering Committee may appoint additional officers to fill additional roles such as Vice-Chair and Secretary. The Committee, by consensus, shall assign necessary duties to each officer.
B) TERM OF OFFICE. Steering Committee members term of office shall be for two years, with two members elected in one year and one to three members the next, alternating.
C) VACANCY. In the event of a vacancy of the Steering Committee, a replacement shall be nominated by the Chair and approved by a majority of the Steering Committee. The term of office shall be that of the unexpired term of the original member.
D) NOMINATIONS. In November of each year, the Chair shall solicit nominations for candidates for each upcoming Steering Committee vacancy. Nominations may be made by a Cycling Section leader for him- or herself, and may be made to the Chair or to a nominating committee appointed by the Chair. Nominated candidates shall be subject to election by the active cycling section leaders attending the Cycling Section’s annual meeting, either in person or by teleconference.
E) APPOINTMENTS. The Committee may appoint additional individuals or committees as may be needed.
ARTICLE lV - MEETINGS
A) CYCLING SECTION. The Cycling Section shall meet annually in February or March.
B) The STEERING COMMITTEE. Steering Committee meetings shall be called by the Chair, or by a majority vote of all Steering Committee members. Steering Committee members shall be given two weeks notice of each meeting, including the agenda. A quorum shall consist of 3 officers of a 5-member Steering Committee, or 2 officers for a smaller Steering Committee, and must be present to take official action. An absent officer may request his/her voting right in writing subject to the approval of the chair.
ARTICLE V – ACTIVITY LEADERS
A) SECTION LEADER SELECTION. Potential leaders shall be members in good standing of the Sierra Club, and shall be mentored by an active Cycling Section leader.
B) NEW LEADER APPROVAL. New section leaders are subject to approval of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee may delegate this authority to the New Leader Coordinator.
C) RIDE LEADER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. Ride Leaders are expected to pass all Outings Leader Training (OLT) requirements that hike leaders must take, including Wilderness First Aid (WFA). Additionally, Ride Leaders are expected to know / follow all applicable rules of the road, in regards to bicycling. Prior to final approval, the applicant must complete first aid training and any other trainings required by the Sierra Club, and be evaluated by another qualified cycling section leader during a ride they organize and lead.
D) MAINTENANCE OF OUTING LEADER ELIGIBILITY. To continue as an active Cycling Section Ride Leader, the leader must be a member in good standing of the Sierra Club, and shall have led an activity for the Cycling Section in the previous twelve months, or be scheduled to do so in the next two months. Failure to lead a minimum of one activity in any twelve month period shall result in the leader being moved to inactive status. The submission of one or more activities will re-instate the leader to active status. Inactive leaders will be dropped from the leadership roster after being in inactive status for 12 months.
E) NON-OUTING LEADER ELIGIBILITY. Members of the Steering Committee, and volunteers performing administrative tasks for the Cycling Section, will be considered leaders for the Cycling Section even if they are not currently leading any outings. However, steering committee members may not lead any outing without first meeting all qualifications required for such events.
F) LEADER REMOVAL. Any active ride leader, with the exception of the members of the Steering Committee, may be removed from leadership by the Steering Committee upon due cause (i.e., violation of Sierra Club policies and/or rules of conduct) after a hearing by the Steering Committee. A meeting of the Steering Committee shall be called to which the leader in question shall be given a two week notice to attend, along with a statement from the Steering Committee concerning the charges. Notice shall be given both by e-mail and US mail. The leader in question shall be provided with the opportunity to present his or her case. A majority vote of all Steering Committee members shall be necessary for removal.
ARTICLE Vl - FINANCIAL RECORDS
A) TREASURER. The Treasurer of the Cycling Section shall keep the Section’s financial records, and shall maintain a bank account on behalf of the San Francisco Bay Chapter Cycling Section, Sierra Club. Both the Treasurer and the Chair shall be authorized to sign checks.
B) REIMBURSEMENTS. The Treasurer shall be authorized to reimburse expenses incurred by Steering Committee members, or others authorized by the Chair or the Steering Committee, in the performance of authorized activities.
C) REPORTS. The Treasurer shall provide an annual accounting of funds to the Cycling Section at the annual meeting, in the form of a written account summary, and shall provide such reports as required by the San Francisco Bay Chapter or National office of the Sierra Club.
ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS
A) AMENDMENTS. These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Cycling Section members present at a regularly scheduled or specially called Cycling Section meeting. Notice of proposed amendments shall be sent to all Cycling Section members at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be acted upon.