We just did 170sum bikes and shut down 3 towns,,,,we usually let the LEO's know before hand,,,,they usually turn out to step on traffic too,,,(beats watching the cows frollick)......back in the day,,,we just did it....

 

LEO here...No, it's not legal for anyone but a cop to shut down an intersection or block traffic like that. That said, I'd rather see that than have bikes trying like heck to squeeze into heavy traffic just to stay together. I've never messed with anyone for it.

 

I would think that your best bet would be to contact the local LEO office in the area you are riding, and ASK...I am sure that they will give you whatever info you need, and possibly help you get things done. Most LEO organizations are willing to assist for charity, sometimes you have to ask the community or mayor...

NEVER hurts to ask.

 

No around here around here during large events it was encouraged for safety reasons. There is nothing worse then getting someone in a cage right in the middle of a large group of bike's. A number of years ago during a large event I was in a group of between 200-300 bikes at one of the intersections this soccer mom decides she doesn't want to wait and as it turned out was in a hurry to get home for some damm TV show, well she cut through a private drive and got right in the middle of the group. Hadn't gone a half a mile before she had taken out two bikes one a 55 year old Fire chief and his wife and the other a paramedic and his girl friend. All four people ended up in the Hospital, nothing real bad but bad enough both bike were busted bad the Chief had just picked up his new Ultra the day before.
The women never even slowed down just went strait on home of course she had about 150bikesfollowed her right to her front door and I do mean front door. Two bikes pulled right in front of the door and wouldn't let here in she started hollering and screaming wanted to know just what the hell they were doing and that she was going to call the cops, right about then two squad car pull up and one of the guys she was yelling at said don't bother we already did. The cop had just came from second bike she had ran off the road and had talked to people that had seen her cut in too the group and then cause the wrecks and asked her why she had cut in and she said she had things to do at home and didn't see why she should have to wait for a bunch of damm motorcycles. The cop was standing shaking his head trying to tell her her the reason they had the traffic stopped was to keep things like this from happening. I couldn't believe it all she could say it wasn't her fault because those motorcycles had no business being their in the first place.

 

We deal with large groups quite often and all it takes is a phone call and we'll help you out. Especially if it is for charity. If it's just a group of 15 or 20 coming through town together, they need to follow the flow of traffic and the lights.

Lynn

 

all the runs,rides around here do it every time,,,,,
matter of time before chit happens I suppose

 

Back in 82 we had around 200 bikes going to the Rendezvous,,,,,we were on a 2 lane highway in NY...and we snaked a couple of car and an 18wheeler,,,coming up to an exit,,and a car trapped in the fast lane,,,no signal,,,dove for the exit,,,he put down 5 bikes,,and fled,,,the driver of the car and 2 bikers went to the hospital.......educate,,educate,,educate.....

 

When this happened it was during a state wide helmet rally the count we got back from the city after the event was over was their estimate was 80,000+ motorcycles at the event. Their were at lest 3 separate gathering points in the city before the main run to the State Capital building. I'm not sure how many gathering points their were out side the city for people to group up before heading in to the main meeting spots, the local LEO's had all the incoming routes though.

 

Went on a Charity Ride this past Sunday and had a chat with one of the organizers after the ride.

They called all the towns we rode through and informend them of the times the group wouldbe passing through. Two towns had LEO block the intersections, and the other towns were informed that the Charity Ride would provide Road Guards.

Does bring up a good question about liability though.

Sammi

 

Liability should fall on the rider involved.....lets don't screwup a good thing......