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New Haven Bicycling Club, INC.

WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY

READ BEFORE SIGNING
 

I AGREE I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS AGREEMENT OR THAT IT HAS BEEN READ TO ME OR INTERPRETED TO ME IN A LANGUAGE THAT I UNDERSTAND AND I AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

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BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT I AGREE NOT TO SUE OR TO MAKE ANY CLAIM FOR MONEY AGAINST NEW HAVEN BICYCLING CLUB, INC. OR ANY ITS OFFICERS, MEMBERS, OR DIRECTORS FOR NEGLIGENCE.

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THIS IS A RELEASE FOR THE NEGLIGENCE OF NEW HAVEN BICYCLING CLUB, INC.

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I agree I am signing this release so that I can be allowed to participate in activities, including bicycle rides, with New Haven Bicycling Club, Inc. and that participation in these activities and bicycle rides can be hazardous and dangerous.
 

The risk of injury from the activities and bicycle rides involved in this program is significant, including the potential for permanent paralysis and death, and while particular skills, equipment, and personal discipline may reduce this risk, the risk of serious injury does exist.

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I understand that New Haven Bicycling Club, Inc. conducts activities and bicycle rides but not bicycle races.

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I understand that New Haven Bicycling Club, Inc. conducts activities and bicycle rides on public roads that are open to traffic and not closed.

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I agree to follow all rules of New Haven Bicycling Club, Inc. including ride instructions before, during and after rides.

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I agree that I have read, understand, and will follow the rules of New Haven Bicycling Club, Inc. that are written on the website, newhavenbicyclingclub.org.

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I agree that I understand and will follow New Haven and Connecticut local and state rules about bicycling on public roads in New Haven and in Connecticut or any other state where activities and bicycle rides happen.

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I agree that I will use my own judgement in deciding what to do in any activity or bicycle ride to protect myself and avoid harm to myself and others.

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I agree that no member, officer, or director of New Haven Bicycling Club, Inc. inspected my bicycle told me if it is fit to use, and that I am responsible for the selection and use of any bicycle for any activity or bicycle ride.

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I agree that no member, officer, or director of New Haven Bicycling Club, Inc. has told me whether I am physically fit to participate in any activity or bicycle ride and I have the responsibility to decide this myself.

 

I agree that if I participate in any activity or bicycle ride that I will use a bicycle that I am familiar with, that is in good working order and which has tires, brakes and lights that are in good condition and good working order.

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I agree to wear an approved helmet during any activity or bicycle ride.

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If I find myself in any situation of danger or unusual hazard during any activity or bicycle ride, I agree to stop the activity or bicycle ride and to remove myself from the danger or unusual hazard and to tell New Haven Bicycling Club, Inc. about it immediately.

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I understand that I could be hurt while participating in any activity or bicycle ride in any one of the following ways:

  1. collision with another cyclist,

  2. collision with a vehicle,

  3. collision with a pedestrian,

  4. fall due to road hazard,

  5. fall or collision due to failure of my bicycle or another rider’s bicycle,

  6. misuse of a bicycle by me or another rider,

  7. tiredness or fatigue by me of another rider,

  8. poor judgement by me or another rider,

  9. aggravation of a preexisting injury.

 

I, for myself and on behalf of my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, HEREBY RELEASE, INDEMNITY, AND HOLD HARMLESS New Haven Bicycling Club, Inc., their officers, officials, agents and/or employees, other participants, sponsoring agencies, sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and lessors of premises used for the activity (“Releasees”), WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL INJURY, DISABILITY, DEATH, or loss or damage to person or property associated with my presence or participation, WHETHER ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASES OR OTHERWISE, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

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BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT I AGREE NOT TO SUE OR TO MAKE ANY CLAIM FOR MONEY AGAINST NEW HAVEN BICYCLING CLUB, INC. FOR ANY WRONGFUL DEATH, PHYSICAL INJURY, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

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BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT I AGREE NOT TO SUE OR TO MAKE ANY CLAIM FOR MONEY AGAINST NEW HAVEN BICYCLING CLUB, INC. UNDER ANY LAW OF NEGLIGENCE BUT ALSO UNDER ANY LAW BESIDES NEGLIGENCE.

 

I HAVE READ THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY FOR NEGLIGENCE, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP LEGAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND SIGN IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY AND OF MY OWN FREE WILL. I SIGN THIS ON BEHALF OF MYSELF IF AND MY HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND NEXT OF KIN.

NHBC Rules

 

GEAR

  1. Make sure your bike is in good, working order. Time trial bikes and aero bars are not permitted for use on group rides.

  2. Helmets are required on all NHBC rides

  3. Front and rear visibility lights

  4. Tools and equipment to change a flat tire

  5. Water and snacks to avoid cramps, dehydration, and bonking

 

RULES OF THE ROAD

  1. Ride a maximum of two abreast. If you need to move up or back within the group, do so on the outside (i.e. left side). Do not move up in the group by cutting up the middle between riders or by taking the inside line.

  2. Stop at red lights and stop signs, and keep the group together at traffic stops. Approach even green lights with caution, assuming they could turn red at any moment and be ready to slow down and stop. Speeding up to get through a green light before it turns will at best split the group and at worst cause an accident. This is especially important if you are riding at the front of the group.

  3. When the group approaches a red light where cars are already stopped, keep the group together, stop behind the stopped cars, and then let the cars move first when the light turns green. While it is common to pull up alongside and get in front of stopped cars on solo rides, it is not a safe practice in large groups (in groups, this is often called “swarming”).

 

SIGNALS

  1. Use appropriate hand signals for AND verbally call when making turns, moving positions within the group, pointing out road hazards, slowing and stopping, etc. Pass along all signals received from riders in front of you to those behind you. If you are unfamiliar with common cycling hand signals, these tutorials from The Black Foxes website are a great resource.

 

SAFE RIDING PRACTICES

  1. Avoid sudden and/or hard braking. This is one of the most dangerous things that happens on group rides. Brake only when necessary and gradually, while calling out your braking.

  2. Always pedal at the front. This will maintain a smooth and steady pace for the group. Coasting at the front can cause sudden changes in pace for riders behind you, resulting in a domino effect that can cause a crash in the worst case, and frustration in the best case.

  3. Hold your line. This means swerving as little as possible and only moving to the left or right after you’ve checked for other riders nearby and signaled your move.

  4. Avoid yo-yo-ing - If you find yourself falling off the pace and then racing to catch up, you are probably frustrating/scaring those behind you. Try to stay less than 3 feet from the rider in front, but a couple inches to the side of their wheel. Riding a harder gear will help you be more steady with accelerations.

  5. Don’t overlap wheels (often called “half-wheeling”). This means riding with your front wheel next to another rider’s rear wheel, which will almost certainly result in a crash if either one of you makes a lateral move. Always aim to ride directly behind the rider in front of you and directly parallel to the rider next to you.

  6. Don’t pull off to leave the ride from the middle or without alerting others of your intentions. If you are going to leave a ride early, let people know that you are leaving and safely make your way to the back of the group prior to doing so.

  7. Be predictable to your fellow cyclists, nearby pedestrians, and motorists when you ride. Use appropriate hand signals, communicate verbally, be intentional with your movements, and pay attention to your surroundings.

  8. The best group riders are those whose pace and efforts change most gradually. Large accelerations can cause the group to spread out and come back together so that riders overlap and that can be very dangerous.

  9. Finally, learn by observing and asking. If you’re a less experienced cyclist, please know that there are no wrong questions. If you’re a more experienced cyclist, please be generous with your expertise and knowledge.

FOR PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN OF PARTICIPANTS OF MINORITY AGE

This is to certify that I, as a parent/legal guardian with legal responsibility for this participant, do consent and agree to his/her release as provided above of all the Releasees, and, for myself, my child and our heirs, assigns, and next of kin, I release and agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Releasees from any and all liabilities incident to my minor child’s involvement or participation in these programs as provided above. EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Thanks for signing our waiver!

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