Originally Posted by
I-Like-To-Bike
The often cited "insurance reason" for enforcing an arbitrary rule or prohibition often does smell stinky.
Who/what does your group's insurance policy actually cover on a group ride? Is it liability, medical coverage or something else?
Does it cover helmet wearing group members only, or does it also include others who join a ride as long as these non members wear a helmet?
What part of the insurance policy coverage for group members on a ride gets voided, if an unhelmeted rider is "welcomed" to tag along with the group?
Actually we meet up at a bike store and the store owner comes with us. His insurance company was going to refuse to insure the bike store if he continued the rides. Since he sells a few bikes and a lot of bike stuff to us riders it had to be. Most of us did wear helmets already so it didn't matter much. It was just the one person who refused. And the others that went with him thought like you, but there was no problem before the insurance company said it for those without helmets- no cover. Dam insurance companies have us all by the gonads. Us regulars even had to sign a release form. He even will allow you to borrow a helmet from him if you do not have one, and you can try out bikes this way too. It does result in a lot of sales, and making some really good friendships.
I have been riding with them probably 6 years now. Great exercise, we even went camping together this weekend. Meeting with some brave souls that rode bikes to the campgrounds. Being disabled I can't make the long trips, (this was about 30 miles with a big long hill or two) but met them there. We did a short ride the next day. Even took my dog who impressed everyone with trotting along side the bike. Though he is small enough to ride in the basket when too tired.
It is a VERY informal group, the only rule is helmets, well and if you are an unsafe rider you are asked to leave-we had an accident with a teen who thought it great idea to cut in front of others, he was asked not to come back.