Riding Safely and Responsibly

Using the Buddy System

• Always ride with at least one other rider. Groups are safer than traveling alone.
• Use the “buddy system” and assign a partner to each rider. During the ride, the buddies should watch out for each other.
• Plan your trip in advance, and tell a family member or friend.

Making Safety a Habit on Short, Unplanned Trips

Smart outdoor enthusiasts always plan in advance for a ride (as discussed in Chapter Four). As a result, one of the least recognized areas for risk is the impromptu “quick trip.” This occurs when, for example, someone impulsively ventures out one morning after breakfast for a short ride or run. They believe no planning is needed, because they:

• Expect to be back in under an hour or …
• Just want a quick look around—they can’t wait to enjoy the outdoors or…
• Won’t be gone long enough to need food or water or…
• Are only traveling a couple of miles away—so gas isn’t an issue.

The rider takes off without preparing, often without letting anyone know.

Revealing Hidden Risks

• Risk exists outdoors whenever you’re separated from other human beings or from the comforts of civilization, such as shelter. Trip length does not affect most risks.
• The risks on short trips can be heightened because they aren’t recognized.
• Overconfidence puts experienced riders at risk. Anyone can get lost or injured.
• Without the means to contact someone or to get back, otherwise simple injuries, such as a simple fall over an unnoticed obstacle, can become life-threatening.
• High-profile rescues have resulted from this short-sightedness, which assumes that everything will go right—an assumption you can’t afford in the outdoors.

Whenever you go out, even for a short period:

• Stop. Tell someone where you’re going and when to expect you back.
• Ask yourself:
  • How well do I know this area and its wildlife?
  • Could the terrain contain hidden drop-offs or obstacles concealed by soft snow?
  • How much fuel do I have?
  • Do I have extra food and water if I can’t get back?
  • How will I get back if I’m lost, stranded, or injured?
  • Should I go into new terrain for the first time without more careful planning?
• Be safe and smart: always tell someone when you go out, and always take a buddy.
• Wear your helmet.

Staying Alert To Avoid Riding Fatigue

• Long periods of riding combined with motion, wind, engine noise, and vibration cause fatigue. Fatigue can lead to accidents because it impairs judgment and slows reaction time.
• To reduce fatigue:
  • Minimize the effects of wind and other weather conditions by dressing appropriately.
  • Know your endurance limit, and don’t drive beyond it.
  • Take a break at least once an hour.