Proposed New Article to the Bylaws of Southern Indiana Wheelmen Constitution

[John Neichter]

All,

The SIW board of directors has recommended and approved the attached new article to the Southern Indiana Wheelmen Constitution bylaws.  It will be listed as Article VIII - E-Bikes since it does not fit under any other category. Take a few minutes and read, we will vote on this at our November meeting (date TBD).  If you have any questions, direct them to Joe Gutmann, board of director.

Best regards,

John Neichter

SIW E-Bike Policy

Southern Indiana Wheelmen club members can ride Class 1 and Class 3 bicycles with electric assist motors on all club rides. Class 2 (throttle control) electric bicycles are not allowed on any club rides, due to the club's insurance policy limitations. However, a rider may disconnect the throttle of a Class 2 bike and participate in the ride.

Ride Captains are not responsible for determining whether a rider is using an E-Bike or what class of E-Bike a rider may be using. It is the E-Bike rider's responsibility to know their bike classification and obey all traffic laws.

E-Bike riders must observe and follow SIW by-laws, rules and policies regarding ride safety and etiquette. Like non-E-bike cyclists that participate in group rides, ride captains have the authority to speak with any rider of an E-Bike if, in their judgment, they feel that rider is compromising the safety of others on the ride. This includes making them aware of what they are doing incorrectly or requesting that the E-Bike rider maintain a position at the back of the group ride to ensure the safety of others.

A rider with an E-Bike should ride with the same pace rides they would ride without an E-Bike. Riders of E-Bikes are expected to recognize and respect that there is a correlation between ride speed, rider experience, and rider skills that contributes to, or conversely, can undermine the safety of all riders in the group.

Etiquette: