Risk Management Plan

Preamble

Cycling can be a dangerous activity. The Waterloo Cycling Club (WCC) has developed this Risk Management Plan to document how WCC rides are to be managed to reduce risks associated with cycling activities.  These policies are to be practiced by WCC members, and any permitted visiting riders as permitted by Ontario Cycling  rules, during every WCC ride. All WCC members, and any permitted visiting riders,  share the responsibility for making WCC rides as safe as possible.

Each WCC member shall receive a copy, electronic or otherwise of this Risk Management Plan and a copy shall be available on the WCC website at: http://www.waterloocyclingclub.ca/about/riskmanagementplan   Additional information regarding WCC rules and programs can also be found on the WCC website.

Definitions

WCC Rides means rides formally organized by the WCC and as described on the WCC website .  Rides not listed on the WCC website are not WCC rides.

WCC Trails means the mountain bike trails on Regional Municipality of Waterloo lands adjacent to the Waterloo Landfill and as managed by the WCC Trails Committee under a stewardship agreement with the Region of Waterloo.
WCC Incorporation

• The WCC was incorporated on March 13, 2002.

WCC Insurance

WCC annually registers with Ontario Cycling (OC), thus obtaining General Liability Insurance coverage for the organization for sanctioned activities and events. General Liability Insurance is designed to protect a person (member) or any entity (Club, Team, Ontario Cycling, Canadian Cycling) against any legal responsibility arising out of a negligent act or failure to act as a prudent person would have acted, which results in bodily injury or property damage to another party.

Membership with WCC is conditional upon all members purchasing an Ontario Cycling membership for that cycling season. With OC membership, a member has access to individual General Liability Insurance coverage and, depending on the level of membership, Sport Accident Medical Benefits coverage while participating in sanctioned activities. Sport Accident coverage provides these members an opportunity to have some medical expenses covered as a result of an injury sustained during a sanctioned activity or event. This program is secondary to Provincial Health Care Program coverage and any existing benefit program coverage of the member. Common expenses can include physiotherapy, dental coverage or coverage for other medical costs. Members should familiarize themselves with the terms of the insurance coverage, and can obtain more details at the OC website.

For anyone needing additional coverage, you can also purchase additional Personal Sport Accident Medical Benefits coverage when obtaining your OC membership. There are two options: Personal Training or Anytime-on-Bike (which includes using your bike for commuting purposes). This additional coverage does NOT cover liability.

The WCC must receive signed insurance waivers from each WCC member (electronic through CCN); membership is not assigned or granted until a signed waiver is received by the WCC.

Standards of Care

This Risk Management Plan and all WCC programs and rides shall adhere to the following, as applicable:

• UCI, CCA, OC rules and regulations as they pertain to Club Rides.

• Ontario Highway Traffic Act
  While on WCC Rides, all WCC members must adhere to and obey all rules of the road as per the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.  The Ontario Highway Traffic Act is available here:  http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90h08_e.htm

Risk Management

General:

• All members of the WCC are responsible for bringing forward to the WCC Board any safety issues related to WCC Rides or the WCC Trails which present themselves throughout the riding season.
• While on WCC Rides, all WCC members must adhere to and obey all rules of the road as per the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
• Any WCC member on a WCC Ride should immediately advise the ride coordinator(s) and other members of the ride should the member feel the group or individuals in the group are riding in an unsafe manner.  The member should withdraw from the ride if they feel unsafe.
• All participants of the WCC Rides must provide proof of membership in good standing prior to each ride, if requested by the ride coordinator.
• Each WCC Ride participant will conduct themselves in a responsible manner and retains liability for their own actions.
• The WCC Trails Committee is responsible for maintaining and managing the WCC Trails in accordance with the requirements of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

Ride Coordinators

• A ride coordinator(s) will be appointed by the WCC Board for each WCC Ride.  The ride coordinator will identify himself/herself to the group so that everyone is aware of who is  coordinating the ride.  The ride coordinator may describe the general ride route, and may provide a brief safety tip at the commencement of the ride.  Each individual group on a WCC Ride may not have a coordinator.
• The ride coordinator(s) has the final decision on all matters pertaining to the WCC Ride and his/her decisions must be respected by all participants.  The rider coordinator may appoint a designate should the ride coordinator be unable to attend a WCC Ride.
• Ride coordinators will carry cell phones for emergency use on all WCC Rides and, from time to time, will remind riders to carry their own cell phones on WCC Rides.  Riders should immediately call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Rides

• WCC Rides on roads will be planned to use lesser- travelled roads where possible and practical.
• WCC Rides will not run if lightning is present and will be cancelled if lightning is sighted.
• When a large number of riders come out for any given WCC ride, the riders will be encouraged by the ride coordinator to break into smaller groups.  A size of 6-12 is a reasonable group. Groups should be at least 100 metres apart on the road to allow other vehicles to pass safely in two manoeuvres.
• Riders must not be left behind during a WCC Ride unless they first confirm with the ride coordinator(s) that they are detaching from the group; all members of the WCC Ride are responsible for ensuring they property notify the ride coordinator(s) if they are detaching from the group.
• WCC members are responsible for ensuring that their bicycle is in good working order before attending each WCC Ride.
• Bicycle helmets must be worn at all times while participating in any WCC ride and other protective equipment is strongly encouraged (e.g., gloves, eye wear).
• Front and rear lights are required during any WCC Ride which takes place one half hour before sunset and/ or which may extend into darkness.
• While trail riding all riders must be courteous and considerate of other trail users and the trail system.
• WCC members are responsible for ensuring they are sufficiently fit for their desired activity.
• WCC members are responsible for bringing sufficient liquids and food, as required, for each WCC Ride, as well as appropriate tools/ spare tubes, etc.
• WCC members are not to be under the influence of any drug or beverage product that could impair their riding judgement while on a WCC Ride.
• Any and every accident on a WCC Ride shall be immediately reported to a WCC Board member to be reported to the Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) through the proper reporting procedures and forms provided by the OCA. The list of Board members can be found on the WCC website.

Skills Development

• The WCC encourages all riders to be comfortable and proficient with group riding before joining a WCC ride.
• To support rider skills development, the WCC will periodically hold skills development programs for road riding and/ or mountain biking and encourages all WCC members to attend these programs and / or other cycling skills courses.
• Riders may be requested to complete a skills development program before attending or continuing to attend regular scheduled WCC rides. This applies for both road and off-road WCC rides.
• New or novice members are encouraged to participate in the Learn to Ride programs offered by the WCC before participating in more challenging or technically advanced rides.

Must sign up for each ride

In order for us to offer rides we must impose hard limits on ride sizes, keep participant lists for contact tracing purposes, and require registration for each individual ride you would like to attend.

Our normal use of Ride with GPS for ride calendar has been suspended. Instead, sign-up sheets are posted in each ride posting on the WCC Ride Forum on Discourse..

Note: The Ride forum is private to club members.

Reviewed: March 10, 2024