Preamble
Cycling can be a dangerous activity. El Camino provides cycling routes of approximately 105, 65 and 35 miles. El Camino bicycle ride has developed this Risk Management Plan to document how we manage the rides to reduce risks associated with cycling activities. These policies are to be practiced by participants and other persons involved in the events. All riders share the responsibility for making El Camino as safe as possible.
Each participant in El Camino shall receive a copy, electronic or otherwise, of this Risk Management Plan and a copy is available on the Camino205 website (you are reading it now!).
Insurance
Participants should have personal medical insurance and carry their insurance information with them at all times during the El Camino ride. The El Camino organization carries general liability insurance indemnifying the City of Palestine, Palestine Chamber of Commerce, the Palestine Visitor and Convention Bureau and event organizers, but this is not personal injury or medical insurance for participants. All riders should be prepared with adequate personal insurance.
Standards of Care
El Camino participants and all associated volunteers shall adhere to the following:
When in the City of Palestine, all persons shall follow the directions of City officials including the Event Director and city officials, police officers, or other emergency personnel.
When outside the jurisdiction of the City of Palestine, all riders and volunteers shall follow the directions of the Event Director, police officers, highway department officials or other responsible persons (e.g, fire, ambulance etc.).
General
All riders shall wear a helmet certified by CPSC or ASTM whenever they are are on their bicycles participating in El Camino.
All ride participants and volunteers shall conduct themselves in a safe and prudent manner.
Every rider, without exception, must obey all traffic laws, including stopping at all stop signs and signals. Riders shall stay to the right of the road as conditions permit and ride single file whenever prudent (e.g. motor vehicle traffic is present).
All volunteers driving a vehicle shall maintain insurance in accordance with the State of Texas law and shall wear seat belts at all times.
Volunteers/ride workers shall not use cell phones for conversation or texting while driving. If cell phone use is necessary the driver must pull off the road and stop the vehicle for the duration of the conversation.
Cyclists shall not use cell phones for conversation or texting while riding. If cell phone use is necessary the cyclist must pull off the road for the duration of the conversation.
Cyclist Responsibility
The El Camino organization recommends that riders carry cell phones, while recognizing that cell phone service may not be available in all areas traversed by the ride. In the event of an emergency, riders should immediately call 911 via cell phone or other practical means, (e.g. residential telephone line). Riders should then contact the Ride Director per the telephone numbers provided on the turn-by-turn directions provided at check-in.
Cyclists in El Camino are responsible for food, water, repair of their machines, and all support matters as stated on the El Camino website. In 2019 we will have water and hydration stations, provided by Skratch Labs, set up every 25 miles for the 105 and 65 milers.
Front and rear lights are required for the 105 mile distance, since it may start before sunrise and finish after sunset.
Cyclists must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while participating in the ride.
