Liability/rides out of bike shop a no no/reversed?

**Honeypie** · 01-05-2009, 04:04 PM

So what if you rode with a group out of a bike shop, led by the owner. Then the owner banished everyone from riding out of the bike shop. Saying liability. Only to find out 4 months later the owner is posting rides only specifying the rides leave out of the parking lot across the street? I don't get it.

**Biciclista** · 01-05-2009, 04:17 PM

he probably spoke to his insurance company. sounds stupid to me too though.

**Irulan** · 01-05-2009, 04:22 PM

It is probably something in his insurance policy. It is possible that if they leave from elsewhere that they might not be considered shop rides. Who knows... the lawyers are very particular, and people try what they can to work with what their policy states.

**maillotpois** · 01-05-2009, 04:34 PM

That's exactly it - insurance. I just had the same discussion with the woman at the motorcycle shop. They can't hold "shop rides" anymore.

**Biciclista** · 01-05-2009, 05:58 PM

and the reason why policies like these change is because one (or more) person sues and wins big time. so all the insurance actuaries notice the blip and change what they will cover.

**ny biker** · 01-05-2009, 06:05 PM

My bike shop leads rides every Saturday. They make you sign a waiver before the start.

**Dazeepetals** · 01-05-2009, 06:42 PM

The LBS my boyfriend manages has anyone who rides out of the store on a group ride sign a liability to cover the store.

**Selkie** · 01-06-2009, 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by Honeypie

So what if you rode with a group out of a bike shop, led by the owner. Then the owner banished everyone from riding out of the bike shop. Saying liability. Only to find out 4 months later the owner is posting rides only specifying the rides leave out of the parking lot across the street? I don't get it.

I wouldn't spend my money at his store any longer and I would find another group with whom to ride. Sounds like this person has some issues that make him worth avoiding.

**bike4ever** · 01-06-2009, 06:11 AM

For our shop rides, my spin classes, and any outdoor class we sponsor (kayak, canoe, hike, ski, etc), we have a standard waiver that has been approved by our attorney. My bike ones are worded a little different to cover the use of a helmet. When participants ask me why they have to sign, I say it covers us from them being stupid. This usually gets a few chuckles.

**ny biker** · 01-06-2009, 11:53 AM

Seriously, there is no way I would ever patronize a store like that. And I'd be sure to tell my friends to stay away, too.

**Irulan** · 01-06-2009, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by ny biker

Seriously, there is no way I would ever patronize a store like that. And I'd be sure to tell my friends to stay away, too.

Like which? Creepy guy who creeps out women, or requires a liability waiver? The first is easily avoided, the second is more or less pretty standard.

**ny biker** · 01-06-2009, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Irulan

Like which? Creepy guy who creeps out women, or requires a liability waiver? The first is easily avoided, the second is more or less pretty standard.

The one who thinks that groping women is okay.

Someone should ask how he would feel if a guy did that to his wife or his mother. Or his daughter.

**Irulan** · 01-06-2009, 07:02 AM

aside from other issues that make him sound like a creep...

I just stepped down from presidency of a bike club. The liability thing, coupled with how your insurance policy is written, is a very real issue for organizations. Who hosts a ride, where you host it, what you call it, whether you charge for it all that can factor in to whether your liability coverage will ( most likely) be in effect. I'd put my money on the ride changing from a "shop ride" to a "pickup/informal" ride to try and work within a policy.

IANAL, YMMV etc.

**Flur** · 01-06-2009, 07:45 AM

The guy sounds really ewww, yuck. It almost sounds as if he got rid of the group rides because he groped a woman who was on the ride and she complained. Maybe she threatened to press charges and that was the "liability"? You're probably better off if you ride with one of the groups he's not involved with.

**Crankin** · 01-06-2009, 10:08 AM

I wouldn't ride with that guy because he sounds like a moron. But, liability was a big issue for AMC a couple of years ago. Not because of a lawsuit, but before, rides were always led with the knowledge that sometimes everyone didn't stay together, although we always have to have a sweep. The lawyers could not see the difference between leading a ride and a hike or x country skiing. We do have everyone sign a liability release. After 2 years of arguing, the executive committee said they would be "lax" in interpreting the rules for us. But, a lot of the cycling leaders quit. What we do is clearly state that if you go ahead of the leader, tell us and you are "off" the ride, and there is no liability involved for us.
In reality, there have been a couple of times that both my husband and I have told a couple of people to go ahead on the climbs because they were hammering at a pace that was not conducive to the group. When I had to do this, I was leading a hill ride that I was supposed to be the sweep on. But, my husband had a medical emergency, so I had to lead a ride on a 95 degree day, with about 2,000 feet of climbing (Lost Lake in Groton). I knew a couple of the guys could climb faster than me, so I appointed my friend's husband to keep them under control and wait for me and the rest of the group. It worked out fine, but it was sort of skirting the rules.

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