Club Rules & Guidelines
While we are an informal club, we have to be governed by a set of rules. We’ve split these below into the:
- Ride Out Information & Guidelines
- Rules for the Club Whatsapp Group
- Rules of the Club
Ride Out Information & Guidelines
The runs are organised and led by individual members of the club on a voluntary basis; they are not officially sanctioned or endorsed by any authority of the club.
Neither the Club nor any ride leader takes any responsibility for the acts or omissions of anyone riding in the group.
If you chose to join a group ride, you and your motorcycle must be fully road legal and you ride at your own risk, taking full personal responsibility for your own riding. You must ride:
- as an individual
- at your own pace
- at your own skill level
- covered by your own insurance
Most of our rides are informal so we don’t run a regimented system to keep everyone together. What we ask is that you keep an eye on the rider behind you. If they are not in sight when you turn at a junction, please wait for them. If everyone makes sure the rider behind is in sight at the junctions, the run will stay together. If you lose sight of someone for a while, wait and eventually the leader will lose sight of the rider behind and can take appropriate action.
We suggest the slower riders ride towards the back of the group and the faster you want to ride, the further forward you should be. But if you are slower, don’t worry – just keep going straight on and the leader will slow up or stop at the next speed limit or turn off so you can catch up.
Please do not overtake others in the group and don’t ride too close to the rider in front. You should, of course, comply with all road traffic regulations.
Occasionally, for bigger groups, we use the drop off system. Have a click on the link to see how it works.
The Club, its officers and committee as well as the ride leader are not responsible for the safety and security of individuals, their navigation or organisation of individual activities before, during or after any rides.
Any members seen riding in a foolish, aggressive or dangerous manner will be asked to leave the group and will not be welcomed on any future rides.
If you have any suggestions for places to visit, good routes for bikes to follow or good stop off points, i.e. Cafe’s or Pub’s; then let a member of the committee know or e-mail the webmaster here
Rules for the Club Whatsapp Groups
The Club’s main Whatsapp group is intended to be a communications tool where any member can post information that some or all of the members may find useful.
Due to past inappropriate use of the Whatsapp Group, we have put together the following rules for its use:
Only Club members will have access to the Group.
Any Club member may post anything that may be of interest to several or all of the Group members.
Motorcycle related content is preferred but other useful content is acceptable.
Examples include advertising a planned rideout, advertising motorcycles or kit for sale, advertising events, publicising road closures, advertising good café stops etc.
Replies that may be relevant to several Club members may be posted but replies which are unlikely to be of general
interest should be sent via separate, direct message to the intended recipient.
Examples include arranging one to one meetings, replies regarding items for sale etc.
The Whatsapp Group is not to be used for general chit chat, jokes, sarcasm, teasing others’ or other posts that
won’t be of interest or relevance to several or all members.
Offensive, abusive, insulting or other inappropriate material is also prohibited.
Inappropriate posts will be removed by the Group Administration (Committee).
This will cut down the volume of unnecessary or irrelevant messages and ensure no one is offended by the content.
The Club’s “Rideout” Whatsapp group is intended to be used for rideout information only – not for general use. Any Club member may use it to arrange a rideout.
If you have any queries, please contact the Club member responsible for Social Media or one of the Officers of the Committee.
Rules of the Club
1a – The club shall be called the Stevenage and District Motorcycle Club and shall aim to encourage and protect motorcycling interests in the area.
1b – Deleted (requirement for ACU membership).
1c – The club shall be a members club and shall be run independently of any personal interests.
1d – The club shall be open to anybody interested in motorcycles regardless of vehicles owned.
1e – The club shall from time to time organise ride outs for members and their friends and competitions open to members.
1f – The club holds no liabilities for any accident, damage or personal injury occurred whilst out on any club organized event. It is the responsibility of the club member for their own safety and insurance.
2a – The club shall consist of a President and Vice Presidents, these to be elected by the committee as deemed when necessary. It will be governed by a committee consisting of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, plus a minimum of four and a maximum of six committee members; the four to six committee members to be elected annually at the AGM.
2b – At least five days notice of a committee meeting to be given to committee members.
2c – In the event of a committee member vacating office or being suspended, the committee shall immediately appoint another in their place.
2d – In the event of a committee member absenting them self without accepted excuse from three consecutive meetings, they shall be considered to have resigned from the committee.
3a – The Annual General Meeting shall be held at a suitable venue on the clubs Monday night nearest 1st March each year.
3b – At the AGM the officers of the club shall be proposed and seconded by members of the club and elected by a ballot vote and stand for a period of three years.
3c – All registered members from the preceding year shall be entitled to vote in the election of officers.
3d – At the AGM, the Treasurer shall present a report and have the books open for inspection by any member. The books shall be audited.
3e – The annual subscription shall be determined at the AGM and approved by the members present. Subscriptions are non refundable.
3f – The annual subscription shall be payable at the AGM, or in the case of new members within 30 days of joining. Subscriptions to be halved if a new member joins after 1st December.
3g – At a general meeting, be it the AGM or Extraordinary, a majority of votes shall decide a resolution, the Chairman having the casting vote in the event of even voting.
4a – Special general meetings may be called at any time by direction of the committee at the written request of not less than one fifth of the members.
4b – The committee shall not make any modification to these rules nor decide to make any change to the clubs HQ without the authority of a general meeting.
4c – Fourteen days notice shall be given of any general meeting. Seven members to form a quorum.
4d – If a member wishes a matter to be raised at any general meeting, the text of such matter shall be sent to the Secretary at least seven clear days before any such meeting, so that it may be included in the agenda.
5a – In the event of a grave breach of club rules by a member or the conduct of a member making it desirable that they should cease to be a member, a committee meeting shall be held at which that member shall be invited to attend. The committee shall decide as to whether expulsion from the club is necessary.
5b – No member shall be expelled or suspended except by a resolution supported by at least two thirds of members of the committee present at the meeting.
5c – Any member wishing to resign their membership shall give notice of their desire in writing to the Secretary.
6a – Every member shall agree to abide by the rules of the club and any modification made in accordance with such.
6b – In the event of a dispute or disagreement as to the interpretation of the rules of the club, members shall agree to accept the decision of the committee as final and binding.
6c – On joining the club, each member shall be informed that the club rules are available to view on the clubs web site, or on request they will be given or sent a copy of these rules.
(Rules amended AGM February 2024)