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Easy to understand, the corner marking system is one of
the strong points of our Club. For it to work
well it is important that everyone has a thorough knowledge of
how it works and the underlying philosophies. In no way is it perfect: we
are always looking for ways to improve it (and everything else). To this
end, if you have an idea or any constructive criticism please inform us.
Historically this article was written for the benefit of new and prospective members back in 1988. They were given a copy of it or received one in the post. Later it was given to new members as part of their show-bag of Club goodies. It was written with a view to it being of a timeless nature, wholesale modifications being hopefully unnecessary. Reprints have appeared in the Club Magazine ever since. This latest version attempts to remove some of the sexist language and expand on some of the perceived problem areas. Hopefully there is something in it for all of us, new or old. There is a "leader" and a "rear-rider". Ideally, no-one passes the leader and the rear-rider passes no-one. When the leader comes to an intersection at which they are deviating from straight ahead, or there is any likelihood of confusion, the leader will point to the side of the road indicating that the following two riders are to stay there "corner-marking" until all the following riders have passed through, and the rear-rider arrives. The corner-markers then proceed until next required to "corner-mark". By corner-marking we mean indicate (by using the bike's indicators or pointing to) the direction the following riders should take. Good corner-markers work as a team positioning their bikes to indicate the direction taken by the leader.
Here we are falling down quite badly. Be considerate! Corner marking is not the
time to gamble on completing smoking a cigarette before the rear-rider
arrives. The rear riding position is onerous enough without making him/her
wait while you hastily prepare to leave.
Be safe!
Parking on the 'riding' line is very dangerous. Park as far to the left
as possible, or better still and where appropriate, mount the
kerbside, traffic island, median strip etc. Otherwise you are likely
to get run into, not by the bike approaching, but the one behind who
does not have a fair view - or worse still, the car behind the car.
If some one is carrying a bit too much speed, then
the riding line should include the "wide" riding line and the "straight
ahead" riding line, especially at "T" junctions at the end of dirt
roads. It is probably better to never "double park".
Be in communication!
Ideally park within talking distance of your corner-marking partner.
At worst the partner should be at least within visible communication
in case some action is required.
Be visible!
Positioning your bike to indicate the direction taken by the leader
only works when that bike is visible to the following riders.
Otherwise it is useless. On right hand corners it seems to work well,
especially at "T" junctions where one bike can park at the end of the
"T", side-on to the following riders, the other bike parking before the
intersection leaving its indicator on.
Left hand corners are a real problem. If visibility is good, one bike
can creep just around the corner. If visibility is poor, for instance
there is a building on the corner, then it is no good parking around
the corner. The communication link is broken. It is better for two bikes
to be stopped one behind the other before the corner, indicating. To get
around this, some riders have been parking on the other side of the road,
similar to a right hand turn at a "T" junction, but this time facing the
other way. This is obviously a highly illegal manoeuvre as at some stage
you must ride on the wrong side of the road. Which leads to the next point:
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Be discreet! Corner marking is probably illegal in the first place.
Parking on the wrong side of the road with your headlight blazing and
blinkers flashing isn't discreet. Oncoming car drivers at best will be
confused and more likely irate. The police will probably take a dim view.
Depending on the size and style of ride we often have groups of bikes forming at intersections, usually waiting for the lead rider to get a little ahead. Don't obscure the field of view for the following riders of the corner marker with either your bike or body. The onus is on the leader to drop corner markers at particularly awkward intersections. Very large roundabouts with multiple exits spring to mind. Night rides offer the greatest potential for the corner marking system to come apart at the seams. Consider "If I was on a night ride, would this be a suitable place to corner mark?" If yes after considering the safety, visibility and communication aspects, then there is a fair chance it is suitable in the daytime. Two bikes are left to corner mark for various reasons. If someone takes a wrong turn, one of the corner markers can chase and bring the errant rider back. The remaining bike continues to perform his function of corner-marking, and the ride "flows". The majority of riders are not inconvenienced, and little or no time is lost.
So if there is only one bike on a corner, make a second!
After an incident the leader will eventually run out of corner markers and stop. The leader should be informed of the incident and the estimated time delay by a messenger sent by the rear-rider. A decision can then be made by the leader where best to regroup. Therefore it is important that corner markers never leave their corner until the rear-rider, or his messenger arrives. After an in-ordinate amount of time has elapsed (usually greater than 10 minutes) since the last bike passed through, one rider may leave the corner and (normally) back-track down the corner-markers to render assistance and determine the cause of the hold-up. If on arrival at an unmarked intersection there is any doubt as to which way the leader has gone, proceed straight ahead. At "Y" junctions, take the major road; at large round-a-bouts (though often marked), go straight ahead. Using a corner marking system makes for a smooth ride. Riders can travel at their own pace; if they wish to travel faster, they will end up corner-marking more often; if they ride at a leisurely rate then only occasionally will they be required to corner-mark. Effectively, riders can travel at any speed they wish. Other advantages of this system are that riders very rarely get lost, and there is no need to be constantly looking at a map - in fact you don't even have to know where you are going!
Ben Warden
Minor revision: 12th August 1997
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