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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

 

BIG WHEELS BICYCLE CLUB

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME

 

The club shall be known as the BIG WHEELS Bicycle Club, Inc.

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

PURPOSE

 

The pur1pose of the club shall be:

 

(a)            To promote interest in the sport of bicycling and to provide social and athletic recreation for its members.

 

(b)            To promote.the awareness and education of bicycling safety and effective riding techniques.

 

(c)            To promote and encourage the construction of bicycling trails and the designation of bikeways.

 

(d)            To schedule and conduct bicycle hikes and tours.

 

(e)            To cooperate with other groups in promoting the sport of bicycling.

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

 

1.   Membership shall be limited to persons over the age of 16.

 

2.       The officers of the club reserve the right to refuse membership to any individual.  However, this refusal shall not be based on nationality, color, race, sex or religion.

 

3.       Members will agree to abide by the constitution and by-laws of the club and abide by the rules of the road while cycling with the club on scheduled rides.

 

4.       There will be two types of membership:  individual and family.

 

(a)            Tha dues for an individual membership and family membership shall be reviewed on an annual basis.

 

(b)            The Board of Directors reserves the right to increase or decrease the dues as they see fit or as necessary.

 

 

 

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5.       Each active member is entitled to one vote on any voting issue.  A member shall be considered active if they have been on one scheduled ride during a dues year.

 

6.       Any active member, 19 years of age or older, is eligible to run for office as long as his or her dues are paid.

 

7.       Dues are payable upon application.

 

8.       The dues year shall run from January 1 to December 31.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICERS

 

1.       The officers of the club shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.  The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers and 4 members elected by the membership.

 

2.       The Board of Directors, in addition to their normal primary duties, shall administrate the Newsletter, Tour schedule, Membership, Attendance and mileage log, and any other assignment deemed by the President.  Collectively, the Board of Directors shall encourage and enforce safety regulations.

 

3.       If any vacancy occurs during the year, the Board of Directors can designate a member to fill the position.

 

4.       Officers term will run for one year.

 

 

ARTICLE V

COMMITTEES

 

1.       The nominating Committee shall consist of 3 active members at large appointed by the Board of Directors.  This Committee shall be appointed at least 8 weeks before the General Meeting conducted at the end of the cycling season.

 

(a)  They shall meet at a designated time to make nominations. At the meeting, nominations for Board of Director members may be made from the floor.

 

(b)  At least one month before the General Meeting, the Committee will post notice of the slate of candidates.

 

 

1.   Additional nominations will be accepted from the membership in writing and may be either mailed or hand delivered to the Nominating Committee not later than 2 weeks before the General Meeting.

 

 

2. The Committee will contact any additional nominee and if accepted, the name will be added to the slate.  If refused, the name will be placed at the bottom of the list and marked refused.

 

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3.         Any member unable to attend the General Meeting may request a ballot from the Nominating Committee. This ballot must be filled out, signed, and returned no later than one week before Meeting.

 

(b)  At the General Meeting, ballots will be distributed by the Nominating Committee to all active members.  Votes will be counted by the Committee and winners announced at the Meeting.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS

 

1.       At least two general membership meetings shall be held each year, one at the beginning of the cycling season and one after the close of, the cycling season.

 

2.       The officers can call additional membership meetings as required.

 

3.       Any 5 members can request the officers to call a membership meeting.  This request will be honored.

 

4.       The Board of Directors will meet in executive session as they see fit.

 

5.       General Meetings shall be promulgated by a special mailing, phone contact, announcement in the newsletter or announcement in the seasonal schedule.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS

 

The Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at any General Meeting of the club, provided that a sufficient notification of intent of amending has been given to all members.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

BY-LAWS

 

Scheduled bicycle hikes.

 

1.       Only members with dues paid up will be allowed to go on a scheduled bicycle ride with the club except for the following:

 

(a)            as a guest of the club.  This would pertain to potential members joining a ride as a result of publicity, etc. This guest can go on only two scheduled hikes as a non-member.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(b)            If under the ages of 16 and accompanied by a parent or relative who is a paid up member of the club.  There are no limits on the number of hikes such a guest can go on. However, the officers or tour leader can refuse participation to such a guest or guests on any given hike for reason of safety, duration of hike, road conditions, etc.

 

2.       For sufficient reason, the tour leader or club officer can refuse to let any member or non-member participate in a scheduled hike.

 

3.       The participants on a scheduled bike ride will agree to obey the rules of the road and follow safe cycling practices.  They will agree to obey the tour leader.

 

(a)  Safe cycling practices include:

 

1.     Any person riding a bicycle on the roadways must obey all traffic regulations.

 

2.     Bicycles must move on the right side of the roadway in the direction of the traffic flow.

 

3.     Bicycles must stop at all red lights and stop signs.

 

4.     Proper hand signals must be exercised when turning.

 

5.     Keep bicycles in a single file close to the curb; cyclists may ride two abreast when conditions permit.

 

6.     Do not attach bicycles to any moving vehicle.

 

7.     Do not carry any more persons at one time than the number for which the bicycle is designed or equipped.

 

8.     Never carry any article which prevents the operator from keeping both hands on the handlebar.

 

9.     Avoid heavily traveled roads.

 

10.     Avoid riding on sidewalks.

 

11.     Wear proper dress while riding a bicycle so that clothes do not hamper the operation of the bicycle.

 

(b)  Minimum safety practices include:

 

1.     All bicycles which will be operated between ½ hour hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise, must be equipped with a white light which can be seen from a distance of at least 500 ft. to the front.

 

2.     All bicycles must have at least one red reflector which must be visible from 50 to 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of a lawful upper beam of a motor vehicle.  A lamp emitting a red light visible to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

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3.     Bicycles shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels stop the bicycle quickly and smoothly within an appropriately safe distance.

 

4.     Tires must show no worn spots or air bubbles.

 

4.       The tour leader may be an officer or member of the Club.  On occasion a non-member may act as a tour leader.  The tour leader will have the lead bike on the hike and will designate the entire route.

 

5.       Every member will sign a waiver of liability when being admitted to membership   A non-member will sign it prior to starting on a scheduled ride or event.  The parent or relative will accept full responsibility for any minor they bring on the hike.  Anyone who has not signed it will not be permitted to participate on a scheduled ride or event.

 

(a)            The waiver will read as follows:

 

"LIABILITY RELEASE"

 

"In signing this release for myself or for the named person, if the person is under the age of 18, I acknowledge that I understand the release.

 

I understand that the Big Wheels Bicycle Club, Inc. make no claim to the safety of any route, the traffic or to the competence of other participants and that their activities will be conducted on public roads or other facilities open to the pubLic or the Big Wheels in which the possibility of hazards exist.

 

I am aware of the difficulties of their activities and warrant that I am competent to participate in them.  I further warrant that my equipment is in safe operating condition and that I have no health condition that would affect my ability to safely participate in their activities.

 

I will abide by all traffic laws and regulations and will practice courtesy and safety in their activities.

 

I understand that the Big Wheels Bicycle Club, Inc. is not responsible for nor is an insurer of my personal health, safety and liability.

 

Therefore, I release and hold harmless the Big Wheels Bicycle Club, Inc., their officers and members and any others connected with the Big Wheels Bicycle Club, singly and collectively, from and against blame or any and all liability for any injury, misadventure, harm, loss, inconvenience or damage suffered or sustained as a result of my participation in their activities or their sponsorship, planning or arranging of their activities.”