Welcome to the Valero MS 150 Safety Zone
The Safety Zone is the National MS Society’s latest safety initiative to provide Valero MS 150 participants with a safe, enjoyable cycling adventure from San Antonio to Corpus Christi. Together, we are raising funds and awareness in the fight to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis.
Valero MS 150 safety isn’t just about wearing your cycling helmet and knowing the rules of the road. Those are very important measures, but cycling safety involves much more. Tour safety includes a wide variety of topics, such as nutrition, hydration, conditioning and cycling etiquette, just to name a few.
The National MS Society, Lone Star Chapter strongly encourages you to review the compiled Safety Zone information. This information will help you prepare for the Valero MS 150 and will guide you during the ride.
The Safety Zone is an exciting new initiative. The National MS Society welcomes any suggestions on enhancing or improving content. To submit comments or suggestions, please email Tony Ralf, tony.ralf@txh.nmss.org.
Cycling Etiquette: When you are riding with nearly 4,000 riders, there are some cycling customs and etiquette points we all must follow.
Riding Safely
Help us have a safe event by keeping safety on your mind at all times.
- NEVER RIDE MORE THAN TWO ABREAST. THIS IS A STATE LAW.
- Respect fellow riders and their levels of cycling experience. Most participants are recreational riders. This is NOT a competitive race; it is a fund-raising event to help Texans living with multiple sclerosis.
- Faster riders, give slower riders time to react. Do not swerve and “chop in” on their front wheels when passing them.
- Slower riders, stay to the right side of the road at least one foot from the edge and give faster riders the room to pass on the left without crossing over the yellow stripe or mid-line of the road.
- Fill out the required medical information on the back of the rider bib number.
- Ride on the right side, a few feet from the edge, in the same direction as traffic.
- Make sure vehicle drivers see you. Make eye contact with drivers before turning.
- Pass on the left only. Before passing, be sure it is clear, then signal and clearly call out “ON YOUR LEFT.”
- Stay aware of road-edge hazards, such as loose gravel, drains, trash, low branches and parked vehicles.
- Watch out for road kills, potholes, cracks in the road, etc. and call them out loudly.
- If slowing for any reason, clearly and loudly call out “SLOWING.”
- If stopping for any reason, clearly and loudly call out “STOPPING” and move safely off the pavement and away from other cyclists.
- Do not block breakpoint entrances. Move fully into a breakpoint area and safely out of the path of oncoming cyclists.
- Do not ride in packs or pace-lines with riders you do not know.
- Respect the communities along the route. They support the mission to end MS and they support you.
