Marshaling Instructions
CRCA Marshals must follow these instructions to ensure safety of our racers and other park users, and ensure we continue to receive NYC Parks Permits.
Failure to complete marshal obligations as outlined here may result in your suspension and other consequences as detailed in the Marshaling Policy.
Before the Race
It is essential that marshals arrive on time. Marshal start time is calculated to ensure that marshals have enough time to reach their assigned marshal location prior to the start of the race. Racing cannot start until all marshals are stationed at their assigned location.
Please ride your bike to your marshaling assignment. If you cannot ride, consider using an alternate mode of transportation (but no cars, motorcycles or mopeds) to get you to your location as fast as possible. Marshal assignments are dispersed throughout the Park and it is up to you to get to your location on time after you have checked-in.
WHILE MARSHALING
When you are marshaling, your complete attention is required. Please refrain from the following activity while marshaling races:
No headphones - we need you to be able to hear marshal whistles and know when the moto + fields are approaching.
No looking at cellphones or similar audio visual devices - now's not the time to catch up on Facebook or last month's New Yorker.
No taking photos or video - we need your arms free to signal to oncoming racers/motos if there is an object on the road and to other park users (e.g., pedestrians, riders and dog walkers) to exit the road while the field is approaching.
locations
All marshals will be assigned a location based on a lamp post/traffic light number in Central Park as follows:
<E/W><Street><Lamp post/traffic light Number>
For example, if your location is E8303:
<E><83><03>, so your location is
East 83rd Street, third lamp post
Each lamp post or traffic light should be marked with these alpha-numerical codes at their base.
safety
Make sure you are wearing your high visibility safety vest so motos, racers and park users are able to identify you on the course, and so you are visible for your own safety.
Place orange cones on the double white line which delineates the recreational lane from the Traffic Lane (Racing Lane). Please don't put the cones in the middle of the road!
Blow your marshal whistle as the field approaches. Once you hear the whistle of the previous marshal on the course, you should start blowing your whistle, while ensuring that all other park users are off the road and not preparing to cross the street. Please blow the marshal whistle even if no other park users are around, as you will be alerting the next marshal up the road as well. Please politely but firmly communicate with park users and safely direct them to the side of the road. Please remember, safety of both the riders and the other park users is a marshal’s top responsibility.
Continue blowing your marshal whistle until after the entire field passes. If there's a break, stay alert and watch for the remainder of the field to approach soon thereafter. Use your judgment. If the break is minutes up the road from the next group, you don't have to continue blowing the whistle during the entire gap., but please be generous in blowing the marshal whistle and always err on the side of caution.
Do not leave your post until the race is finished, and a moto has signaled that the race is over.
Off-leash dogs
Dogs are allowed off leash in Central Park during early morning hours from 6am to 9am. If there is no field approaching, inform the dog owner that there's a bike race in progress and if they hear whistles blowing to please take control of their dog. If a field is approaching, firmly suggest to owners to physically take control of their pet to ensure they do not run into the road.
There have been serious injuries in the past - to racers and dogs - due to dogs running into the middle of a race. Please note, as ambassadors of CRCA, try to keep your interactions with other park users courteous at all times. Avoid argument or engagement beyond what is necessary to convey information to keep our racers and other park users safe. Ultimately, we cannot control the behavior of others, but the safety of both the riders and the other park users is a marshal’s top responsibility.
accidents/emergencies
Should an accident occur, see if those involved require medical assistance. If so, follow these steps:
Unless the wound is critical (severed artery, very obvious life threatening issue), call the race director immediately: 718-309-9877. CPMU ambulances are stationed at every race. Typically, it is much faster to dispatch an ambulance from Cat's Paw than by dialing 911.
If there is a life threatening emergency, or CPMU ambulance cannot be reached, call 911 and THEN contact the race director at 718-309-9877
Provide the Race Director with all pertinent information so they can determine if the race should continue.
If the injured party is able to be moved, assist them in clearing the road to ensure they are not further harmed by oncoming park traffic or other racers.
If the injured party is not mobile, stand in front of them to ensure their safety until further help arrives. Reposition cones if possible to ensure regular Park users are directed around the incident.
Stay with the injured party until help arrives.
If time allows, collect the injured party's name and contact information for further follow up.
DO NOT ADMINISTER FIRST AID UNLESS YOU ARE A TRAINED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL.
Do not leave your post unless absolutely necessary.
After the Race
Marshals should stay at their posts until a moto comes around signaling that the race is over. Please do not leave your marshal post until this has been confirmed. Once confirmed, be sure to return the cones and marshaling vest to the Marshal Captain and checkout after the race. Failure to do so will result in your not receiving credit for your marshal duty.
important contact information
Marshaling Director: marshaling@crca.net (Please note, the Marshaling Director is an active racer in the CRCA and responses on race day may be slow)
Please review the CRCA Marshaling Policy for additional rules, and don't forget that you’ll need an approved USAC Volunteer Release form in order to complete your marshaling assignment.
