San Diego Randonneurs Pandemic Plan
OBJECTIVES: All policies and procedures are crafted to:
- Follow RUSA guidelines and restrictions.
- Comply with all California state-level and relevant county-level restrictions and orders.
- Minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 to riders, ride organizers and volunteers.
- Minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the communities we ride through.
BREVETS and POPULAIRES:
- Registration will be limited to 20 riders maximum. Registration must be done in advance through our website and it will close out after the 20 rider limit is reached.
- At least in the first six months of 2021, rides will be open only to current San Diego Randonneurs members and new members that reside in the greater Southern California area. This is to discourage riders from traveling in from afar. This restriction will be reviewed and altered as circumstances evolve.
- Riders will be advised on the website that they need to sign the updated RUSA waiver (more about handling paperwork below).
- Brevets will follow RUSA distance limits.
- Start times will be staggered in 5-minute intervals. Once they are registered, riders will be directed to a Google Doc where they can choose one of three 5- minute starting windows. For example, for a brevet that starts at 7:00, the riders could choose to start between 7:00 and 7:05, between 7:05 and 7:10, or between 7:10 and 7:15, etc. The number of riders allowed in each starting window will be limited to 3. If more riders participate, then additional starting slots will be added to accommodate.
- "Show and go" starts will be allowed. A rider just needs to check in with the ride organizer anytime during his starting window, drop off the waivers, and then they can begin. Pre-ride meetings should be avoided if at all possible. The ride organizer can communicate most information in advance through email.
- To minimize stops in stores and businesses, electronic proof of passage (EPP) is not only allowed, it is encouraged. We will be flexible in the types of EPP we accept. A rider can take a time-stamped photo of themselves or their bike in front of the controls, or they can submit a Strava or RWGPS track.
- No post-ride food or gatherings will be featured on our brevets.
PAPERWORK:
- As much as possible, we will try to avoid passing paper back and forth between riders and the ride organizer.
- All riders must complete the SmartWaiver form and submit at the time of registration.
- The files for the brevet card and the route sheet will be provided to each rider in advance, either on the website or via email. The rider will be responsible for printing their own brevet card and route sheet and bringing them to the ride.
- When a rider completes the ride, they should immediately text the ride organizer with their finish time. This is not official proof of completion, but it will help the organizer keep track of the riders.
- Within 24 hours of completing the ride, each rider must complete their brevet card with the intermediate control times, the finish time, and their signature. The rider will scan or take a photo of the brevet card and submit it, along with any EPP documentation such as photos and/or ride tracks, to the ride organizer via email or text.
EXPECTATIONS FOR RIDER BEHAVIOR:
- First and foremost- if you are feeling sick or have any symptoms, DO NOT show up for a ride. San Diego Randonneurs will refund your registration fee.
- Each rider must bring a face mask or other face covering. Masks must be worn at these times:
- Before the start of the ride and at controls, whenever riders are gathering and interacting with each other and the ride organizer.
- Anytime the rider goes into a business or public restroom.
- Anytime on the ride when at least 6 feet of distance can't be maintained. For example, riding down the busy main street of a town where there are lots of bikes and pedestrians, or on a busy Class 1 bike path.
- Each rider should bring a small container of hand sanitizer to carry on the road.
- Social distancing must be maintained at all times. You should only ride closely with a family member or someone whom you are familiar with and have her/his consent to ride together. Pacelines and pack riding are not smart behavior during a pandemic. A good rule of thumb is to maintain at least 6 feet of space when stopped, and at least 10 or 15 feet while moving.
- Do not assume that another rider wants to ride near you. If you would like to ride with another rider, first ask them explicitly about their comfort level and work out a spacing distance that you both are comfortable with.
- Carpooling to the start, except with members of your own household, is not advised.
- Have a back-up plan in case you have a major mechanical out on the road and you can't finish. It is not reasonable to expect the ride organizer to pick you up in their car- plan on calling a family member or Uber.
- Riders are encouraged to bring their own food and carry extra water to minimize the number of stops they have to make.
This plan is subject to change as the nature of the pandemic changes and we learn more about the best, scientifically-validated methods of lowering the risk of virus spread.