Fellow Cascaders,
Yesterday I was talking with club member Bob Conner and both of us shared our concerns about riding this season. With warmer weather just around the corner, each of us wanted to get out and ride with friends we had not ridden with since last year. But we both questioned: Is that safe? So I called the Leaque of Michigan Bicyclists and asked what their guidance was for riding this spring. I spoke with their new Outreach Coordinator Scott Neumann, who has replaced Scott Elliot who was the featured speaker at our annual meeting in January of 2019. Mr. Neumann referred me to the LMB website and I have copied their guidance from the Coronavirus page below:
Fellow cyclists, this is an unusual – even unprecedented – time in our history of riding together in Michigan. K-12 schools are closed; bars, theaters, gyms, and casinos are closing today; restaurants are ending dine-in service; and groups throughout Michigan are reassessing whether it is safe to gather.
At LMB, we canceled our in-person strategic feedback sessions because as best we can tell, it is not safe to gather. Period. We are seeing some clubs set riding guidelines and precautions for group rides, but – out of an abundance of caution – suspending all group rides is truly the only safe option.
We do not support or endorse any club, team, group, or social rides during this time period. We encourage all cyclists to ride solo or with the people you share a home with, until restrictions for the coronavirus pandemic are lifted.
Be safe, be smart, wash your hands, and we’ll see you on the other side.
Accordingly, the Cascades Cycling Club will not be scheduling any group rides until this strict guidance has been lifted and the danger of transmission of the coronavirus has passed. I ask that each of you follow this guidance in order to keep yourself and your fellow riders safe. Also, I ask that all of you please follow the recommendations of the CDC as well, which I have copied in below:
The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Stay home when you are sick.
Stay vigilant, stay healthy,
Mike