At the April MAF Board of Director’s meeting, the Board voted to expand the number of riders allowed on MAF rides to 15, and to reduce the required gap between rides from the same start point to 15 minutes.  These decisions did not come easily for us, and Board member opinion was divided on all issues.  I expect that the diversity of Board opinion on the matter reflects that of the MAF membership at large.  Ride leaders and individual riders need to make good decisions about what they feel comfortable with for their personal situation AND make sure they are protecting other members as well.   

RIDE LEADERS:  While ride leaders may have up to 15 total participants on a ride, they still have the ability to cap the number of riders at a lower number.  This is the ride leader’s choice, please respect it. Ride leaders should continue to remind riders to practice social distancing (6 feet apart from others) and wear masks in the parking lots before and after rides and at rest stops.  We continue to require everyone to sign up for rides in advance, and no guests.

RIDERS:  If you feel uncomfortable with larger ride groups, do not sign up for a ride with a larger participant cap.  You can determine the ride cap by looking at the number of people already signed up and the number of spots remaining.  Make sure you maintain social distancing (6 feet away from others) and wear a mask at all times while not riding (or actively eating/drinking); this is especially important at rest stops and in the parking lots before and after rides.  And please sign up for rides of YOUR PACE.  Remember that no one rides alone, and that includes the ride leader.  When you sign up for a ride, it is assumed that YOU would be willing to ride with the ride leader, at their pace, if it appears the ride leader will be left alone. 

While we all would like to think that COVID is in the rearview mirror, that is not the case.  New Jersey has the second highest COVID cases rate in the country.  The level of cases is below the post-holiday peak experience in January, but is not declining, and may be on the rise again.  While vaccinations continue in the state, we are not anywhere near the point where the rate of vaccinations can impact the case rate. 

Allowing more riders and a shorter gap between rides from the same start point places more responsibility on ALL of us to maintain the proper precautions, even if we have been vaccinated.  And first, and foremost, do NOT come to a ride if you have been exposed to anyone who may have COVID in the past 2 weeks, or if you feel ill in any way.  We all need to look out for ourselves and each other. 

I hope that before too long we really can say that COVID is in our rearview mirror, and enjoy all of the club events and gatherings we miss so much.  In the meantime, ride safely!