We decided (largely on evidence from that great article) to conduct all public business in fresh air, and strictly limit and control volunteers working in our shop.  So most of our interactions happen outdoors in a large parkinglot we use for test rides.  We are very lucky to have a shipping dock with big roll doors opening onto that lot, with another large door to the indoor space that we were able to make a small transaction window in.  So repair assessments are done on the dock, sales are completed through the window, and we have no browsing, public shop-use, or drop-in volunteering.

We have had few conflicts, mostly from regular browsers frustrated by not being able to play American Pickers with our salvaged parts and as-is bikes. 

Two staff are working in shop, one taking bikes home to refurbish, and less than a dozen key volunteers doing repairs and refurbs. We all wear masks ALL the time in the shop, and encourage others to remind us when we lapse.  Those two of us MUST remain healthy or the co-op would be in trouble, so we take this issue seriously, and communicate that often.

Jim Sheehan
Executive Director
Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
1840 Columbus Rd
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
216 830 2667
OhioCityCycles.org



On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 7:35 AM Cyclista Nicholas <cyclista@inventati.org> wrote:
We're seeing this as well, but it's easier for us to move forward since
we aren't a collective. I simply made a plan based on CDC and local
health department guidelines (and that one really good article by Erin
Bromage).

We are functioning right now, but it's almost exclusively due to my
personal effort. I'm more or less running the place alone with a few new
and fairly green volunteers.

All our older, more experienced volunteers stopped showing up and only
two have responded to any emails or posts I've put out. One of the
responses was highly critical of my approach to opening, the other
expressed interest in showing up but never did. It's highly unusual for
us for there to be such extreme radio silence after putting out calls
for help or getting organized.

Without hearing more in detail from our volunteers, I can't form a clear
picture as to why they've gone, but I don't think it's fantastical to
assume it's a combination of being overwhelmed and being cautious. There
was one other volunteer who indicated in person that they needed to wait
a bit before they felt safe. Though we're in NY and are doing better
than many states wrt recovery and management, our state infection rates
hover steadily around 1%, and locally we're seeing a rise as students
return, people's patience wears down, and travelers from far more
infected states arrive and fail to quarantine.

I have my own take on what's reasonable, what's safe, and what's absurd,
but all in all I can't blame anyone for how they're reacting to such an
extreme and unprecedented situation. So, while everybody sorts their
sh*t out, I'm just hoping I can hold on long enough here for the cavalry
to arrive. Se far the line's holding. It's as busy a Summer as we've
ever had, if not more.

~cyclista Nicholas


On 2020-08-10 06:18, Aaron Shaw wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> My name is Aaron. I volunteer at the Davis Bike Church in Davis, CA.
>
> I was wondering if there are any other collectives experiencing
> intensely
> conflicting views on how to respond to the pandemic. I am looking for
> suggestions on how to present a safe new operating model so that those
> who
> are more at risk can agree to the shop being open (in some capacity).
>
> My experience is that there is a spectrum of approaches to operating
> under
> COVID and it is difficult to find a middle ground where a consensus can
> be
> made among collective members. It’s true, people’s lives are at risk.
> But
> also there are needs in the community that can outweigh the risk
> associated
> with (safe) operation. It just depends on how you look at it. The
> stakes
> are definitely high and it is a touchy, if not politicized topic.
>
> I would love to hear other people’s experiences, and if they are stuck
> like
> us or if they have figured out a new operating model that works for
> them.
> Also interested to hear about what it took, from a people/core member
> perspective, to get to the other side of the COVID lockdown.
>
> Thanks a ton.
> Aaron
>
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