Street Love Ride 2021

Chicago, IL

SQUAD TRAINING MANUAL

Authored by Olatunji Oboi Reed

Squad Training Agenda

​

• Purpose
• Leadership
• Ride Instructions
• Squad Teams
• Corkers
• Sweepers
• SAG
• Protocol
• Communications
• Code of Conduct
• Squad Assignments
• Next Steps / Online Resources
• Squad Recruitment
• Self Study
• Map/Route
• Squad Huddle
• Discussion / Q & A
• Contact Info

Squad

​

PURPOSE STATEMENT

​

Everything we do is designed to protect our community of cyclists and everyone else sharing our streets (drivers, pedestrians, transit users, and those watching from home). Squad is principally responsible for creating an experience which is safe and enjoyable for everyone.

​

We work to create a safe, protective community where a diverse group of people feel connected and comfortable to express their style, personality, and feelings. We seek to create a positive culture where everyone is respected and appreciated. We want to establish a positive relationship with car drivers where cars and bikes share the road safely and harmoniously.

​

We do everything with a light touch. We ask, encourage, inspire, and we say thank you. We do not demand, nor do we dictate.

Squad

​

LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

​

Boxing Out Negativity (Derek & Julie): Provide overall leadership for the organization and management of rides. Always ride at the very front of the ride.

�Squad Leader (Anna Henschel): Report to Ride Leaders, provide overall leadership for Squad and assist with overall ride management. Ride at the front of the ride while also moving throughout the ride to ensure safety and enjoyment.

�Squad Team Captains (TBD): Report to Squad Leaders, provide leadership for specific Squad teams - Corkers, Sweepers, and SAG (Support & Gear).

Universal Community Ride Instructions

​

1. Be safe and enjoy the ride.
2. Respect our community.
3. Make friends and socialize with people in the community as we ride.
4. Stay alert and be aware at all times.
5. Listen to Squad.
6. Ride behind Ride Leaders, ride to the right of Sweepers, and ride in front of SAG.
7. Ride tight (no gaps) and to the right (push right).
8. Use hand signals and verbal descriptions to communicate, repeating from front to back and from back to front.
9. Be courteous to fellow cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians.
10. Share the road with each other and all other road users.
11. Do not ride on the sidewalks.
12. No sudden stops, communicate to inform people you are stopping.
13. Do not weave or race in and out of the group, maintain your position throughout the ride.
14. No bike tricks in the crowd.

Squad Teams

�CORKERS

• Ride in the very front of the ride, about a half block in front of the ride leaders, being sure to stay in earshot of the ride leaders.
• Block intersections when needed.
• Typically, all intersections get corked, especially major intersections.
• The larger the group ride, the more important it is and the more intersections will need to be corked.
• Ride Leaders and Squad Leaders will decide which intersections will get corked in real time as we ride.
• Corkers line up at the very front of the ride and are ready to cork at a moment's notice.
• After corking an intersection, corkers immediately ride up on the left side of ride back to the front of the ride to cork the next intersection.
• Only Cork Team Captains move in and out of position.
• Ideal: 10 Corker Volunteers

Squad Teams

�SWEEPERS

• Ride in a straight line on the left of the ride, spread out from the front to the back of the ride.
• Sweepers push riders to the right when necessary, with no one riding to their left.
• Typically, our entire group rides in the farthest right lane. In some cases, we will make the decision to "take the lane" or “take the street” as a way of not allowing cars to attempt to pass us on the left when the street is too narrow.
• Sweepers serve as the glue keeping the front and back of the ride connected and in communication.
• Sweepers will suggest stopping or slowing the ride when needed based on the status of the back of the ride or gaps in the ride.
• We will make all decisions in real time as we ride.
• Ideal: 10 Sweeper Volunteers

Squad Teams

�SAG (SUPPORT AND GEAR)

• SAG team rides in the very back of the ride to address any challenges that may arise - falls, flat tires, mechanical problems, medical, injuries, emergencies, etc.
• Normally, SAG team will address any challenges without stopping the ride. However, they will communicate with Sweep team and Ride Leaders to suggest continuing or stopping the ride.
• SAG team should have basic bicycle mechanical skills and have all the necessary tools and supplies on hand in order to efficiently and effectively fix any basic mechanical issues.
• SAG should also have first aid kits and cell phones.
• SAG always rides in the very back of the ride with no one on the ride riding behind them.
• Ideal: 5 SAG Volunteers

Protocol

​

LEADERSHIP CHAIN OF COMMAND

​

• Boxing Out Negativity (Derek)
• Squad Leader (Anna)
• Squad Team Captains (TBD)
• Squad Teams (TBD)
• Group Ride

​

COMMUNICATION PROCESS

​

During the ride, the leadership structure and chain of command are critical. There is no time for debate during the ride. When a decision is made, it is implemented immediately. Time for debate is before or after a ride, not during.

RIDE COMMUNICATIONS

​

HAND GESTURES

​

• Stopping or Mass Up: Right fist in the air.
• Rolling: Right hand up, pointing forward, going up and down.
• Turning: Hand out in direction of the turn.
• Obstruction in Street (pothole, glass, speedbump): Point to the obstruction.

​

VERBAL COMMUNICATION

​

• All hand gestures accompanied by vocal descriptions (“stopping”, “rolling”, “turning right/left”, “pothole”, “speedbump”, “glass”, etc.)
• Announce cars approaching from the front (“car up”) and from the back (“car back”).
• Ask riders to push right (“push right”).
• Ask riders to tighten up and close any gaps (“close the gap”).
• Vocal descriptions travel from front to back and from back to front.

Squad Code of Conduct

​

1. We live the Boxing Out Negativity mission statement.

​

• Safety and enjoyment are our priorities.

​

• We value community, culture, and expression.

​

• We manage the ride with a light touch.

​

• We express appreciation for cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians.

​

• We complete all assignments, immediately.

​

• We do not debate during a ride.

​

• Protocol, leadership, chain of command, and communication are all critically important for the safety and enjoyment of the ride.

Next Steps

​

​

​

​

​

Squad Recruitment:

Refer others to the Squad Form on the main page of https://streetlove2021.eventbrite.com/ or email Anna directly at anna@workingbikes.org

​

Self Study:

Squad Training Manual (this document)

​

Squad Huddle (Mini Training):

7:00pm Saturday August 21st

​

Map/Route

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36973009

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Street Love Ride 2021

​

Squad Leader Contact Information

Anna Henschel

224.217.3643| anna@workingbikes.org

​