Like everyone else, we’re adjusting to the “new normal” this virus has brought us, which includes changes to how we travel. As we continue to navigate these unprecedented times, the safety and well-being of our guests and of our staff remains our top priority. It is for this reason that we cancelled all our bike tours from April 2020 onwards. We plan to resume our bike tours in late May 2021.
If during your 2021 bike tour there is still a concern about COVID-19, GBT will take every possible precaution to ensure that our guests, staff, and local partners remain healthy. GBT will abide by all health & safety guidelines from the CDC, WHO, along with the state/country in which we are located. By the same token, we expect all of our guests to abide by these same health & safety guidelines.
Until further notice, Great Bike Tours requires that all participants on our trips agree to either:
- Get fully VACCINATED before traveling with us (one or two shots, depending on the brand). These vaccinations need to be completed 14 days before the start of your trip. We require that you email a copy of your vaccination card prior to arriving on the trip (please email this to [email protected]). We strongly recommend that all our guests get vaccinated before traveling with us, regardless of regional entry requirements. All of our guides have been fully vaccinated.
OR
- Get TESTED before traveling with us, within 72 hours of the start of the tour. You will need to provide proof of a negative test result from a COVID-19 PCR test (please email this proof to [email protected] before the start of the trip). If you decide not to get vaccinated, we still require this negative test result, even if not required by local authorities. Check out your nearest testing site here. Another option is the home-testing kit.
If any guests are found to be in violation of our requirements (see above, 1 or 2), then those guests will not be allowed to participate in the trip, and they will not receive any refund of their trip costs.
On the arrival day, all guests will have their temperature taken by a GBT trip leader. Please understand that a reading of 100 degrees or more will mean you’ll be unable to join the trip. We will also require all guests to fill out a Health Screening Form upon arrival.
In some ways it will be easy for us to accomplish a thorough COVID-19 safety protocol, because we’ve been doing it for years, including:
- Keeping our groups small (pre-COVID we had an average of 10-14 people, with a maximum of 18)
- Biking in wide open spaces, far from the crowds
- Encouraging cyclists to leave plenty of space between each bicycle, which makes it safer for the cyclists, and allows any cars to pass them more easily. So without even knowing it, we were already preaching “physical distancing”
- Providing the vast majority of our bike trips with two support vans, allowing you plenty of space to spread out when taking a lift in the van, which by definition is good for physical distancing
- Cleaning and sanitizing our helmets and rental bikes after each tour
Pre-Trip Communication
- Well in advance of your trip we will let you know all the steps that GBT is taking to ensure that everyone remains healthy.
Upon Arrival (at your bike tour)
- Face Masks – All guests should bring their own face mask from home. You will be required to wear it any time physical distancing is not possible (such as in vans and indoor in public settings), or when specified by local policies. You will not be required to wear it while cycling. We’ll make every effort to have hand sanitizer available, but it’s always a good idea to bring your own.
- If still recommended by the authorities, GBT will encourage social distancing of at least six feet (where possible).
- If during the week you exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath), you must get tested immediately.
Vans
To ensure that guests feel safe traveling in our support vehicles:
- Where possible, GBT will provide two vans for the transfers (so you can spread out as much as possible).
- The guides will ensure that all interior surfaces, door handles, safety belts, etc. are wiped down with disinfectant on a daily basis.
- All vans will be equipped with disinfectant wipes & hand sanitizer for anyone to use
Provision of snacks or picnic lunches during the day
- GBT will provide plenty of options for single-serving snacks, individually wrapped.
- Guides will wear protective gloves and face coverings (if required by CDC and WHO) during food preparation.
Restaurants
Since we eat at restaurants several times a day (and most are covered by GBT), we will ensure ahead of time that:
- Make sure that each restaurant is following a safety protocol (if required by the CDC or state authorities), which may require that employees are properly outfitted with masks and/or gloves, and that tables are situated far enough apart.
- We will allow you to enjoy our included-meals as you wish — you may dine with the group, at your own private table, or even using room service.
Accommodations
- GBT will ensure that the properties that we use adhere to an enhanced safety protocol and “social distancing.”
Group size
- GBT will also adhere to all state guidelines regarding maximum allowable group size. For example if the limit is 10 people, then we will allow 8 guests + 2 guides.
