Why Reliable Rider Clubs Are Self-Managed

 

Self-managed means making your own decisions about how to organize your Members Only Ride Share System, rather than being controlled by a distant corporate manager who knows nothing about you, your community or your preferences. In a self-managed system, every member voluntarily engages with the mission and values of the enterprise (Reliable Rider Club, DBA). Over time each Reliable Rider Club develops and evolves around its member’s values, motives and preferences. In a self-managed organization leadership can arise from anywhere at any time. Since no one person is in authority, leaders exist everywhere or anywhere in the club. The club makes management decisions in a democratic manner (by voting). In self-managed enterprises, everyone is free to develop competencies in business strategy, finance, process management, leadership, teamwork, communications, hiring, negotiation or any other management competency.  Club Members can take the initiative with their ideas, but first, they will have to create buy-in for their ideas and innovations. Self-managed enterprises are starting up all over the world in many industries and they are demonstrating their resilience, adaptability, and viability in a time of great social and economic change. Self-management is not a new idea. As far back as 1954, management guru Peter Drucker called for management by self-control to replace management by domination. Innovative companies have been experimenting with new ways of organizing for decades, including the world’s largest tomato producer Morning Star, outdoor apparel company Patagonia, and Florida-based Sun Hydraulics.

Membership Application

All applicants for Reliable Rider Club membership receive background checks of criminal history prior to having their membership approved. Applicants pay for their own background check ($75 non-refundable). Clubs will have no more than 30 to 60 members in their Members Only Ride Share System. Club members can book their ride pickup time and location and the destination location up to 90 days in advance. Other club members can share the same ride if their pickup location and destination location align with the route. Club members pay $250 per month for up to 250 miles of transportation in that month. If a club member uses more than 250 miles of transportation in any month, their credit card will be billed $1.50 per extra mile. Club members will have access to the records of rides provided and miles used by club members. With shared ownership the operating costs of transportation are divided by the number of members in the club and by the miles of transportation used by each member. Operating costs include: drivers, vehicles, insurance, fuel, service maintenance, repairs and administrative costs. 

Club Activation

People show their interest in joining a Reliable Rider Club by registering their name, address, city, state, zip code, phone, email, and date of birth. There is no cost to register your interest. The date of your interest registration is kept in the club’s admin database. Membership Activation Invitations are sent via email based on the date of the person’s initial registration. No one will pay a club membership fee until a minimum of 30 members indicate they want to activate. The first online club zoom meeting will then be scheduled within 4 business days. The ride share system for the club should be operational within 7 business days of club activation. There will be no more than 60 members in any one city club or zip code club. A second Reliable Rider Club in a city can be developed using the same process if the market supports the need for a second club. Each new Membership club will be based on a smaller cluster of zip codes within the city to create operational efficiencies.

Club members’ credit card will be charged their first month’s membership fee of $250 when the club is activated. New club members will be provided a membership card showing their Photo, Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Club Member Number and Club Name (DBA). Members must provide a 60 day advance written notice via email to cancel their club membership. A club’s first quarter operating budget of $22,500 will be placed in the club’s checking account ($7500 from membership fees and a $15,000 loan advance from Reliable Rider, LLC). All club expenses will be paid using the club’s checking account or credit card. Club member Credit Cards will be billed their monthly membership fee of $250 on the 1st day of each month. If a club member uses more than 250 miles of transportation in any month, their credit card will be billed $1.50 per extra mile. The club can vote to change their monthly membership fee or their extra mile fees to cover operating costs. Operating costs will vary based on your location. All club members will have access to their club’s records of rides provided and miles driven.  All revenues and expenses for the Club’s DBA will be available to members in Quickbooks online. Quarterly profit/loss reports will also be made available to club members.

 

Monthly Club Meetings Via Zoom

The first online Zoom meeting will be scheduled for Club Members within 4 business days of paying their first month’s membership fee. The first online meeting will have 5 tasks to accomplish.

1. Select the Club’s first Auto. Select between a Toyota Prius, The Nissan Rogue, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, and Ford Fusion. Estimated mileage per gallon is a key consideration.
2. Select the Club’s first 3 drivers and 1 substitute driver. Several Driver candidate’s background information will be presented to the club members during the initial zoom meeting. The substitute driver covers the primary drivers if they are sick or unable to drive.
3. Select the Auto Insurance Provider. Reliable Rider will present at least three choices for local auto insurance providers.
4. Select the Auto Maintenance Service Provider. Reliable Rider will present three local choices for auto maintenance and service. All Auto Service expense records will be included in the Club’s QuickBooks Online transactions.
5. Select the Fueling Stations. Reliable Rider will present three choices. Fuel purchase records will be included in the club’s QuickBooks Online transactions.

Future Online Club Zoom Meetings will be scheduled monthly or quarterly depending on the members’ preferences. These online meetings are focused on quality process improvements, club policy planning and decision-making. Club members can decide to terminate a club driver or a club member based on their feedback ratings or other concerns identified. A club member majority vote during the online meetings will determine all the club’s decisions and policies. The club’s meeting agendas will be developed a week in advance of a scheduled zoom online club meeting and distributed via email. Agenda items can be submitted by members prior to the online zoom meetings. Reliable Rider administrative staff will serve as a Club Meeting Coordinator to facilitate the online zoom meetings. The Club’s Online Zoom Meetings will be recorded for future reference.

Club Finances

On December 30 of each year the remaining checking account balance for the Reliable Rider Club is divided and refunded equally to each Active Club Member’s Credit Card. The Reliable Rider Club Checking Account should reach a zero balance by December 31. If club expenses exceeded Annual Club Revenue, the excess amount would be billed equally to each club member’s credit card. Click here to see an estimated Annual Operating Budget for a Reliable Rider Club.

Seeking Strategic Business Partners

Reliable Rider, LLC is seeking strategic business partners for ride share clubs. Ideal partners would be: Lawyer or Law Firm, IT Consultant or IT Firm, Background Check Firm, or a Logistics Firm  Partners can purchase up to a 50% share in the business. Partners would have equal voices and votes in all business planning and decision-making. You or your firm would provide Services for Reliable Rider LLC and the Reliable Rider Clubs (DBA). Your firm would bill your regular service rates.

Reliable Rider Clubs

For many people (especially seniors) the cost of individually owning and operating a vehicle may become prohibitive in the near future. People who want out of individual ownership may want to consider joining a Reliable Rider Club. With shared ownership the operating costs of transportation are divided by the number of members in the club and by the miles of transportation used by each member. Operating costs include: drivers, vehicles, insurance, fuel, service maintenance, repairs and administrative costs.  Some of the impacts of inflation can be mitigated by sharing the rides and the transportation costs.

Reliable Rider Clubs provide a host of benefits for their users. All applicants for club membership receive background checks of criminal history prior to having their membership approved. Applicants pay for their own background check ($75 non-refundable). Clubs will have no more than 30 to 60 members in their Members Only Ride Share System. Club members can book their ride pickup time and location and the destination location up to 90 days in advance. Other club members can share the same ride if their pickup location and destination location align with the route.  Club members pay $250 per month for up to 250 miles of transportation in that month. If a club member uses more than 250 miles of transportation in any month, their credit card will be billed $1.50 per extra mile. By ridesharing, we mean two or more persons traveling in an automobile together.

Reliable Rider Clubs are attractive to Senior Citizens who no longer want to drive or individually own vehicles. Other groups of people who may be interested in joining a club include: People who cannot obtain a driver's license for any reason.  People who want to opt out of the Legal Liabilities of driving. People who want the Dollar Savings of Shared Ownership. People who have Medical Issues or concerns that prevent them from driving. People who want to manage the risks of consuming alcohol at restaurants, bars, music and sporting events. People who value Safety and Security above all other considerations.

Reliable Rider Clubs provide members with a mitigating alternative to current and future US trends including Inflation, Rising Crime and more limited Energy and Fuel Availability. See Ride Share Clubs Provide Shared Ownership Alternative (create a link to this article). Whether cars are fueled by fossil fuels or electricity, we can expect the cost of transportation to continue to rise. We are seeking strategic business partners for ride share club to help develop and shape this transportation alternative.

Contact us with any questions you may have.