I want to draw your attention to a document that B# has written regarding the use of a shared road. To read the document, contact B#. It is not the details I am interested in for this post, but the framing. I think it is an excellent example of how to “do community”.
The document is not binding. It is presented as a best practice. It is emphasized in the document that it is a suggestion for what the interested parties and supporters think is best for the shared space. I also like that is a living document, meaning that the document will change as people provide input. Also, putting the wishes for the road into type provides clarity, a record of what was said, and a great reference for new users.
Here is an excerpt from the intro.
With evolving membership and the natural ebb and flow of people through these spaces, a few of us got together and put a shared vision out for an access road we all share and use. The hope is that through this we can be aware of each others desires and different uses of the road, find a way to use it that works for us all, and share it with future community members.
There is nothing binding about this document. We hope that community members engage with it to shape it into something that works for us all, and to be clear on our shared visioning. We recommend that we refer to it when planning activities on the road which could alter it, and to communicate our intentions in the spirit of letting each other know. But that we don’t expect our activity to have to go through any sort of approval process.