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Original poster

Thread for people without cars who are desperate to visit the countryside

46 replies

tectonicplates · 09/06/2020 10:26

You're allowed to visit the countryside to go for a walk, but only if you can get there by car! We're still not allowed on public transport unless it's an essential journey or going to work.

As a Londoner I am desperate to get out for a walk into the countryside but have no way of getting there. In normal times we get the tube or train there quite a lot. I just want one day out! I haven't been more than a couple of miles away from my home for ages now.

And yes I'm well aware of why the lockdown is in place and it's to save lives etc. I'm not disputing that. I'm still allowed to feel frustrated though!

OP posts:

Original poster

tectonicplates · 09/06/2020 12:37

Can you not go to one of the big London parks Regents park or Hampstead Heath for example?

Without public transport we have no way of getting there!

OP posts:

Moondust001 · 09/06/2020 12:38

Ermm - the guidance doesn't say that you can only use public transport for essential journeys.

From the guidance:
5.3 Can I use public transport to get to green spaces?
You should avoid using public transport wherever possible. Consider all other forms of transport before using public transport. If you need to use public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers.
If you have no other form of transport, then you have "considered all other forms of transport", haven't you? Provided you follow the rules about masks and social distancing, and are prepared to accept that any journey may take longer, you can do this. If you are genuinely desperate, and considerate of others, then I would say that it helps your mental health and is allowed under the rules. I assume you aren't likely to be wanting to plan a daily "long haul" walk!

Original poster

tectonicplates · 09/06/2020 12:40

Londoners are still being specifically told not to use the tube unless it's an essential journey.

OP posts:

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 09/06/2020 12:54

Whereabouts are you in London, is there anywhere nice you can walk to? I've been surprised how much more pleasant it is to walk and cycle now that the roads have so much less traffic. Obviously not quite the same as the countryside, but in many areas of London you can have a great walk.

Also going out early before everyone gets up means the parks are quieter when you get there.

Original poster

tectonicplates · 09/06/2020 12:59

I have been to all my local parks a million times over. Everywhere within walking distance.

OP posts:

Original poster

tectonicplates · 09/06/2020 13:01

I must say I'm intrigued by people recommending The Big London Parks. How do they think people get there? I've just gone through my phone and I only know one person who lives within walking distance of one of those places, and he has a LOT of money. I'd love to live within waking distance of Hampstead Heath but you'd need to be practically a millionaire to afford anything round there

OP posts:

ToothFairyNemesis · 09/06/2020 13:04

I have been to all my local parks a million times over.
So you do have local parks you can go to, it’s just that you are bored of them?
It’s really not ok to compromise the safety of others so you can go to a more interesting park.
There will be people on the tube who have no choice but to use them for work who may be vulnerable.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 09/06/2020 13:06

But lots of parks have social housing around them - Victoria Park in East London for example. Social housing and flats right on top.of massively expensive Georgian (I assume) town houses.

We also don't know where you live, so you might be a ten minute bus ride from a big park or open space.

If you are sure you can't use public transport then there's not much really that you can do other than get a cab to a park if that's possible?

EmpressLangClegInChair · 09/06/2020 13:06

Is there actually any check on the purpose of the journey?

No there isn’t. Whenever I’ve used London public transport in the past fortnight nobody’s asked me any questions. I’m not doing it more than once a week and I’m making sure I avoid rush hours & wear a mask. I’ve never been challenged or seen it happen to anyone else.

Then again I’m a small, greying middle-aged woman so it might be my powers of invisibility.

Original poster

tectonicplates · 09/06/2020 13:09

So you do have local parks you can go to, it’s just that you are bored of them?

No, I wrote a post about not being able to visit the countryside. Totally different to a local park.

It’s really not ok to compromise the safety of others so you can go to a more interesting park. There will be people on the tube who have no choice but to use them for work who may be vulnerable.

Totally agree. That's why we're still being told not to use the tube unless it's essential.

OP posts:

CrypticQueen · 09/06/2020 13:21

So you won’t use public transport (despite others saying they have and it’s been fine). You don’t cycle and can’t walk. It leaves hiring a car or getting a taxi to somewhere you consider countryside 🤷‍♀️ Epping Forest starts in London (LB Waltham Forest) and stretches for miles into Essex.

Isthisfinallyit · 09/06/2020 13:29

Whats wrong with taking a taxi? I thought everybody who didn't drive occasionally used taxis

Noworrieshere · 09/06/2020 13:31

I have been to all my local parks a million times over. Everywhere within walking distance

I'm the same op. When this is over I'm never setting foot in our local park ever again. I am so sick of it. I want to see wide open green spaces.

Notabadger · 09/06/2020 13:34

I agree with you OP! My main solution has been to unfollow people on social media who live in countryside or near the beach.
Lots of the good things about living in London are on pause (great public transport and things to do)
I know every squares inch of our local parks!

Notabadger · 09/06/2020 13:35

I though taxis were out due to risk of strangers sharing a car?

GreyGardens88 · 09/06/2020 13:36

Oh FGS people are so naive on this thread. Nothing is stopping you from getting public transport. I've got the tube out and about to various places to pursue a hobby of mine, I just go at non-peak times and yes the tubes are nearly empty. It's never been illegal to get public transport for non-essential travel

You're not going to be stopped by guards or police lol

flamingochill · 09/06/2020 13:57

I though taxis were out due to risk of strangers sharing a car?

How do you think key workers got to work when the bus and train services were slashed? People need taxis to get to medical appointments too.

WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo · 09/06/2020 14:31

I've been getting the bus to the beach........it's pretty much deserted unlike my only other greenspace which is a narrow, hemmed in path and very busy.

I wash hands before going and use hand gel on the bus.

Nettleskeins · 11/06/2020 21:35

I hear you Tectonic. I am finding it similarly frustrating to be advised never to use public transport. Luckily we have one amazing park within walking distance which.I dont get bored.of. however, the one time I took a train it was empty (off peak). Essential journey. But what was offputting was no public toilets, really put me off similar ventures. I did.have.a lovely green walk on the back of that essential journey tho, very nice to have change of scene.
And surely the trains need some fares after all, the train was running literally empty. Reading area.

CatBatCat · 11/06/2020 21:52

I hear you op. We live centre of a city which has many lovely green spaces but I'm longing for some little bit more wilderness. We regularly get the train up to the peaks for a walk but we've been avoiding it due to the trains and the over zeleous police drones that was a few weeks back. There's only so much meander in the park I can take. I'd much rather get a bit lost and long for some more dramatic views. We'll be hiring a car as soon as we can book a campsite.

arkend · 11/06/2020 23:40

I'm in London as well, and I'm feeling frustrated and stuck with not being 'allowed' to use public transport. I haven't used public transport at all since lockdown started, and I used to use it all the time to go all over London and to the outer areas, so I feel really confined by just staying within walking distance. I have walked for miles, to every park, gardens and public square in the local area and as far as we can realistically walk with a toddler in the buggy (she gets restless and wants to get down after 30 mins, so we have to pause then, though we can walk further after a quick run around).

As pp have said, there are no checks on why you're travelling, so I'd probably just go ahead and use the tube etc during off peak periods. No one will know if you're travelling for essential work or to get medication or for any other reason. I always have my toddler dd with me though, which means I feel more conspicuous, because obviously I'm not going to be going to work if I have her with me. I'm not worried about being stopped or questioned (or getting infected) - I suppose I'm more worried about the social disapproval. If I was just on my own, I would just go ahead. If the police were monitoring public transport use, all those protestors wouldn't have been able to travel into central London, after all.

When the zoo opens soon though, we're keen to go there and will have to take public transport.

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