'Stay local to exercise' is rubbish

[ThePants999]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52062209

Taking public transport to start your exercise is obviously counterproductive.

Driving to somewhere where loads of other people are also going to exercise is not exactly ideal.

Driving to somewhere in the middle of nowhere to go for a walk? Not only is that perfectly safe, I'm going to assert that it's BETTER than walking from your house, especially if you live in a built-up area.

AIBU? And if I'm being U - why? How am I endangering anyone by going out to the countryside by car instead of walking round my town?

Angry I responded to one of your posts on the '5 mile drive' thread and thanked you for the work you do - I meant it sincerely.

But - i'm afraid I don't agree with what you say. I believe that the Police have created a problem that didn't need to exist by overstepping their brief. They should not be blocking access to these places, much better they are kept open to allow people to get out and spread out so reducing contact with others.

The 'rules' you mention are not definitive on this issue and ministers have advised that a short drive to a less crowded place is a sensible measure.

If there is more traffic on the roads than you expected in a lockdown it is quite likely to be due to the increased numbers of deliveries being carried out - volunteers and professionals delivering medication to vulnerable pp, food deliveries, extra stock for supermarkets etc etc

i am minded of the man in france who ran the equivalent length of a marathon on his balcony, an ordinary small balcony, about 20 foot max across.
he did it partly to shew others what could be done while confined.
and that's the point. i really think without debating the arcane points of law, or trying to justify going about, we should err on the side of caution, when the stakes are so high. we must think of the common good, not merely personal preferences. can we not rise to the challenge. some people are really struggling at the moment. let us keep faith with them.
the nhs workers, and govt are repeatedly imploring us to stay at home, or as near as possible. also the people who live in these scenic areas are pleading with us to leave them alone. surely that should be enough for any decent person, in the present circumstances.

Agree with everyone else here. The NHS is going through hell. Don't increase your risk or anyone else's risk of having an accident and using those resources.

We’re a little ahead of you here (on day 12) and there’s now been a shut down of playground equipment as it can’t be sanitized and most hiking areas are closed to parking. Because there is nothing else to do they were becoming congested and unsafe. It’s very limiting. We’ve been taking evening walks around 7- 7:30 and it’s very quiet and peaceful.

Most people aren’t idiots.

I beg to differ.

Yes, half the population is below average, and the average person is pretty thick, so yeah.....

Driving somewhere to exercise is an unnecessary journey.

People live their cars though

*love

Why are people standing on their rights when others are dying? The selfish arrogance is breathtaking.

This with bells on. People are too busy trying to justify why they can be exempt from what has been requested. Instead of caring about others and trying to minimise the harm they are far more concerned with their "rights". What about the rights of others?

I’m not sure how much clearer ‘stay at home’ can be.
There is absolutely no justification for extra risks.
At all.

Here is a serious question. I have a puppy so he's only allowed 15-20 minutes per day walking because of his growing joints. This is normally two 8 ish minute walks. If I go out twice for 10 minutes each time (we live fairly rural so I can stay well away from people) I feel it's really no worse than people with an adult dog that can go for a whole hour in one go yet I feel like a terrible rule breaker.

Our garden isn't large and my poor puppy is climbing the walls as he's used to going to lots of different places for his 10 minutes at a time. I know I can't go anywhere but the village and adjacent fields but would you still do 2 x 10 minutes in my position?

*Here is a serious question. I have a puppy so he's only allowed 15-20 minutes per day walking because of his growing joints. This is normally two 8 ish minute walks. If I go out twice for 10 minutes each time (we live fairly rural so I can stay well away from people) I feel it's really no worse than people with an adult dog that can go for a whole hour in one go yet I feel like a terrible rule breaker.

Our garden isn't large and my poor puppy is climbing the walls as he's used to going to lots of different places for his 10 minutes at a time. I know I can't go anywhere but the village and adjacent fields but would you still do 2 x 10 minutes in my position?*

Yes. I do get why you'd feel guilty, but there is no reason why leaving the house twice for 10 minutes is worse than leaving the house once for 20 (and it's definitely better than leaving the house once for an hour). I wish Boris hadn't mentioned "once" and stuck to the real principle, which is to minimise the time spent outside the house.

Thanks Sprucetree, there it is in black and white:
“ stay local and use open spaces near to your home where possible – do not travel unnecessarily”
I take this to mean don’t drive to exercise, unless you live in a very built up area and there is no open space near your home at all. And even then go to the nearest place you can exercise without injuring yourself, getting too close to other people or touching things.
So if you live next door to Snowdon and jog it every morning anyway, carry on if you must (always risk of slipping and breaking a bone).
If you’re driving your Keyworker to work and pass a nice place to walk on the way back (without diverting) then use it. If your child has special needs that mean they can’t be exercised by a road then take them to the nearest safe place.
But for the vast majority of us, stay local and don’t travel!

I think it sounds tough in the cities. I have to say where I am people have been amazing and I'm not seeing any of the horrible things that are being covered in the newspapers. Everyone has pulled together.

In our small town the local farm shops and market traders have put together meat and veg boxes starting at around £5 and are delivering them for free locally. We (shielding) called them yesterday as we unexpectedly ran out (long story) and a couple of hours later they dropped off a £30 box that will feed all three of us here for a week, easily. It's a great system and I'm so impressed they've put it together in about a week. Some of our market traders didn't even use card payments previously and now they're online, on the phone, everything! It's a massive community effort.

So it's not all bad.

There may be an argument for killing all domestic pets for the sake of the nation at some stage.

Let's just kill everyone

There may be an argument for killing all domestic pets for the sake of the nation at some stage.

I would genuinely be more upset by the death of my cats than the death of my grandfather.

There may be an argument for killing all domestic pets for the sake of the nation at some stage.

Jesus calm down Lydia!

Okay it probably won't come to that. I believe a lady in France may have infected her dog with the virus by the way so do keep looking at developments in relation to that anyone with a pet.

@Xenia before that there is an argument to just let the virus run its course and weed out everyone that would die of something similar anyway.

In Ireland they have defined local as 2km.
In France it is 1km

The problem we are facing is because of last weekend. Everyone drove to well known beauty spots in rural locations and clogged up the roads, pavements and walkways. Some drove miles based on registered keeper car registrations apparently. The lack of common sense last weekend is why we are now having to be told to stay local.

Whilst for those who live in densely populated areas it would generally be better if they could drive a bit to an open space without crowds, last weekend showers that it didn't work and too many people were irresponsible.

Xenia, I assume.you are joking - we came out of WWII with cats and dogs and puppies and kittens. Dogs and cats even survived the fall of Nazi Germany.