'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?

Lots of people have had the same idea as OP, which has led to seaside towns and national parks being crowded. Yorkshire Dales villages have really struggled with an influx of people wanting to exercise away from home. So YABVU. Stay at home.

people are outraged that you might see a tree or have a nice time

Yes!

I don’t let my dog off the lead anywhere because he’s a dick.

😆

we're also getting an influx of loose dogs being allowed to run in and destroy arable crops

People who don't control their dogs are dicks. It has nothing to do with the spread of Covid-19, however.

@stampmc

Unfortunately common sense has gone out of the window. People are equating driving for exercise with going on an hours journey to trek up Mam tor or the like (clearly idiotic). Not driving a couple of miles to somewhere quiet which is hardly high petrol consumption or high risk for the air ambulance being scrambled anytime soon.

The weathers also gone colder, that will have an impact.

@Teateaandmoretea My Facebook is chock full of people shaming people for driving a couple of miles to somewhere quiet, not for climbing man tor. People are yelling at strangers in the street and putting their number plates on social media and tagging the police in. Incidentally it seems to be the same people who used to fill up Facebook with “sat in A&e” but a&e is deserted now and they need to tout for likes in some other way.

@AngryTruckDriver Apologies if post came across a bit narcy. It's been a long week!

Blimey don't apologise, you made your points really well and you sound incredibly reasonable, looking at both sides. Thank you again for doing your crucial job so diligently

I think the weather is partly to blame and once it breaks it'll be a lot quieter everywhere (though I'll still be out trudging with the hound)

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

Well, yes and no. Last weekend people were still struggling with the wishy-washy and inconsistent advice from Gvt and the lack of a National information campaign.

Some people were really switched on, others had mainly just picked up that you needed to wash your hands while singing happy birthday. Schools had only just been closed down after weeks of indecisiveness and the sun came out finally so a false 'bank holiday' atmosphere was created. I really don't blame the public for that but we are all going to pay a catastrophic price.

Oh FFS this again! Yes the rules do apply to you too! Walk from your home or even better stay at home!

The government made it clear they meant local exercise last night for the benefit of the seriously confused.

I drive through red lights if there's no traffic. That's ok right? No point in stopping when there's nothing in the way. You only have to obey the law if you agree with it and think it really matters in this instance.

Advice from Northumbria police. I’ve seen similar from other forces this week.

Assistant Chief Constable McMillan added: “The most frequently asked question we have had is whether you can drive somewhere to exercise or walk your dog.

“Under the new legislation this is not considered to be essential travel and we will ask people to return home. Anyone who refuses does face being issued with a fine.

“Exercise should take place around the immediate area of where you live so we can all help mitigate against the spread of the infection. People should not be travelling away from their home to carry this out.

“We have had large crowds of people at our coastal areas in recent days and that is not helpful and could ultimately be putting lives at risk.

“This is a national health emergency and a walk at the beach is not worth risking lives. We all need to work together to help protect the NHS and keep each other safe.”

The deputy chief Constable Sara Gibbs has said this is ok. It is not ok to drive to a popular beauty spot and congregate but it is not illegal to drive somewhere quiet for a walk or exercise .

That's good to hear - hopefully some common sense breaking out in the Police

I live in the countryside, but in a village. Farmers are currently losing their shit because people and their dogs are traipsing through their land and it’s lambing season, and also trespass.

I go for a walk around the block with my two girls daily in the evening. Hardly anybody about and it wears them out for bed. The whole point of their “essential travel” is to do “essential” things - travelling to/from work or to the supermarket to get your food shopping. Driving out to the country for a bit of exercise defeats the object of exercise and is unnecessary.

I live in a rural area and we have had a huge influx of walkers, mountain bikers etc. It's lambing season and there have been prolems with people leaving field gates open and dogs worrying pregnant sheep. So, yes, stay home.

Why can’t you just obey the rules and stay at home?

Do you really not understand what is at stake every time you leave your house?

The Cabinet Office confirmed yesterday,you can drive to take exercise or walk a dog,obviously not to parks that have been shut.

No Police Force has the right to try and stop anyone doing this.

This guy explains walking your dog and his brush with the police.

The Cabinet Office confirmed yesterday,you can drive to take exercise or walk a dog,obviously not to parks that have been shut.

You've been asserting that for days without ever posting a link to prove it, despite numerous requests.

I had a very solitary walk through the City of London this afternoon - added bonus of M&S so stuffed with food that the fresh stuff was mostly reduced by 70%, so next weeks shopping mostly sorted.

The only busy spot was outside the police station - loads of cars and vans outside, mostly stuffed with officers; the only empty ones had huddles of officers standing next to their vehicles chatting.

It's lambing season and there have been prolems with people leaving field gates open and dogs worrying pregnant sheep. So, yes, stay home.

That has absolutely nothing at all to do with coronavirus. Don't get me wrong, they are idiots and people who have dogs off the lead where there are livestock are the lowest form of humanity. You can't tell everyone to 'stay home' because of a few idiots who will exist long after coronavirus has gone.

I can walk around my build up estate for exercise, but there’s not a lot of open space for my toddler to run around away from a road etc.

Our big local park is walking distance, about 25 minutes, but I’m 37 weeks pregnant and can’t walk that far, round the park and back, plus if I go into labour I’m a bit screwed.

We have done a walk round the estate with my son in his push-along bike but yesterday we drove down to the park (it takes two minutes) and the car park was still open and had a sign saying it was free parking as the machine was covered over. If a police officer challenged us, I’d hope my explanation of being heavily pregnant so not being able to walk far enough to otherwise access an open space would be sufficient and they’d use sensible judgment.

I don’t think it’s fair that my toddler shouldn’t access a safe, open space to have a run around.

Going for a walk somewhere remote may sound like nothing at all.

But, if everyone else thinks just like you (and why not) then it won't be that empty and the whole purpose of lockdown won't work... It's people abusing the rules that led France and Italy to impose super drastic rules of not going out further than 500m from one's house!

Is it impossible for you to exercise at home, in your garden or yard? I would love to go for a run around a loch at the moment however I am having to make do with laps around my small garden and aerobics in my (cluttered with kids toys) living room. I could wake up early and go for a run around our estate at 5am however I am not that desperate. At the moment life is about making do so we reduce our chances of spreading the virus. Why can't people understand that. You are being unreasonable!

I agree with @MitziK.

The emergency services have enough to deal with without members of the public having/accidents/getting lost over non essential journeys just because a bunch of fckwits absolutely must* exercise.

You can absolutely exercise at home or in your garden.... and stay away from the petrol pumps as well unless absolutely necessary.

Getting a f***g grip.

You will get "shouted down" because you bloody deserve to. Selfish arse.