To think cycling should be banned under lockdown?

[catsarelifetome]

I just had to drive to an essential medical appointment, and come across dozens of cyclists.

Why is cycling still allowed when driving is only allowed for essential travel? Surely the 1 hour exercise should be restricted to walking? If the cyclist falls off or is hit by a car, that puts pressure on emergency services.

And yes I know a very small minority will be cycling to an essential job... but I doubt all the people I saw were doing so. Surely the rules should be the same... essential travel only.

Cycling is great exercise, and honestly, right now is the safest time to be cycling cause there's hardly any cars on the road.

I think we should ban cars for any journey under 5 miles unless disabled.
I cycled in this morning and it was glorious, the air is so so fresh.
I did a few extra miles as my "exercise" so middle finger to the OP !

I think we should ban cars for any journey under 5 miles unless disabled.

Or carrying heavy/bulky loads beyond the capacity of panniers, rucksack or a sholley.

There are lots of courier transport bikes around now that can carry heavy loads. It's like some kinda cycling utopia around where I live. So happy we are having a break from the relentless domination of cars.

My dp is a mamil. He's gone out for a bike ride. Hopefully for much longer than an hour.

It may save him from me harming him.

Which will help save our emergency services

HTH.

Surrey Police are being irresponsible if you ask me, splitting hairs @ivykaty44.

Per my previous quote, because of the wording in the Highway Code, it isn't illegal therefore they cannot prosecute. It is however cleary NOT RECOMMENDED.

*Rule 66
You should

keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear
keep both feet on the pedals
never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
not ride close behind another vehicle
not carry anything which will affect your balance or may get tangled up with your wheels or chain
be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example, by ringing your bell if you have one. It is recommended that a bell be fitted.*

And also rule 68 can come into play:

rule 68 says cyclists “MUST NOT ride in a dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner”

It would make far more sense to ban all car journeys under 5 miles.

My dp is a mamil. He's gone out for a bike ride. Hopefully for much longer than an hour. It may save him from me harming him

Ha ha I guess that's the other way to look at it :)

Not according to Surrey police, which is probably more reliable than your view on the matter

I've just read their tweet and I don't think my view conflicts with theirs. Also I am a lawyer, so actually I am probably better informed than your average police social media person :)

However, I do think they're getting caught up in semantics (should versus must) and it's not ok for a group of cyclists to cause a rolling roadblock.

Also - you should be on your own at the moment so the issue shouldn't be arising in any event.

I cycled to work today. I'm a nurse. I don't drive and public transport has been reduced leading to pictures of essential workers not being able to practise social distancing.

So shoot me.

Simon come convince me of that sofa / walking statement.

Fair warning, I have a couple of degrees in exercise and health, worked with NHS initiatives for a fair few years.... before returning to university to lecture on it...

The only problem with cyclists is, as my DH is one, is just because he’s obsessed with it (he’s been furloughed so has been on a bike ride everyday on his own) he thinks me & the children should be as fit as him. He’s come back from his ride today & he’s almost fuming because the children (15 & 11) were upstairs, DD was watching a movie (school emailed her, her school started their Easter break on Friday & said they don’t expect them to do any online work for the duration of the Easter hols) ds was on a game on his phone. I’ve been suffering the last 4 days with toothache and body aches but still doing as much as I can around the house. So he’s mad at us because we’re not outside or exercising - we’ve been on numerous walks with him (all out in open fields & woods) over the last 2 weeks. He just expects us to be as obsessed as him.

I know somewhere where he can shove his bike.

I used to think that but now adopted can’t beat them join them mentality and have lost 2 stone. Converted!

My husband is armed response for the MET its very stressful especially now, he cycles to blow off steam, you should be more angry with the droves heading off to wander round supermarkets browsing at clothes and just buying beer than people out exercising.

DH and I both cycle for our exercise now.

DH needs the proper cardio exercise for his mental health. He can't run as his knees would soon get buggered.

It's easier to maintain social distancing when cycling than walking or running.

As PP have said, cycling is currently safer as there are far fewer cars on the road.

YABVVVU.

I keep saying it (and keep getting yelled at) but all the posts about I need to go out and exercise for my health, for my mental health blah blah blah. Fuck me, what do you think those of us who are shielding are doing about our physical and mental health? We haven't all just shrivelled up and died you know. It is possible to manage without cycling or running for fifty miles a day

So everyone should suffer because you do?? I have cycled15 miles every day since lock down. Used to go to gym every day but obviously can’t now. I love it and it’s good for me and it harms no one! We don’t all have to be miserable you know. Enjoy everything you can I say

I do feel for those who can’t get out and know how lucky I am though before anyone has a go at me ...

People should definitely be allowed to go on bikes rides. I was planning on a few myself. Have been slightly put off though, my friend's son fell off his bike the first week of lockdown and broke his leg- he needed surgery, however I feel that was just really poor luck and as likely to happen if I trip on a root whilst walking in the woods. Basically some accidents will still happen but significantly less than when all the cars are on the roads.

We don’t all have to be miserable you know.

Not asking you to be miserable I'm saying people need to stop insisting that they simply have to get out exercising everyday. No, you don't. You want to. If you were forced to give it up.then you would manage somehow, like some of us are having to.

Well yes of course but why should toobusy give up her exercise which benefits her mental and physical health is allowed and harms no one because sadly you are not able to cycle too? Makes no sense.

YABVVVU

Cycling is low impact so more suitable for many.

You are more likely to have a head injury while driving. So stay home if you’re worried about accidents. And you’ll pollute less too.

Also, people cycle 2 abreast so idiots overtake properly and don’t squeeze past and accidentally knock them off.

Instead they have evil spiteful assholes trying to knock them off. If you’re one of these people, get therapy. You should not threaten or try to maim people you don’t like.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras
You may not have shrivelled up but you do sound miserable as fuck.

The world would be a happier fitter and less polluted place if all who could cycle did so. We need to wean ourselves off the car. It also gives people terrible attitudes - see the op and the road rage of some drivers. Bad all round.