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.

Most walkers are not like that when I'm running, however far away I am when they see me coming. It's not the walking or running that should be banned, it's the lack of understanding that we all need to make way for each other.

YABVU. What is the problem with someone cycling on their own? How exactly would that spread coronavirus? It is a permitted form of exercise, and some people may need to cycle as a means of transport. Not everyone has a car! Drivers should drive safely, not speed and watch out for cyclists (obviously cyclists should obey the Highway Code as well). If drivers are only using their cars for essential travel, the roads should be quieter than normal.

I've read a lot about not adding to the burden of the NHS. Keeping fit and healthy is one way of doing this.

I have to say I agree. Most sports associations have said please refrain at this time, to avoid spreading germs and remove the risk of injury. Why should cycling for exercise continue?

Clearly, cycling to/from essential work should be allowed, and whilst hard to enforce, no harder than enforcing people driving places.

Ah "inessential". Well, firstly there is no definition of essential, as I have said rather a lot of times on this forum, and your interpretation of "essential" is no more valid that anyone else's interpretation.

So who's to say that your "essential" journey to buy cornflakes is less or more essential than someone's "daily exercise" - or indeed their journey to work.

As pp's have said, cycling-bashing is very 2010s. Lets move on, please.

The problem is that runners are not willing to stop or take a break to let other people pass. They are determined to keep on running and to squeeze in between people. Some runners are very considerate and are willing to change their path (and run on the spot for a few seconds) to avoid breaking the rules. But most are not like that where I live And where I live it's the couples who walk together and won't go single file. And mums with buggies who decide to cross the road into my path. So lets ban couples out for a walk and mums out with prams. Or - we could note that actually people are abiding by the rules, and making blanket and inaccurate statements is unhelpful.

I've not seen a single runner push past anyone in this area so I find it very difficult to believe that "most" are doing it in your area.

Stop the cycling and running bashing. Why not join em instead of trying to beat em?

Oh, look at that. OP is either a new poster or has name changed. Quelle surprise.

Plus if we're talking avoiding hypothetical accidents, there should be a ban on DIY and climbing ladders. I have a relative who spend several months in intensive care and nearly died when he fell off a ladder doing DIY at home.

Most sports associations have said please refrain at this time, to avoid spreading germs and remove the risk of injury

I am not sure that is accurate. The cycling and running federations have said carry on solo, in accordance with the rules. They have not said stop altogether. Do you have evidence for your statement?

According to ROSPA there are more accidents in the home than in any other locality.

www.rospa.com/Home-Safety/Advice/General/Facts-and-Figures

So based on the logic of many of the posters on this thread we should all be living on the streets - after all, we don’t want to overwhelm the NHS do we?

Fuck off - I need to cycle to my essential job daily to avoid public transport - and also cycling is my source of exercise each day even when I'm not at work - so no that’s a ridiculous statement to make !

YABU. In my area, many key workers cycle to/from work.

Loads fewer cyclists in central London - presumably because not commuting to work.
But those that are frontline may be commuting to get to work - also being used for exercise,
With so little traffic, no more dangerous than running/walking.

Biggest laugh is the little hitlers on nextdoor.com, who immediately start posting that if someone is on a bike, their sole motive MUST be to mug someone. Lots of posts about people walking "suspiciously!, and asking whether they should be reported to the police.

At least on here it's mostly just killjoys, rather than idiots trying to make people even more scared of going out to buy some milk.

Most sports associations have said please refrain at this time, to avoid spreading germs and remove the risk of injury

Have they? Can you provide a link or two? I'm surprised by this.

I was stuck behind a cyclist for a couple of miles, on a winding country road. During that few minutes, he spat, at least 4 times. Gross, and unsanitary

Spitting is disgusting. But he's not disgusting because he's a cyclist, he's disgusting because he spits. I hate spitting but we had someone on here a couple of weeks ago who thought spitting while running was fine and indeed vomiting and thought it was utterly hilarious that I thought she should perhaps not push herself so hard. Oh well.

Also, according to other figures, many, many people are injured every year by falling off ladders, falling down stairs, slipping in the shower, burning themselves on the oven or with hot water.

So my proposals are to ban ladders and showers (or bathing - can’t be too careful!). We should be confined to the ground floor if we have stairs and live on cold food and drinks for the next six months.

I'm surprised by this

That be because it be fake news, like.

@OhMyDarling, that is absolutely the nastiest post I’ve ever read on here, and your follow-up does nothing to improve it. I hope your poor friend tells you to fuck right off when she doesn’t need you to get her shopping any more.

Imagine if cameras were everywhere, the media only to report one story at a time repeatedly from every means, social media repeat parrot like the media and people start picking on everything people do because it’s for the greater good - oh wait that is happening!! Ban the bikes, lock people in there homes against their will people will be shouting next!!!! (Whilst sitting on a stock pile of toilet roll watching Netflix)

We currently don't have a car - I cannot physically buy a weeks worth of groceries and carry them home, I need to use my bike. The alternative is two or three trips a week.
We are not all going on lycra-clad jollies, some of us use our bikes as transport.

Okay, clearly I am wrong and I'm not too proud to admit that. I was just genuinely surprised to see so many out today, especially big groups together, after having spent 3 weeks indoors except for a couple of trips to the supermarket. I keep seeing things on social media from police and other organisations , saying no unessential travel, only exercise near your house, no driving to walk dogs etc etc. I even saw something which said children shouldn't be using trampolines incase they break a bone and have to go to hospital.

I am not a cyclist, I have always been too scared to try because I see it as personally dangerous (my opinion) so I view cycling as travel, again if I am wrong and cycling is seen by the government as a safe and acceptable form of exercise, I'll accept I am wrong.

It's all the Mnetters other halves doing their hobby.

With fewer cars on the road, I expect cycling is much safer at the moment.

Well this turned out to be an entirety predictable thread didn’t it. Although the anti cycling mini hitlers are clearly in the minority I’m not surprised they’re still bleating.

I blame the daily mail.

I keep seeing things on social media from police and other organisations , saying no unessential travel, only exercise near your house, no driving to walk dogs etc etc

Right.

But where does it say cycling is not allowed?

If you are seeing big non-family groups together that is wrong and they need kicking up their stupid lycra-clad behinds.

But don't tar all cyclists with the same brush.

I can't see how they could enforce it. But I had to make an essential journey on Saturday and the number of large groups of cyclists was shocking. All over the road and seemingly traffic unaware. Same for the two pedestrians who nearly walked in front of me simply because it's quieter.