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.

I am not a cyclist

would have never guessed.

Yabu . No limit on time and people can exercise if they follow the advice properly. With only members of your household and stay 2m away from everyone

@cologne4711 Well, I assume it depends on the area. I guarantee you that where I live most runners are being inconsiderate and it is not only opinion of mine but many others in the local area. Local Facebook groups are bursting with messages about people coming back home stressed and unable to have a little walk being surrounded by runners who do not care much about keeping a distance. I do think it’s not intentional, maybe they don’t notice? Running exercise is about keeping a certain pace for a certain distance, so they keep on running. They probably think that a second of close contact (usually they pass 1m away) doesn’t pose a big risk. It doesn’t feel like it, I understand. But having a picnic with children in empty park 100 metres away from other people doesn’t pose much risk too, but it’s still not allowed.
I’m glad it’s not like that everywhere. That being said, couple walking in single file are a big problem too. Even my small children know that when there are people around they have to do a “choo choo train” and walk on the side

@Doobigetta and you can do the same

Where do you get off slagging off an exhausted keyworker- I am risking my life so that paramedics and doctors can go to work to care for your family if you need them.
You know nothing about me except that I am run ragged and now have even more to deal with.

my local cycle club has been delivering essential prescriptions to house bound or those self isolating, some days they've covered 90 miles between a couple of them to outlying villages.

I have friends working on the front line commuting by bike means that they get there daily exercise, which is important.

I agree. Cyclists can be dangerous at the best of time stop never mind at the moment when the NHS isn't stretched beyond belief.

Cyclists should be licensed and held accountable for their actions and any damage they cause. It riles me that they drive around with cameras on their helmets to report car drivers but if they hit your car damaging it or cause an accident then they can ride off untracable. I also got stuck behind a group riding three and four abreast last week. They were blocking the road and it was dangerous as well as flouting the distancing rules.

I agree with exercising and if cyclists on roads driving in traffic with other vehicles were licensed, insured and adhered to the high way code I wouldn't have a problem.

Some runners are twats.

Some drivers are twats.

Some cyclists are twats.

Some dog walkers are twats.

And some walkers are twats too.

I know. Let’s ban everything Surely that’s the answer!

Accidents happen when you’re running too, the gov have allowed exercise to keep people healthy and sane. I’m not a cyclist but not sure why people have such a problem with them. It’s bizarre.

Our local A and E is apparently empty so the measures don’t seem to be derailed by cyclists around here!

I think there are some very unreasonable people. Cycling is a good form of exercise. It’s likely to result in less close contact. It gives people a chance to go very slightly further afield.
It’s a form of transport. It’s safer when there are fewer cars around.
It’s good seeing people cycling regularly and hopefully we’ll continue to see more people cycling as we move forward. Much healthier for individuals and the environment than cars.
I’m not a cyclist either. People cycling near us at 7am on a Sunday morning or having to follow behind at 3 miles an hour for five miles drives me potty. I’d uphold their right to use the public highways in a lawful manner despite finding men in Lycra intensely irritating though.

Feels like some people won't be happy until we're all spending the days led in bed, with the curtains permanently closed, eating only gruel three times a day. That'll keep us out of trouble.

You are mad, cycling hurts no one, except motorists, when they are a bloom8mg nuisance

Don’t be silly . Ban cars!

I'm cycling in London as my daily form of exercises (I usually commute by bike each day), I have never enjoyed it so much or felt so safe - hardly any cars and no pedestrians running out into the road without looking.

Exercise is really important for physical and mental health. I feel safer going out on my bike than I do going for a walk as I'm much further away from other people so have less chance of coming into contact with the virus.

theemmadilemma your car takes up half the road and I’d take a bet you had more than one empty seat, cyclists are traffic not just drivers, perhaps you never mind sitting in queues of 30 other drivers but it’s no different from sitting behind cyclists.

I need to cycle to get to my essential workplace because the alternative is a bus being exposed to everyone else

If the cyclist falls off or is hit by a car, that puts pressure on emergency services

If there is an accident on the motorway i use to travel to work by car it will use far more of emergency resources than one person being hit by a bike. One casualty vs. Multiple high speed victims.

I’ve ditched the car while I don’t have to drop the kids off at school on my way and am commuting by bike. Less petrol, save money while dh is out of work, one less car on the road, i get my daily exercise without having to leave the house a second time..

We should ban cars, not bikes. Then we could all cycle everywhere without fear of being hit by a ton of speeding metal....

@ivykaty44 I'm not sure what you think my point is other than I wish those cyclists on the road right now would ensure they're still as traffic aware as they would be anytime. People are out who aren't usually and are forgetting cars are still driving.

I wasn't in a hurry, wasn't pissed off. I was concerned that they weren't taking care and could cause an accident.

Galleyfm Every weekday I sit behind drivers hogging the road, they sit aimlessly reading, texting and just queing, I have no idea why they do it

theemmadilemma You stated they were all over the road - but so were you in a car, so why can’t they do exactly what you were doing. Your just as likely to cause a crash with your car as they are with a bike

But accidents can still happen while cycling, you could fall off and seriously injure yourself

as indeed you could by
...falling downstairs
...overdoing it in the garden
...slipping on a wet floor
.... falling off a ladder (lots of people are decorating, or clearing out the loft)

etc
etc

@ivykaty44 was that taken on a helmet cam?

Cyclists would be fine if they abided by the rules. If my car gets scratched by a cyclist weaving through traffic as in the above picture or at a red light or a crossing..... I have to claim on my insurance or pay out, if a car driver does it (hopefully) I take their lisence plate number. why shouldn't cyclists, especially as numbers are increasing have the same responsibility as a driver when on the same roads?

If a cyclist causes an accident in all likelihood they would come off worse than the driver of a car, I'd imagine even if it wasn't the drivers fault it would haunt them. I've seen cyclists do all sorts of dangerous things, personally I think that they should be held to the same standards as drivers now and be accountable. I think it would make the roads safer for us all.

theemmadilemma You stated they were all over the road - but so were you in a car, so why can’t they do exactly what you were doing. Your just as likely to cause a crash with your car as they are with a bike

@ivykaty44 I agree completely, so why shouldn't cyclists be insured and lisenced

The thing about exercising nesr your house means dont drive to the peak district/coast/etc. It doesn’t mean you can’t do a 20 mile loop from your house.

I don't think my cycling counts as exercise. It's just the quicker way.for.me to get to the supermarket and home again meeting the fewest amount of people.

@SimonJT
Now I know where I’ve been going wrong all these years 🤣