Need advice for my son

[Hoarder123]

My son who normally lives with us has moved out to stay with a friend as my husband is a “shielded” person. He was terrified that he would catch Coronavirus and pass it on to his dad, knowing this would probably be fatal. Unfortunately his friend started showing symptoms 2 days after he moved in, therefore he has had to isolate for 14 days, which are now up.
He normally works shifts in a factory that is open 24 hours a day 5 days a week.

Due to the Coronavirus the person who gives him a list is refusing to take him to work, which is fair enough as he obviously wants to minimise his risk. When he can’t get a lift by this person he normally gets the bus or his dad takes him back and forward.

The issue now is the buses that, time wise, would normally be able to take him back and forward are cancelled. His shifts are 10pm-6am, 6am-2pm and 2pm-10pm.There are no buses he could get to work around these shifts as earliest either way is 9am and latest 6pm. His dad is his backup if he can’t get the bus or a lift. Obviously with his dad at such significant risk, him taking him is not possible.

The response from the company he works for is that it is his responsibility to get to work, end of story! They have put him as AWOL and told him he won’t get paid anything. He will also probably lose his job over this.

Is he being unreasonable in not being at work, because he can’t get, unless he walks the 5 miles there and back? Any advice gratefully appreciated.

How many of you lot are walking 5 miles a day plus doing the 8hr shift and walking back 5 miles. And post op ACL ? Give over.

Electric scooters are around £120, technically off road, but increasingly used. Could he do a combo of that and walking later in the year and buses. It sounds a difficult situation but he needs to adapt. Your husbands health sounds too high risk for you to help.

perhaps he could go on 'next door' and see if there is anyone willing to help? Or set up a regular uber for at least one way?

People are so snarky on here OP. Family members are often a rock to each other. @CalleighDoodle. Don't listen to the mean spirited criticisms. As if everyone hasn't got enough to worry about.

Moped?

How old is he - there are schemes nationally in rural areas

Google wheels to work (local schemes may have different names)

Could he post on Facebook offering say £50 a week? There’s a lot of currently unemployed people out there and £200 (taking out petrol) could feed their family waiting for UC?

I'd look into the law around electric skateboards/scooters before shelling out. I don't think you can ride them on public pavements legally? Police probably have much better things to do right now, but if he was stopped and fined he'd be back to square one.

@Handsoffisback
he's been saving up for driving lessons which he obviously can't do at the mo.

@Lalala205 yes electrical bike prob better option than scooter.

Op I think people are being harsh here expecting your son to walk what 5 miles? That unrealistic for most people.

I do get it. My partner works very similar hours to this in a factory. He drives so not an issue but we live in a rural area too. I think people who aren’t used to it don’t understand. No regular buses At the best of times, no good taxi service, definitely no ubers where I live 😩 the place my partner works for are happily allowing people to stay off but it’ll be unpaid if they do so but they will still have a job when this finally finishes!

@breakdown98765
It invalidates your insurance if you take ££ for lifts. My DP runs a taxi/transfer business and it’s specific insurance for hire and reward that ordinary car insurance doesn’t have.

@Janus Thank you so much for taking the trouble to do that. Perhaps we can sort this out. I had reluctantly offered to give him a lift when necessary , but he won’t let me. He really doesn’t want to put his dad at any risk, that’s why he moved out. My dh and I have been in complete lockdown.

OP there are. various schemes around the country to support young people living rurally to get to work. The one local t me (East Anglia) is here
www.kickstartmopeds.org.uk/about
but there will be others around the country

Hoarder123 I think it would work in terms of having enough charger. They are quite pricey though and it would depend how competent he already is at skateboarding. Here's a list of the Top 5.

Sorry, I don't know to do colicky link on phone.

https://www.skatehut.co.uk/articles/best-electric-skateboards-2019.htm?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=*Dynamic%20Search%20Ads&utmmterm=&utmmatchtype=b&utmmdevice=m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInJz19uLY6AIVEO7tCh0UDwWkEAAYASAAEgKyHPDBwE

Can't he walk?

Moped wouldn't be any good if there's no test centres open to do his CBT though.

Halfords do electric scooters starting at £179, they also have a sale on and will deliver. Don't forget he will needs a decent crash hat - if he hasn't already got one.

Electric bicycle? Moped? Cycle but walk the up hill bits?

Can you help him with the cost as you may be spending less on petrol atm etc?

OP

This electric hybrid men’s cycle at Halfords has a 20 mile range and is £479. It comes built and they offer interest free finance.

Looks like a good option for him long term as well as for this situation.

www.halfords.com/bikes/electric-bikes/assist-crossbar-hybrid-electric-bike-137302.html?cm_mmc=Google+PLA--%7B@@Category%7D--%7B@@SubCategory%7D--137302&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istFeedId=62b447cf-331e-4fec-a47a-9985ff72d404&istItemId=wapimwrrt&istBid=tzpr&$ja=tsid:94971%7Ccid:8979078128%7Cagid:94446551927%7Ctid:aud-271742666404:pla-326374551264%7Ccrid:412800843263%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:2845728094964539839%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1007251&gclid=CjwKCAjw7LX0BRBiEiwA__gNw3pFmI33U6PjO30nVdzLhOIvMJz9LllpS4nyhC16uY9Y5uTMo7QnNRoCe1gQAvD_BwE

www.halfords.com/bikes/electric-bikes/assist-hybrid-electric-bike---20in-wheel-840121.html

How old is your son OP? That really can make a difference as dependent on age there are different schemes he can access to get to work.

We live in a small town but with huge rural area around us. DH is a taxi driver who has been furloughed because there is just not enough work once the few shops in the town shut at 5:30 (increasingly becoming 4:30 to allow deep cleaning) and supermarkets shutting between 8-10pm. Public transport is woeful if you live even a 2-3 mile out of town in the wrong direction and the rural roads are definitely not safe to walk once it starts to get dark.

I think he needs to have a conversation about possibly changing his shift pattern temporarily or see is anyone is open to swapping shifts. Living where I do, I can see how difficult transport can be, especially at times like this. Is there any chance that he might be able to change jobs? Quitting might be the last resort, but there may be other opportunities that are currently available and could tide him over.

Obviously an electric bike it the answer.

It’s not ideal, but will work in the short term.

Is he back living with you? If so surely you’re not any more at risk of getting the virus by giving him a lift, if you are already living with him

I really want an electric scooter now 🛴.

I hope your DS finds a solution. I've no idea why some people are being so mean.

Radical suggestion but I am presumming he has no mortgage if he lives with you and his father or did and now shares with friend..so would it be possible if he has no big bills so to speak could he not for the next few weeks/months go part time? Drophis hours at work and fit in with the shifts available/? just an idea

Ah just seen that he’s not living with you, please ignore my post. It sounds daft but you could create a boundary between driving seat and the back seat, like a taxi?