AIBU to think they should just ban going to the parks in London?

[ForbiddenFromNaples]

The difinitive park going experience in London is very different than that of the rest of the country. We've all seen those pictures of people crammed together sunbathing in Hyde park.

I dont have a garden so this issue is a big deal to me. Where I live (a fairly big city in the SW), there are numerous parks scattered about and its perfectly possible to go there, chill out and read a book as you catch the sun, all the time maintaining social distancing.

When it comes to the police, they seem most of the time to be pretty sensible about it...... Mostly. Except one or two people have told me horror stories.......

Someone I know who took their autistic child to play football in a park (so officially that should have counted as excersise), then the police turned up and moved them on (which was unnecessarily distressing for the autistic). Im not trying to bad mouth the police here, this is new so theres a lot of all round apprehension in regards to precisely what is allowed. Im just saying, when it comes to the issue of going to the park, the government should have a rethink as to whether everyone else in the country has to have their rights curtailed, simply because of how things are in London. And it would be nice to hear the government admit a one size fits all solution isnt always going to work.

I really believe this is a health issue, both physically and mentally. I bet divorce rates will spike after this, police are already seeing more domestic violence, substance abuse will rocket (ive seen loads of drunk people on trips shopping, so I bet theres even more people getting wasted at home), its not unreasonable to assume people will end up self harming and it could even lead to suicides.

Just to clarify, Im talking about people going to the park ON THEIR OWN. Im not talking about going down the park with their friends to have a picnic.

When the Government said, 'we're all in this together', for the first time ever, it felt true. But now the suns came out, it sort of feels that the poor are getting stung by these restrictions way more than those fortunate enough to afford property with gardens.

I’m getting increasingly weary of the policing of the rules without any critical thinking going on.

I broke my leg a couple of months ago. It’s really important that I walk to try and deal with the hideous muscle atrophy that I now have. But I can’t walk for long and need to take frequent breaks. The application of these rules means I can’t go out at all.

I have no idea what is going on in London as I live nowhere near.

My friend who does live there says her local park is much like mine, people are social distancing and walking round it politely. It’s not overcrowded. Clearly, she’s not travelling far, so beyond her park she has no idea what others are like.

The media in this country will create photos to suit their paper selling needs. You can’t tell what’s going on in London unless you actually live there, and then you’ll only know your own local spaces.

YABU to make suggestions about a place you are not isolated in.

I’m getting increasingly weary of the policing of the rules without any critical thinking going on.

Yes. The whole "rules are made not to be broken" attitude is ridiculous. I am immunosuppressed and live in a "hotspot" but I really couldn't care less if people are breaking the rules as long as it doesn't increase the risk of them catching coronavirus.

@MotheringShites they have clarified that more walks out are OK if for a health reason.

they have clarified that more walks out are OK if for a health reason.

They have but no doubt a "rules are made not to be broken" will say you need a note from the doctor to prove it and possibly bat shit neighbours who have no idea of your circumstances will report you for it. I need to travel to walk for health reasons too and thanks to the attitude of some people I feel unable to.

@MotheringShites There's nothing in the law to say that you cannot rest while exercising. If you were stopped by the police who did not accept your explanation, I think it's the sort of story the papers would take up right now.

This is likely relevant to you; it deals with the law in the context of people with health conditions and disabilities www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/government-clarifies-outdoor-exercise-limit-following-jr-threat/5103839.article

If I were in your position I'd take the risk of a £30 fine over the the certainty of continued muscle atrophy.

FWIW I had a sit down on the grass while dog walking yesterday. I really don't think I did anything wrong 🤷‍♀️

I live close to both Green Park and St James Park in London and have been taking my 6 and 4 year old boys to one or other a few times a week. They're both pretty quiet but the paths are the busy bits with joggers and walkers, mostly adults. The green spaces are where families are taking younger kids and playing football or frisbee or running around with dragons and dinosaur toys. Police cycle or ride by on horseback and wave. No problem at all. It would be much harder to keep slow moving small kids social distancing on busy paths than having a kick around on deserted grass space and clearly the police aren't bothered. No one is sunbathing or reading or having picnics.

I think what's appropriate for your family may depend on the context and profile of your park.

Thanks for the suggestions and info. I guess it’s the naming and shaming that’s going on I’m more concerned about than the police. I’d be looking out for Rob Beckett with his bell!