Lockdown cycling with friends. AIBU?

[Georgeandthemadcatsmummy]

I'm almost ashamed to write this because I believe so strongly that I'm right but here goes...

My partner is planning to cycle 50 or so miles tomorrow in his regular cycling group of 4-5 men. This usually takes 3 or so hours and involves a coffee and a chat half way around, but I'm not sure if they're planning to forgo that bit or not. Coffee places still seem to be open for takeaway around me.

I've told him I think it's against the rules of lockdown and he shouldn't do it, but not only that, it's incredibly short sighted as there are many people suffering whilst sticking wholeheartedly to the rules.

I believe he's justifying on the basis it's exercise, which I've told him if it's that he can go out on his own, and that he believes he can social distance so it's ok.

Am I being unreasonable or is he??

He can go out with one other.

Not 4 though.

They just have to not talk to each other at all!

I mean it’s against the rules if there’s more than 2 but I can see why a person would think “fuck it”

He is being unreasonable. He can ride his bike as far as he likes, but not with multiple people from different households.
The current guidance is that you can ride alone, or with other members of your household/support bubble, or with one person for another household.(And not your household plus one other, its either/or.)

Agree with above. He can meet 1 not 4. It’s selfish really because he will then spend time with you, potentially increasing your risk for his own selfish enjoyments

He can with one other.

Legally he can meet one friend outside. Beyond that, the outdoor exercise/recreational rules are a little bit unclear. Cycling in one persons slipstream is pretty bloody stupid, with a group, utterly ridiculous.

Point him to the Govt website. Whether he believes he can SD or not is irrelevant. He is, by law, permitted to meet ONE person outside. Not as many as he thinks he can SD from.

If people don't want to come out of this lockdown and go into Tier 3 (4/5/99) they need to stop being idiots.

Our local over 60s rambling group were out in force this morning. At least fucking 20 of them. Pig sick of people thinking the rules don’t apply to them. Starting to get to the point of just saying fuck it it’s not me at risk!

@Mjmg2015

Legally he can meet one friend outside. Beyond that, the outdoor exercise/recreational rules are a little bit unclear. Cycling in one persons slipstream is pretty bloody stupid, with a group, utterly ridiculous.

Point him to the Govt website. Whether he believes he can SD or not is irrelevant. He is, by law, permitted to meet ONE person outside. Not as many as he thinks he can SD from.

If people don't want to come out of this lockdown and go into Tier 3 (4/5/99) they need to stop being idiots.

This is my point entirely!! I don't see why it's so hard. Just stick to the rules. It's selfish and thoughtless otherwise. And against the bloody law!

You're right OP.
One person and one person only.

Everyone seems to have a reason why the rules don't apply to them. (Looking at you , NDN, with your family staying for a week...)

You can always give him a choice OP - he goes with ONE person and obeys the rules, or he goes in a small group and you'll report him. If he can afford a stupidly expensive bike I guess he can afford the fine!

When you say "regular cycling group" is this just a group of friends who go out together or organised through a club?
If it's the former then he can only go out with one other person but if it's the later and goes through the relevant channels of governing bodies etc then they can have up to 6 (scroll down to "personal training and coaching")
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation

If they're out on public roads he runs the risk of being pulled over by a passing police car and fined.

or is the info in that link superceeded by the text in the box above?? if so, why the feck don't they delete it off the website?!?

They'd be better splitting into pairs and staggering start times so they don't meet at any point.

I'm sure risk in this situation would be minimal providing distance was in place but that's not the point. There can't be exceptions for some, because where would you then draw the line?

[quote emmathedilemma]When you say "regular cycling group" is this just a group of friends who go out together or organised through a club?
If it's the former then he can only go out with one other person but if it's the later and goes through the relevant channels of governing bodies etc then they can have up to 6 (scroll down to "personal training and coaching")
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation[/quote]
That's really out of date which is bad as they have the current advice at the top inc the date of the new lockdown. But some of the info further down is from before the lockdown -

You can't have personal training, you can't meet up to 6 people even if through an organised club, certainly club house bars, etc can't be open for food and drink!

Boris said stay at home apart from if essential inc exercise. You can only meet one other person.

I play tennis in an LTA registered tennis club. We can't play at all, not even with one other person. So certainly can't meet 5 others even though that's an organised body.

@emmathedilemma

or is the info in that link superceeded by the text in the box above?? if so, why the feck don't they delete it off the website?!?

Absolutely. The govt are an incompetent shower of shit. You can't just add new info and leave the old info up. Leads to confusion!

[quote emmathedilemma]When you say "regular cycling group" is this just a group of friends who go out together or organised through a club?
If it's the former then he can only go out with one other person but if it's the later and goes through the relevant channels of governing bodies etc then they can have up to 6 (scroll down to "personal training and coaching")
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation[/quote]

Friends!!!

Technically it's against the rules, but you are only responsible for your own actions. What he does is up to him.

Police aren't stupid, they know when groups of cyclists are together. They will get stopped

[quote emmathedilemma]When you say "regular cycling group" is this just a group of friends who go out together or organised through a club?
If it's the former then he can only go out with one other person but if it's the later and goes through the relevant channels of governing bodies etc then they can have up to 6 (scroll down to "personal training and coaching")
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation[/quote]
That information is out of date I'm afraid emma. There's no allowances made for club activities, coaching etc any more and British Cycling suspended all organised cycling activities from yesterday.
www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/20200512-about-bc-news-British-Cycling-Updated-Coronavirus-Guidance-0

And the ageism has started quickly on this thread. It's always the selfish bastards who won't make space. I have had to step into the road to avoid two families stopped for a chat, with assorted kids strung across the path, and a woman with a buggy stopped at a jaunty angle just to make it interesting. Or blokes striding down the middle who are more important than everyone else. Or just about anybody of any age. Give it a rest.

@JacobReesMogadishu

If they're out on public roads he runs the risk of being pulled over by a passing police car and fined.

I said this. Don't blame me if you get fined.

Oh and OP, yanbu. But people are all "exercising their own judgement" it seems.