Outside walks and people

[CharlotteRose90]

No hate please but I’m hoping I’m not the only one.

So me and my mum have been going for walks with the dog and it’s making me so angry what people are doing. Walking so close to us and not keeping distance. We’re both in the vulnerable category and I’ve said so many times to people to move away.

I completely get you don’t have to wear a mask but don’t walk next to or behind people you don’t know. The park we choose today had a massive path and people still did it. I ended up shouting at this woman for standing next to my mum and coughing.

Rant over. I’m hoping I’m not crazy

It takes two to walk close to each other - you see them coming and you move over so there is more room for them so it's not just on them is it.

You move over and get into single file... but sometimes others continue three abreast and sometimes even spread into the space you've made. Plain weird. Even if you're in a low risk group and aren't bothered, it costs so little effort to be considerate to others.

We live rurally and most people round here are great, there are just a few who don't seem to give a shit.

Agree emphatically with both m0therofdragons and Eckhart

I'm afraid I agree with PP re: you don't own public footpaths etc. With the risk being so miniscule, then if you are still concerned, you need to find a time or place to go that is quieter.

The main issue with runners and cyclists is if they don't give any warning and come up close from behind. Or unnecessarily close if you're on a narrow pavement with nowhere to 'escape' to.

@LimitIsUp

Whilst it is acknowledged that outdoors environments were very low risk for transmission of Covid 19, I don't think we can afford to be quite so sanguine now. I wouldn't want to walk directly into someones exhaled plume of breath with the new mutation leading to higher concentrations of virus in the nose and throat. Yes the virus will be dispersed in the breeze but with higher concentrations exhaled, this presumably might take a minute or two longer? Fortunately living in a village I can generally find quieter routes but it must be tricky for those in busier areas

I was just about to raise this point too, thank you. How do we know that the chances of contracting this new 'mutant' strain outside is 'vanishingly small'? I'd like to see the evidence of these cavalier claims; until then back the f*ck off, outside or not.

The point surely Purpler5 is that nobody owns public footpaths, so why do the two and three abreast walkers act like they do?

Forgot to say thank you for the responses. It’s nice to see people who give others the space needed and who doesn’t. Suppose we’ve all taken this virus differently. I’ll keep doing what I can to avoid people and keep my mum safe. Failing that I’ll be hibernating till it’s over so I can get away from selfish people.

Omg seriously people are suggesting that you should walk at 7.45am because you’re vulnerable? I’m not vulnerable but can see how totally unfair and thoughtless that is of others. Maybe disabled people should have separate shopping times so non disabled don’t have to deal with them?! (Clearly I don’t think that just demonstrating how utterly bonkers people are being on this thread!). I’m sorry people are treating you like this op, you should be able to walk outside without feeling worried because others are being selfish.

I have found most people really good but there are a few I get annoyed with. Good thing having a toddler is I get to say out loud, move to the side for the gentleman etc so most people then think and we all move out of each other’s way.

I don’t think people are being mean they just aren’t thinking. Not everyone is as scared of the virus as others, some people’s personal space is bigger than others.

There's 140,000 miles of footpaths in England and Wales, I don't believe you can't find one that's not busy.

@Ifailed

There's 140,000 miles of footpaths in England and Wales, I don't believe you can't find one that's not busy.

If you know any in the Manchester area feel free to tell me :)

Personally I find it offensive when people wearing a mask turn their back on me as if I am a disease riddled individual. I am passing them, outside, at a reasonable distance. Gives me the rage. Such lack of ability to risk assess.

Other than shouting at people, I believe you are reasonable.

For me it is two things at the local park- people stopping on the paths for no reason, and people in quite large groups, say eight, blocking paths due to stopping and talking- and I mean for several minutes.

A deadly virus doesn't make selfish people less selfish or stupid people less stupid!

My cousin caught the virus outside - everyone on the shoot he was on caught it. They thought they had been careful but maybe the new strain is more contagious outside?

I take the virus seriously as I spent yesterday planning to change theatre into additional icu capacity because the beds are all full in icu. Hospitals are genuinely reaching capacity and if we don’t slow the spread, doctors may have to choose who gets an icu bed and who doesn’t. No doctor wants to do that or live with that!

@m0therofdragons

Omg seriously people are suggesting that you should walk at 7.45am because you’re vulnerable? I’m not vulnerable but can see how totally unfair and thoughtless that is of others. Maybe disabled people should have separate shopping times so non disabled don’t have to deal with them?! (Clearly I don’t think that just demonstrating how utterly bonkers people are being on this thread!). I’m sorry people are treating you like this op, you should be able to walk outside without feeling worried because others are being selfish.

If you are particularly concerned about coming into contact with people of course it is sensible to try for quieter times, why is that unreasonable?

And I thought that supermarkets do have special times for the elderly and disabled to do their shopping at the moment.

It isn't possible to stay out of the way all the time because of the sheer numbers of people out for walks (it wasn't a glorious day where I live, but nonetheless it was busy) and some paths are just too narrow.

And that makes absolutely no sense

Sorry, that was to Ifailed

@DuckPancakesWithHoisinSauce

Personally I find it offensive when people wearing a mask turn their back on me as if I am a disease riddled individual. I am passing them, outside, at a reasonable distance. Gives me the rage. Such lack of ability to risk assess.

Yes it annoys me too but I think we are both being unreasonable to be annoyed. They are obviously overly anxious and you just have to accept that and move on.

Move away from them if you don’t like it. Or go somewhere where it’s quieter.

We find it hard to distance as DD’s wheels makes it harder for her to go off a path, but at no point have I found it necessary to shout at strangers in the street.

YABU

If you are the vulnerable ones, then you need to go somewhere remove where there are fewer people.

It’s really entitled to expect healthy people to give up even more of their liberty for someone making no effort at all to protect themselves.

Millions and millions of people have lost literally everything in an attempt to keep you ‘safe’. There needs to be at least some effort made from your side too.

*remote

I think they must think it's ok because they're outside

why do you think it isn't different from being inside?

If you know any in the Manchester area feel free to tell me

Just look up the Definitive Map for the area, it will show them all.

@DuckPancakesWithHoisinSauce

Personally I find it offensive when people wearing a mask turn their back on me as if I am a disease riddled individual. I am passing them, outside, at a reasonable distance. Gives me the rage. Such lack of ability to risk assess.

See I do this when running as I use a canal path that has a couple of narrow passing spaces. Most of the time it's easy to distance but when it isn't I turn away from people as best as I can and have noticed most other people tend to do likewise. Surely it's courtesy, not rudeness?

@NikeDeLaSwoosh how is moving to the side giving up your liberty?

If op and her mum catch covid then they’re likely to take up a hospital bed each for a length of time. Then, if you fall ill or have a car accident you went have the healthcare available to you. So this is something that impacts on everyone. It’s about looking out for each other rather than protecting made up liberties at the cost of others. At no point has anyone been fighting for the right to stand near someone and cough. Even without covid that’s poor behaviour.