To wonder what all the walkers would usually be doing

[CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS]

I live in a small village near a lovely green open space for walks. I walk every single day and have done since I moved here many years ago. It's always been very quiet - many, many times I've been the only person out and have walked for an hour+ and not seen a soul.

Since Covid - and particularly since the summer - it's been mobbed! I'm dodging people constantly when out walking and although the size of the space means I can keep 2 metres away, I now often have groups of people behind, in front and to the sides of me which makes me a bit uncomfortable. Most are considerate but some are arseholes that want to brush past you so you have to be aware and it's a lot less relaxing. I'm pretty sure that they are local people as it's not a 'day out' place or anywhere people would know about let alone go to, and it's nice that more local people are out walking but... why have they all just discovered walking? It's not like it was a closely guarded secret before and we are quite rural. What would they normally be doing (for example today on a Saturday afternoon) that they now can't do that leaves walking as their only option??

(Yes I do kind of wish they'd bugger off and yes IABU for that as I don't own this piece of land! But mostly I'm just really perplexed as to why so many people are now out walking!)

@Susan1961

I get you, people who I never see usually, mostly elderly, all out walking cos BoJo says so.

Or because it’s the only exercise they can get, and if you lose your mobility when you’re elderly you don’t get it back. My 88 year old grandmother used to have a full and active life. She would get the bus into town, meet friends for coffee, walk to the library, she even went to an aqua aerobics class. Now she can’t do any of that, so she goes for a walk. Not because ‘Bojo says so’... in fact that in itself would be a reason for her not to go as she despises him. She does it because she has nothing else.

Omg so many dog walkers have been a nightmare through this, DC need walking too.

agreed. And all the idiots who've got new dogs this year, and didn't think about the lack of space & training opportunities for them in advance. Lots of badly behaved pups down our way jostling with the smug dog walkers who've been doing it for years.

@Sugarandteaandmum

Omg so many dog walkers have been a nightmare through this, DC need walking too.

agreed. And all the idiots who've got new dogs this year, and didn't think about the lack of space & training opportunities for them in advance. Lots of badly behaved pups down our way jostling with the smug dog walkers who've been doing it for years.

I think it’s awful how many people who have gotten dogs during this 😨

I'm in North East Derbyshire and the police up here don't seem as zealous as their Southern colleagues. Fortunately.

“What I think is causing a big problem locally to me is that we are only allowed to exercise locally. I think it would be safer if we were allowed to drive to a less populated area to walk but we can't. Its like rush hour down our canal all the time.”

To be 100% clear, you are allowed to travel for exercise. Absolutely nowhere in the law does it state that exercise needs to be taken locally. You are allowed to leave your house for exercise - end of. If that means driving 10 miles for that exercise then so be it.

To be 100% clear, you are allowed to travel for exercise.

Yes, this. I live near a beach. I walk my dog there most days but it can get really busy at weekends, making it hard to socially distance. On those days, I tend to drive 4 miles north where I can walk on the hills.

Just to preempt the usual objections...
My car is electric so I won’t need to stop for fuel. My car is quite new, well maintained and was serviced just before Xmas so is unlikely to break down. I usually stop in at a shop on the way home for any essentials we might need, so at least there are two purposes for the drive.

I'm noticing more people walking because they are 'allowed' to go out for daily exercise! In the first lockdown it was really noticeable how many more people I would see doing their 'daily walk' whilst I was out for my normal cycle after work. Maybe its the Government doing reverse psychology - ie tell someone they can only do something once a day so they deliberately do that 'because they can'?

In the current lockdown there has been a huge increase in the number of people (particularly females) walking and running either alone or as a pair on a particular 3 mile loop near me.

Surely the answer to this question is obvious OP?

@Blobby10

I'm noticing more people walking because they are 'allowed' to go out for daily exercise! In the first lockdown it was really noticeable how many more people I would see doing their 'daily walk' whilst I was out for my normal cycle after work. Maybe its the Government doing reverse psychology - ie tell someone they can only do something once a day so they deliberately do that 'because they can'?

In the current lockdown there has been a huge increase in the number of people (particularly females) walking and running either alone or as a pair on a particular 3 mile loop near me.

And??? That’s a lot of words to use to say nothing

I'm noticing more people walking because they are 'allowed' to go out for daily exercise! In the first lockdown it was really noticeable how many more people I would see doing their 'daily walk' whilst I was out for my normal cycle after work

Well... yeah. Previously they would have been at work, or at the gym, or an exercise class, or doing organised sports, or visiting friends, or volunteering, or out for dinner, or at the cinema... but all those things were shut so they went for a walk instead.
Not rocket science is it?

@Blobby10 are you implying that before lockdown, people did not go out of the house for walks because they had not been told explicitly that they were “allowed” to do this?

Am I getting that right? Was that what you thought?

It’s the funniest thing yet

@Blobby10

I'm noticing more people walking because they are 'allowed' to go out for daily exercise! In the first lockdown it was really noticeable how many more people I would see doing their 'daily walk' whilst I was out for my normal cycle after work. Maybe its the Government doing reverse psychology - ie tell someone they can only do something once a day so they deliberately do that 'because they can'?

In the current lockdown there has been a huge increase in the number of people (particularly females) walking and running either alone or as a pair on a particular 3 mile loop near me.

Isn't that a good thing? More women going out and getting exercise.

@Elai1978

“What I think is causing a big problem locally to me is that we are only allowed to exercise locally. I think it would be safer if we were allowed to drive to a less populated area to walk but we can't. Its like rush hour down our canal all the time.”

To be 100% clear, you are allowed to travel for exercise. Absolutely nowhere in the law does it state that exercise needs to be taken locally. You are allowed to leave your house for exercise - end of. If that means driving 10 miles for that exercise then so be it.

I can't believe we are still having to say this.

I can't believe we are still having to say this

The problem is, if you live where I do (South Derbyshire) the police are interpreting the law in whatever way they fancy! I know they rescinded the fines, but they are still being over zealous. The last thing I want on a walk with three children is being challenged by the police.
I was actually stopped last night walking my dog about a mile from home... I was asked my reason for leaving the house. I would have thought the presence of the dog would have given them a clue, but apparently not!

Trust me as a city girl I would far rather be walking round the shops/Trafford centre/ Meadowhall etc then my boring local woods and fields. However, I'm stuck at home with a toddler so needs must. I bet the people walking are just as excited to get back to the shops and cinemas as your are to have your walks back!

@AmoElCafe

I can't believe we are still having to say this

The problem is, if you live where I do (South Derbyshire) the police are interpreting the law in whatever way they fancy! I know they rescinded the fines, but they are still being over zealous. The last thing I want on a walk with three children is being challenged by the police.
I was actually stopped last night walking my dog about a mile from home... I was asked my reason for leaving the house. I would have thought the presence of the dog would have given them a clue, but apparently not!

That doesn't seem to be happening in North Derbyshire, at least not that I've heard of.

playing tennis, playing football, swimming lengths and going to the gym. Running. Walking to and from the train station and office.
Oh, and walking. But now walking is pretty much one of the few things we can still do.

@SallyCinnamon3009

Trust me as a city girl I would far rather be walking round the shops/Trafford centre/ Meadowhall etc then my boring local woods and fields. However, I'm stuck at home with a toddler so needs must. I bet the people walking are just as excited to get back to the shops and cinemas as your are to have your walks back!

I bet your toddler prefers the woods

I think many posters on this thread are missing the fact that the extra walkers don't need to be people who would never usually go for a walk.

The extra walkers are mostly probably people like me, who quite like walking and generally go for a walk once every few weeks/every month or so but now go a couple of times a week, for the obvious reason that we are not going shopping, bowling, playing tennis/five a side, going to the gym, cinema, visiting friends, going to soft plays etc. etc.

That's still roughly a tenfold increase in the number of people out for a walk!

It’s all there is to do!! So everyone is crammed into their local area

This is temporary and I wish everyone would stop moaning about it

You really need to ask what these people would normally be doing? Really?

people who live in rural areas are so proprietorial. It is a public place that you just happen to live in. YABVU

Millions of people have been thrown out of work.

Millions more are working from home, not commuting.

Millions have had their leisure activities cancelled.

Overseas travel has been cancelled.

And the OP wonders why more people are walking around.
ASTOUNDING

payens - i dont think people are objecting to others walking. what they are objecting to are people showing no consideration to others - so walking 2 or 3 abreast so the person coming the other way has to move into the bushes/road, assuming social distancing isnt needed because they have had the jab (I havent ) and pointing a big stick at me and telling me to get off the path - despite there being room for both of us.

I hate walking but can’t fester inside forever. I’m sleepless through lack of routine and covid worries. Eating more. It makes sense to burn a few calories that would normally be burned through daily life. And get some fresh air so I can sleep and so I don’t turn into a vampire. I occasionally meet someone for a walk. What else can we do?