Family groups out walking

[Carbosug]

I'm living with a family member currently being treated for cancer. The only time I can go out is for solo walks, in order to keep that person safe. I've been avoiding parks as they're full of kids letting off steam, and have been just sticking to the roads around me.

However I'm going to have to stop that now because of the number of parents who are letting their kids fly ahead of them on bikes and scooters, with no thought for how close to other people they're going.

AIBU to think that if you're using public footpaths at the moment you should exercise a bit of care and make sure you're children aren't hampering other people's attempts at social distancing?

@HyacynthBucket
This.

I get you @Carbosug. Which is why we are choosing paths/places where we know there will be very very few around to go out and get some fresh air.
So not the NT, not the pavements around us, not the beach etc...

My dcs are teens so I’m happy they would be careful about the right distancing. If they had been younger, I would have avoided the street etc on a scooter for that very reason

Ultimately justincake the hope is that if scientists can decide on which the best treatment is (from a range that look hopeful) then cv will be less of a burden on the NHS. But people being fundamentally healthy is also key to that.

Italy's lockdown isn't showing positive results as yet. In the short term with people moving 'home' our own measures are likely to see increased cases for several weeks at least. There is no magic wand.

Have you ever been to Ireland @HarrySnotter very few places are as you described. There's plenty of space and plenty of ungrounded hysteria about children at the moment over there.

I was thinking of getting out a walking stick or some kind of long piece of bamboo which is the length of a safe distances and use that to point at people - no closer I suppose you could say. As I have spent my life in some senses doing this (used to cross the road if a neighbour was coming on my side in case I had to speak to them as a teenager - very shy) I probably have a few techniques although I don't usually carry long sticks with me. Eg where I am we can walk in fairly isolated woods opposite where most people on a walk don't go in as they prefer the street which is not muddy. In the post office I had to make a joke about the distance I had put between the people ahead of me so it didn't look rude and similarly in the petrol station where a nice old man perfectly understood although that just cannot operate in long queues - in my cases there were only about 2 people in a short queue.

I’ve managed to teach my 4 yr old to make lots of space when walking near other people. Careering ahead on scooters and bikes has been socially acceptable for far too long. Even without CV it’s dangerous and inconsiderate.
My 10 year old got distracted a few times yesterday and didn’t walk around people but I’m sure she’ll soon get the hang of it.
Even if not scientifically necessary it’s still a nice thing to do to make everyone feel like they can get some fresh air. Why should children have more right to it than older isolated people.
This situation hopefully will make many people take stock of how society behaves in general

I was thinking of getting out a walking stick or some kind of long piece of bamboo which is the length of a safe distances and use that to point at people - no closer I suppose you could say.

I wouldn't want to do this in the vicinity of kids rushing around (because even if I think their parents are inconsiderate idiots I wouldn't want to add to their risk). But if I'm walking on country roads and there's no verge to get onto I carry my walking pole sticking out across my body just to claim (barely) adequate space from cars.

My understand is being within 6 foot of someone for more than 15minutes is considered 'contact'.

So I'll be out walking, with my family, later.

We live in the country and the amount of people trudging past our front door is mind blowing
I guess in a few days the novelty will wear off and the weather's particularly lovely today which is obviously contributing to it.

Honestly, I'm not saying that families shouldn't be out walking. I'm asking if kids should be careering way ahead of their parents on bikes and scooters on pavements. I wish some posters would stop implying I was saying anything else.

And that martyr comment was uncalled for. I'm just very anxious not to put a loved one who would be in an extremely high risk category at any unnecessary risk.

A child scooting or cycling past you is not putting you at risk of infection.

I agree with this. Risk of crashing into you, yes, risk of infection surely incredibly small unless they sneeze towards you at the exact moment they pass you.

If you want to be sure no scooting or cycling child comes near you, why not simply walk on the grassy areas rather than the paths. It’s not especially muddy at the moment.

OP, I just wanted to ask, you asked how your supposed to keep your distance from children tearing ahead of their parents on a narrow country path, well how do you distance yourself from anyone else on a narrow country path? Surely their speed or age doesn't make a difference?

I'm sorry you're in this situation OP, and I'm not surprised you are concerned.
If I were you I'd be going for an early morning walk, or one a bit later on when the zooming small kids are less likely to be around. I was up early myself this morning - it was lovely - and then I went back for a nap!
YANBU to want parents to 'control' their kids but life is changing so fast for everyone you need to cut them a bit of slack too.

Surely their speed or age doesn't make a difference?

What makes a difference is whether they do their part in keeping distant. Some adults may be idiots , that can't be helped, but kids old enough to be out ahead are old enough to behave properly if told to do so.

The op isn't saying kids shouldn't be on paths, just that their parents should be endeavouring to get them to behave appropriately which isn't what she's experienced so far. Why on Earth are people arguing that's unreasonable?

Errol the way I understood it was OP was annoyed that children were too close to her and she didn't have room to move away from them. If they're coming one way down a path and OP is going the other, then it doesnt matter if they were children or adults! If there isn't space to keep your distance while crossing on a path then there isn't room no matter who it is.

I was out walking today on a path with few people, but was surprised by the big family groups walking together and no one moved to the other side even though we clearly moved and indicated distancing. Most seemed oblivious to social distancing.

Exactly my experience @BeardedMum

It's quite easy to spot an adult coming towards you and make a decision to move out to the edge of the pavement to keep some distance. It is not so easy when it's a small child zig zagging around the pavement on a bike or scooter.

I'm not talking about kids scooting and cycling alongside their parents. I'm talking about the kids who are racing ahead of their parents and are way down the pavement from them weaving around other people who are trying to keep away from them.

But while that’s mildly annoying, OP, a fleeting drive-by contact with a child on a bike or scooter is not putting you at risk of contracting Covid-19.

In that case why are adults moving well away from others as they pass by.

Honestly, OP, most adults who do that are just pantomiming maintaining the recommended social distance to show politeness in a nervy situation. You’re highly unlikely to be infected walking briskly past someone even if you are so close you brush shoulders.

@Carbosug I'm with you!

Parents need to explain to their children that they need to keep their distance. Obviously the young ones won't understand and you don't want to scare them but I'm doing my best to keep away from people but others just seem oblivious.

Those idiots saying there is no need to keep distance while outside / out walking are the idiots who will force the government to put us in lockdown

Those idiots saying there is no need to keep distance while outside / out walking are the idiots who will force the government to put us in lockdown

No one has said that. They have pointed out that there is a difference between (1) going out to a crowded public place where you are continually bumping into people at very close quarters, or meeting people you don't share a house with and walking along shoulder to shoulder with them for several miles, talking, exchanging air neither of which are recommended for obvious reasons and (2) simply walking briskly past a person at close quarters, or having a child pass you at waist level on a bike or scooter.

Not being able to distinguish between the two is going to cause more hysteria of the kind that is making Mumsnet currently appear to be inhabitant by handwringing catastrophists who worry about being infected by a child flying past on a scooter but still ask whether they can go to visit their immuno-suppressed friend because he's lonely, or send their child to school because she misses her routine.