What are people in cities, with no outdoor space doing?

[Crunchymum]

We are central London and have a small roof terrace, and I mean small.

We also have a small area outside the front door, enough for a bench but that is it.

We have a plot in the community garden opposite (closed!!) and two decent sized parks within 2 minutes, so lack of outside space has never been an issue.

Until now.

What are other people doing? What are our options?

Go to the park. Keep away from other people.

Going to the park in these circumstances is not a good idea

Everyone is doing it so they are full of people

It’s shit but we just need to suck it up and stay in - you have a small terrace - that’s more than some

Dog walking, driven to the park, walked everywhere. Thinking about doing parts of the capital ring.

I've driven to a garden centre (outdoor with contactless payment) and bought a tree and some plants for my tiny garden

Sure, Greenwich park is busy but when I went this morning there may have been hundreds of people but it's 250 acres so I didn't pass within 30 feet of anyone !

We're in a city in Spain, in an apartment, in nationwide lockdown which has just been extended to April 12th. We are going slowly mad. I feel so so sorry for my dc.

I’m still running in the morning round the park when it’s very quiet.

I had an idea this morning. It will be stupid if parks in cities are shut. So many people have no outside space at all. We need to stay mentally and physically healthy to get through this. Our kids need to.

Would it work if every household was given an exercise slot? So they can breathe fresh air and exercise for half an hour a day at least?

The parks can be patrolled so people do not interact.

Would this work or something like it?

We are in Italy in a flat. We go downstairs and run a little in front of the garages which are part of the property so technically allowed. We can't go out any further. I bought an exercise bike last year and it is now getting used.

Everyone is doing it so they are full of people

They are not (in general) so full that you can’t keep 2m away, unless it’s a very small park.

Walk on the grassy areas not on the paths. It’s the paths that are too crowded.

Went for a walk this morning and didn't come within 10m of another person - in fact only saw 2-3 people nearby.

Its distancing, not isolation for most people.

But people aren’t just walking are they?

They’re talking blankets and picnics and their kids are playing with other kids

It’s the same on beaches, especially as it’s sunny

We have two primary-aged DC in a small flat and no outside space at all.

And there are restrictors on the windows so they only open 3cm.

We’ve always gone out for hours every day.

We’re really taking the social distancing seriously and won’t be going to the park. Might walk along some quiet streets?

I agree with NellyGrace that an exercise slot would be a great idea.

@NellyGrace

This would be a very good idea for us.

Our roof terrace isn't particularly safe (it took a hit with the high winds a while back) so none of us are using it until landlord fixes it... ironically it was meant to be last week and had been cancelled!!

Local parks are busy so we are avoiding. Yesterday we did a scoot round the block at 8pm (in our PJs)

No car so cannot escape to less populated places.

I am worried about lack of exercise and vitamin D.

Park. Avoid crowds. Human beings need time outside.

We live in a small flat in central London, we are having to self isolate, as it’s a shared entrance we can’t even go out for a walk.

What little sanity we have left will soon be gone. Some new gym equipment arrived today, this will make me a much nicer person.

If everyone goes the park how do you avoid crowds?

I'm in a NYC apartment the size of a shoebox with a husband, 2 dogs and a 9 month old baby. We go to the park/walk around the streets every day.

People are generally getting very good at staying out of each other's way. I haven't had a problem with people getting too close, even though a decent number of people are out and about.

I can tell you what other people are doing. They're heading to the seaside. I live on the coast and walk my dog on the beach twice a day, yesterday was like a Bank Holiday, not a parking space free.
Local high street packed out, everyone mingling happily, no attempt to keep a sensible distance.

It would perhaps help if people who have a more or less OK place they can walk to would stay there and not drive to nicer places further away. Maybe this is unfair but increasing the possibility of spreading this disease further is more unfair.

London parks (Hammersmith and Fulham) will be shut from 7pm tonight.

YouTube workouts... lots of family ones which are at least keeping us active a couple of times a day (in self-isolation so can't really go out)

We live in a tiny flat with no outside space (and fairly small windows). The selfish idiots gathering in large groups will be what keeps us completely confined inside. Exercise slots is an excellent idea. Some countries are allowing exercise walks as long as you're on your own (or parent children). That sounds sensible and fair.

If worse comes to worse you will survive. It's horrible but survivable. I know. I did it. I had an injury a while back. I wasn't able to go out for ages. What kept me going was contact with the outside world. We're very lucky nowadays to have the internet. It keeps you from being cut off. Lots of online resources for adults and children. Courses, games, TV and film streaming. Also look up home exercising, use the time indoors to get into baking, spring clean the house (cleaning can be exercise). For kids (and adults) there's board games, lego, jigsaws, books. Put on your music, sing and dance around the flat/house. It's not great but it's doable.

Parks are closed here so we’re not even supposed to go to the playground. We’re doing walks outside, scooting round the block, I’ve ordered a small slide for the deck. It’s going to be tough though.

@Crunchymum

I am worried about lack of exercise too. As for vit D, I think that during the winter months you cannot get any from the sun in the UK anyway, although it still raises spirits to feel the sun. Not sure exactly when we are likely to be able to get any form sunlight here, probably sometime in spring.

im in a flat with no garden and 2 boys 18 months and 3. we r doin family work outs on youtube