Don't go cycling or hillwalking please

[MangePasTesOnglesVilain]

Mountain rescue are appealing for people not to go out to places where they may need rescue if they become ill as the whole team would then need to isolate if the patient was infectious.

Also A and E staff don't want to treat injured cyclists when they could be dealing with cv patients.

I saw lots of recreational cyclists out today.

Just thought it's worth saying as it might just help a bit in this crisis.

The chances of a reasonably fit person requiring emergency evacuation from Snowdon in late March

Do you suppose every one of those people were expereinced hill wallkers? All it takes is a badly sprained ankle, that could be a break or not, from walking in the wrong shoes or going somewhere thats a bit unstable to need to be rescued and put other people at risk.
Experienced climbers sometimes need rescued when shit happens, put together a few hundred numptys who have never been up mountains before and you are asking for trouble. Its just sheer luck if they dont need rescued.

Clearly a lot of people here are life long urbanites here. They’re asking people not to put themselves in a position where they may require an emergency rescue.

Mountain rescue teams are volunteers - risking their lives to pick folk off the mountains. Too many people in the best of times think UK mountains aren’t that high, have clear paths etc totally underestimating the challenge involved, the speed with which weather changes etc. Now isn’t the time. Glen or mountain rescue were called out 16 times this weekend to help feckless idiots who thought they’d socially isolate half way up Ben Nevis.

I still don’t understand what’s so unclear about “stay home”.

there’s a difference between extreme mountain biking, which is likely to put you in hospital, and taking a gentle cycle

This!

I think horse riding and cycling have been banned in most of Europe now.

If someone gets ill with the virus whilst out the whole rescue team is exposed. Or even if they're asymptomatic they could pass it on.

I'm all for outdoor sports normally-fell running! Just not now.

I thought cycling was being recommended? Normal cycling, not mountain biking, that is. Surely with the reduced volume of traffic om the roads it will be safer than usual too.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE DOING THIS??? The cyclists images I saw were infuriating!

Last time my dh came off his bike he needed ambulance, A and E and orthopedic care plus extensive physio and follow up via outpatients. All those are either under strain or cancelled just now.

These events are unprecedented in modern times. We need to do our bit and stay safe to help the NHS.

The chances of a reasonably fit person requiring emergency evacuation from Snowdon in late March

Really?

Glen or mountain rescue were called out 16 times this weekend to help feckless idiots who thought they’d socially isolate half way up Ben Nevis.

DH driving back from Carlisle today to the West Midlands passed loads of families towing caravans and cars with bikes all on them.

People have lost all common sense. Lockdown needs to be done.

I'm still cycling

But me and DH go down the river cycle path, where theres no people and no cars and is a smooth flat path so no trees or roots to bump into, while wearing appropriate clothing and helmets and gloves etc, worse that could happen would be a grazed knee/elbow which we can patch up at home (unless theres muscle or bone visible we just deal with it ourselves).

We dont go whizzing at speed either so broken bones are hugely unlikely, and if theres lots of people we just go home ago to avoid contact.

Not going to lie I think I'd go insane not being able to at least walk (boundless adhd energy and actually start feeling physically ill with migraines and stomach aches if I dont do something in the day, and dont have a garden or a room large enough to work out in or even do jumping Jack's or sit ups >.

Totally agree.

My dad is a fell-runner and today his run was a sensible flat pavement walk. Boring? Yes, but totally sensible in times like this.

But me and DH go down the river cycle path, where theres no people and no cars and is a smooth flat path so no trees or roots to bump into, while wearing appropriate clothing and helmets and gloves etc,

Cycling was initially allowed when the lockdown started here in France.
We are in the middle of nowhere and could say the same as you have above.

However - people started taking the piss by doing more high risk cycling activities and cycling in large groups.......so it is now prohibited. No ifs, no buts, just 135 euro spot fine.

If people won't be sensible then a blanket rule has to be enforced.

I'm cycling, as I cycle to work and back. I can't really do anything about that.

www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/wirral-man-rescued-snowdonia-rescuers-17962765

For a start. Even in summer Snowdonia can rapidly become dangerous if the weather changes. Yes, you can pretty much walk up the main routes, but it’s not safe by any means.

I'm cycling, as I cycle to work and back. I can't really do anything about that.

What will you do if it's banned, like it has been in other countries?

So if cycling gets banned then I will have to walk an hour to work, I start at 4am - great.

OP YANBU. our yard (horse) has cancelled all jump lessons and we can only do flatwork as we want to reduce any additional burden on the NHS

Is cycling banned if you're going to work though? I know people who cycle MILES to get into work - if they were key workers how would they travel, if they can't drive and there's no appropriate public transport?

The Dutch government are recommending cycling as a good way to get exercise outside without getting too close to people. Better advise would be to motorists to not hit cyclists with their cars.

My son is a climber,he and his friends made a decision to stop for the foreseeable future,because of the high risk of accidents.Not wanting to potentially put more strain on the NHS,he is also a Registered Nurse himself.

The popular climbing areas in Spain have been shut down.Hopefully we will follow.

Problem is if people start taking the piss then things like cycling or going out for a jog will be banned. And if they are banned then I will stop (and my poor DH will have to accept I'll be bouncing off the walls). But I fully agree people need to screw their heads on and engage their brains. Dh is a avid mountain biker, but he wont be cycling on any mountains, he will be stuck at my casual pace on a flat path which is away from roads and mostly people free (5 miles saw 3 people).

Being from wales and near snowdonia I'm horrified to see and hear the amount of people who are deciding to go trekking across the mountains, even as someone who's used to rambling and hiking I wouldn't even think about it at times like this, as with acknowledge and experience comes the knowledge that even the most experienced knows that sometimes accidents/weather changes/unforeseen situations happen.

Honestly this could only occur in Britain and it will be its downfall.

I see no problem going out for a walk, run or gentle cycle either on your own or with members of your own household as long as you keep clear of anyone else doing the same.

Obviously if there are too many other people doing the same in your area so that you can't keep clear then go home.

The problem is with people turning up at a place en-masse and then instead of going 'This isn't a great idea - let's turn around and go home' they go 'Well we're here now - let's risk it'. This will just get everything banned for everyone.

I see no problem going out for a walk, run or gentle cycle either on your own or with members of your own household as long as you keep clear of anyone else doing the same.

That's not the problem though. The issue is if you get injured and need medical help, you're unnecessarily getting the emergency services out to help you - taking them away from more essential services and potentially exposing them to the virus.

It's also easier to police if you say "no cycling". If you go around saying "no cycling unless...." and then you list ten different scenarios where cycling might be okay, you're going to cause huge amount of confusion.