Can I drive 5 miles to walk in the woods?

[R2221]

Just that really. We’ve been isolating for over a week and these woods are the only thing that kept us sane. Isolated woods - not many people there. Those we came across were mindful of distance.

With the current lockdown rules, are we allowed to drive there?

[NastyOldBag]

I know Dartmoor is huge, I grew up there. That doesn’t mean that people aren’t all going to the same spots thinking they’ll be isolated. OP has said she lives in a busy town, I’m guessing there will only be so many outdoor spaces I think 5 miles and that it’s fairly safe to say they will be busy unless they’re incredibly inaccessible. Where my dm lives isn’t a tourist spot really, there’s an ice cream van there in the summer but other than that it’s a car park with about 20 spaces, a mile from her house. It was rammed.

[SisterSist3r]

5 miles away will share the same hospital.

[middleager]

What happens if you have a bump?
Or a serious crash?
Or your car breaks down?
Or a fall?

Solutions all involve others and possibly burdening the NHS because of your selfishness.

[MuthaFunka61]

I think you have to go with your conscience.

How would you feel if someone died of an indirect consequence of your actions?
Can you live with it?

[GiantRedPanda]

I'm from the countryside. I know people here drive all the time because we have no choice. I also know we have fewer hospitals and fewer ICU beds than cities. I also know that sharp knife accidents don't put pressure on ICU beds.

[SisterSist3r]

It was near empty where we went,it’s huge. If there were a hoard of cars we’d have come home there wasn’t. The tourists spots are always heaving on Dartmoor which is why we never use them.

[AngelicaKauffman]

The government has explicitly said you can go out to exercise. OP wants to do that exercise in a quieter location thus REDUCING the potential health risk to herself and others.

So what's the problem? If the government didn't want you to even go for a quiet walk, they would have said so wouldn't they?

[qweryuiop]

Plenty of people are telling you no. #

It appears it is allowed by the current measures.

I'll suggest it another way: it's a small risk but it is a risk. Risks include seeing other people while you're out, or touching something with the virus on, breaking down, and using the pump. All things that are always a risk, but we never normally have to worry about. We live in worrying times.

I would love to go for a bike ride tomorrow. Cycling reduces my anxiety and is good for my long term health. I ride several times a week usually. I don't think I will ride tomorrow, but I am conflicted given Boris said I'm allowed to. Similarly, I can't walk around here because it's busy everywhere. If I go for a walk, I'd need to drive somewhere. I don't know what the right decision is really.

I think I'll be fine for a week with only indoor exercise, so I'll do that for now. I'd encourage others to do the same.

[Tonyaster]

What happens if you have a bump? Or a serious crash?
Or your car breaks down?
Or a fall? Solutions all involve others and possibly burdening the NHS because of your selfishness

Jesus. Calm the fuck down.

Honestly this desperate need to pick holes in a seemingly sensible and very nice plan as far as the OPS mental health goes is insane.

[Aufgehts]

This is why we're in lockdown, because people keep trying to find loopholes and technicalities to fit with what they want to do.

This is the same mentality that lead to throngs of crowds flocking to beaches because "technically the rules say we can go out for fresh air".

If people keep trying to find workarounds, the measures imposed will just get more draconian.

This is a pandemic. The less you go out, the less likely you are to be inadvertently responsible for the death of other human beings.

[SisterSist3r]

I hope all these hysterical MNers aren’t doing any diy , room painting or strenuous gardening. All the above will be more risky than my 2 mile drive and walk in the woods.

[NuclearWinter]

I also know that sharp knife accidents don't put pressure on ICU beds.

No but they still use emergency care resources to deal with. Staff, supplies.

[TheArchSorcererofContwaraburg]

The OP wants to go where she wants to thinking no one will be there but her because apparently, the entire town she lives in will definitely not have the same thing on their minds, only her, they're different. Amazing how many couch potatoes just now have to have daily exercise and it must be on their terms otherwise, waaaaa! I'm special! I'm different!

Boris was too fluffy, needs to really put the smack down because selfish people just won't fucking listen.

[blubellsarebells]

Personally i wouldnt because im not driving anywhere except to my ds dads house twice a week.
I want to save petrol and im scared of crashing and not getting a bed in hospital if i need one.
This would be non essential for me.
We have beautiful woods 5 miles away which we always go to around this time for the bluebells but we will have to wait until next year.

[Tonyaster]

qweryuiop why on earth won't you do your exercise?

[SisterSist3r]

And cycling is seriously more risky than driving the same 2 mile journey.

[Tonyaster]

I don't think a lot of you understand how viruses are spread.

[Feefee345]

Yeah. I'm going to op

[Falacy]

The message from Boris tonight was really clear. Stay at home.

Exactly this.

Honestly I could cry.

In Spain right now they are asking people to produce receipts. They are checking shopping bags to make sure you're not just popping out for a pack of biscuits and a bag of crisps.

This is what will happen here.

This is what will happen because people just cannot be trusted!

Imagine tomorrow everybody decides to get in their car and drive somewhere else to do their exercise.

Just take a minute to imagine that for a second. Everyone in the country who owns a car getting in it and going for a walk.

If you're not shocked by that mental image then there is something wrong with you.

You, specifically, are hoping that you're the only one who will do this. Or one of the few. You're hoping you will be the exception. That's exactly what happened over the weekend and is the reason we're in lockdown right now.

It's exactly the reason the restrictions will get tighter and tighter.

[SisterSist3r]

Great if my entire town discovers our hidden walks I’ll happily enjoy our walk with 3 kids on the deserted streets instead. I’ll be walking wherever others aren’t as congregating is banned. That may involve a walk in the woods.

[Feefee345]

Op ignore them

People in MN LOVE to bash the op!!!!

[Gerijrich]

I was thinking of going to my allotment even if my neighbour is thete it will be 12ft away. Isnt that exercise a safe distance from people. What do you think

[bigyellowduck]

I bet there will be cyclists interpreting the once a day rule as “cycle for 50 miles”.

Rather than the 140 we usually do? 50 miles is a short bike ride.

[SisterSist3r]

How does walking in a deserted wood translate as popping out for biscuits?We do one shop a week and have banned the kids from the local shop.

[SusieOwl4]

No. I am not even going to drive and drop off my grandsons parcel .

If you have an accident there won’t be an intensive care unit for you .

If everyone follows suit you will be back where we were before masses of people looking for places to walk and joining up together.