For anyone thinking of driving somewhere for exercsie

[LadyTiredWinterBottom2]

I think this answers your question.

We saw a car being stopped late in the evening. Anyone else been stopped and checked by the police?

I suspect it is from New Zealand as the last line says Wellington Police Team. Then there is the branding from Avon and Somerset police.

There a risk we could be injured and need the NHS at any point.

However, theres a small risk you could get injured going for a walk and a small risk you could have car problems further from your home) or have an accident if you are in your car.

If you are doing both going for a walk and driving.....you are creating more of a risk than a person just going for a walk.

And yet there are similar posts of Stafford police tweeting that you should go and exercise somewhere more remote, if you can.

D Niece who is a key worker in the NHS is absolutely fed up of being stopped and reminded that only essential travel is permitted. She's thinking for making a sign she can flash at the disapprovers and Jobsworths saying "What part of travelling to look after COVID19 patients do you suggest is inessential?"

I'm in agreement that driving to exercise or walk a dog is non-essential travel.

RadioRodeo did you mean this Q&A in the BBC News Special (24 March 2020) at the 17:45 mark?

Q: "... Am I allowed to drive to a park and then go for a walk in the park?"
A: "... Strictly under what the government is saying that is absolutely ok..."

The 'guy on BBC news' who said it's ok to drive to go for a walk is Daniel Sandford, a Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC News. He isn't a government representative.

Wellington is a town in Somerset.

I've borrowed that, OP. Hope it's ok!

Personally, I think the risk to the MH of people cooped up in small city centre flats being prohibited from driving out to a less crowded place to exercise is greater than the risk to the rest of us if they do so.

I saw this from Newquay police too

I think they’ve been doing a soft approach to date because technically, they didn’t have the legal power to do anything else. My understanding is the new act comes into force today. It will be interesting to see if enforcement ramps up accordingly.

also saw this

We drove to parkland (in London) the first day thinking that it would be difficult to avoid people on the road but actually people - bar the odd looming runner - are being really good about stepping into the road so we're walking there now. I'll play it by ear, do whatever is safest in all respects. What I have noticed is drivers around here 'reclaiming' their old habits - driving fast, totally ignoring the 20mph limits, which isn't helpful.

Ideally everyone will do different things and interpret it differently. That will spread people out.

Staying In totally is not a great option. Many studies have shown that moderate exercise and fitness shortens viruses and increases recovery rates.

On the other hand, for those thinking that this is a great opportunity to ramp up their fitness routine, if you push yourself very hard and are then inoculated with a virus you will get it far worse and have a far greater chance of dying from it.

The advice has been crystal clear. No unnecessary travel.
I take necessary travel to mean emergency, to get food/medication or for key workers. It’s not difficult to grasp and doesn’t matter if you “don’t understand why not”. The roads should be clear of traffic for people who need to do their jobs.
What if you break down? Get sick while walking the dog, need a vet or have an accident? You’re placing unnecessary pressure on services and it’s just more bloody selfish “me me me” behaviour.

This is actually ridiculous. The park we've been going to is totally walkable and usually we DO walk there. However, it requires walking along narrow pavements and/or over a narrow footbridge. If you are walking along on your way and someone is walking in the opposite direction it is physically impossible to maintain social distancing and in fact it's almost impossible to not brush past each other. As a result, we have been driving round to the park, which tends to be quite empty and where there is plenty of space for us to step off the path (if we're on it and not running in the grass) and ensure we maintain social distancing.

I do get it - long drives to move around are pointless but surely it's obvious that sometimes it's more practical for a short drive?

Bling,

Absolutely correct, just use common sense!

If you are driving 20 miles in congested roads, that is clearly crazy. If you are driving 1.5-2 miles to an empty space, it makes a lot of sense,

Some people don’t seem to realise that some local parks are just not safe with narrow paths and footbridges. It is a question of measuring the (tiny) additional risks associated with a short drive versus the (IMO) far larger risks of all compressing into tiny parks.

I live on a busy road close to the town centre. The park is at the top of the road - the only open space within walking distance. The supermarket is at the bottom of the road. The pavement isn’t wide enough to be 2m away when passing someone walking in the opposite direction. You can’t step into the road because of the traffic (going to/from the supermarket). I have tried several different times of the day and I cannot go for a walk/run without getting within 2m of other people. It simply isn’t possible given the population density here. Even at 5am I had to pass within 2m of 3 different people.

So I have a choice: drive somewhere quieter and exercise there so as to maintain social distancing or exercise here but accept that I cannot maintain social distancing. My neighbours have the same choice (actually only some have that choice - many people don’t have cars). Most of us don’t have any outdoor space beyond a communal space where the bins are kept. So ‘going out in the garden’ isn’t possible - there simply isn’t a garden.

I think lots of people simply don’t understand how densely populated some urban areas of the U.K. actually are.

@Peasfox

But this isn’t about you personally.

Also, if you’re not actually in your car when your IBS flares up, of course other people will see you.

I wonder if the police presence stopping that gentleman on Quarts Moor has anything to do with the fact it is owned by The National Trust, who have CLOSED their parks and gardens?

If choosing where to shit yourself isn't a personal matter, I don't know what is

Said as another IBS wrangler...

@FamilyOfAliens you asked why as someone with IBS prefers driving than walking short distances. I gave you my reason 🤷‍♀️

Unless essential then stay at home, I’m not really getting what people do not understand? It is not a holiday or beneficial time off work! If people do not listen to the guidelines then we will go into complete lockdown and you will only be allowed out 500m from your house.

Stay safe everyone and stay in!

Another IBSer. Would also prefer to shit myself in a car driving somewhere for a short walk than out walking round my area! Pre corona of course.

If you have an accident, who will help you? Why risk putting extra pressure on the NHS just to drive somewhere pretty to walk?