Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

More people venturing out today

80 replies

BackInTime · 02/04/2020 17:03

I have been going for a walk at the same time daily since lockdown and usually see very few people or cars. Today was noticeably different there were a lot more people out and about walking and more cars on the roads. Has anyone else noticed this?
Perhaps people reached lockdown fatigue.

OP posts:
beachcomber70 · 02/04/2020 19:44

I noticed a real increase in road traffic yesterday and even more today. It's like everyone feels they are having a holiday. Unfortunately we will see more idiotic behaviour at the weekend.

People seem to be getting bored, complacent and more relaxed. I wish the professor hadn't talked about 'green shoots' a couple of days ago...as I thought it would give people the go ahead to relax the rules. And I think it has contributed to more activity.

beachcomber70 · 02/04/2020 19:48

For 'everyone' read 'some people'.
Most people have common sense, are responsible, can sacrifice a lot if it means we protect the NHS and all others.

coachman · 02/04/2020 19:49

I'm in London, in the suburbs. It's really quiet where I am.

SistemaAddict · 02/04/2020 19:52

The bloke next door is ferrying his kids between his and his ex's daily, and the lady on the other side has her adult daughter visiting again. I appreciate children can be moved between houses but surely doing it so often isn't what was meant. Poor kids must be dizzy. And when they aren't there he's out and about a few times a day. Another neighbour is out for hours every day, at least once. He's a lecturer snd his uni is closed. Visitors to the family at the end most of yesterday. However, the most entitled family have been in all week which surprised me. More people walking about today too. It's a joke.

disorganisedsecretsquirrel · 02/04/2020 19:53

I've noticed a lot of people out walking today.. very rural area no cars about .. all in ones or twos and keeping their distance.

Very sensible imo. We need exercise. I put it down to even reluctant exercisers deciding to they need to stretch their legs.

HitsAndMrs · 02/04/2020 19:53

Babyroobs - What isn't fine is you calling him out on FB. He's had advice he can go out, he warned you when he didn't have to.
You are not the police.

soloula · 02/04/2020 19:54

Someone in an estate in our small town where my parents live has created a trail for kids to find things as they're walking round to make getting out and about more fun for them. Like the bear hunt/rainbow idea but specific to this area. We live in a small town surrounded by countryside so it's easy enough to take the kids somewhere you're unlikely to bump into others.

Lovely idea but I just know that all the muppets of the day will be piling in their cars to go down or walking over from neighbouring areas to let their kids look for the items, meaning more folk out and about and my parents who have mobility issues so are restricted with where they can go will be struggling to get out for a walk with more people in their wee estate. And I know if I said anything on the fb post they 'advertised' it on that it would be a pile on and I'd be accused of being a killjoy and the like. Some folk just don't get it.

EasyTarget · 02/04/2020 19:55

Still quiet where I am.

FrenchyQ · 02/04/2020 19:56

The roads were definitely more busy today

Yorkshirelassie · 02/04/2020 19:56

I was thinking exactly the same here, like the realisation of the need to stay in has worn off a bit or something. More people I know talking about popping to the shops etc etcHmm

HeIenaDove · 02/04/2020 19:57

i wonder if there is a correlation between people not getting help and the increase of cars on the road. Some of them could be going to a vulnerable relative or friend because waiting any longer would mean dire consequences.

e.g. Blind people are not currently being considered as vulnerable enough to get food deliveries.

NewYearNewJob123 · 02/04/2020 19:58

Still disconcertingly quiet here (big city)

ReginaGeorgeous · 02/04/2020 19:59

I left my house today for the first time since last weekend (dropping some groceries to my immuno comprised mum, before anyone starts that I’m part of the problem) and the roads and pavements were considerably busier.

OhClover · 02/04/2020 20:00

BJ tweeted that data showed more people using transport today

browzingss · 02/04/2020 20:01

I guess the weather being exceptionally nice may be an explanation

BeetrootRocks · 02/04/2020 20:03

London suburbs quiet here too.

Wonder if people in cities are more aware of there being large numbers of people around and being a bit more responsible, knowing if some took the piss that because of population density it would mean distancing impossible.

EggysMom · 02/04/2020 20:06

Definitely people becoming more relaxed about the 'lockdown'. Last week I heard neighbour one telling her children that they couldn't play with friends, had to stay in their own garden etc. This week, neighbour two's children are playing with neighbour one's children on their trampoline.

Namelesswonder · 02/04/2020 20:14

Scotland isn’t due to be warm this weekend, around 9 degrees, so it will be interesting to see if behaviour differs depending on where in the country you are and how warm it is.

LtJudyHopps · 02/04/2020 20:16

I thought this! I haven’t been out since last Thursday but I went to Aldi yesterday. While the shop was fine (well stocked and organised) the roads seemed busier than last week.

I had to drive to Hampstead today (drove my mum to the hospital for a scan) and it seemed so busy! The roads themselves were quiet, but so many people were out on foot! I drove around Hampstead looking for somewhere to park and just couldn’t believe it. It was like a normal day. Obviously I don’t know how it’s been since the lockdown but if it’s like that, I see why people are moaning. My London suburb has been so much quieter and the roads empty.

LittleSweet · 02/04/2020 20:16

Babyroobs, I checked the NHS website and you are allowed out to exercise if a member of your household has covid19. I checked because I'm sure I have it and didn't want dh infecting people. No one from the household can food shop of go to the pharmacy for 14 days and obviously I can't go out at all for7 days. I was surprised that people are allowed out for exercise, but I guess it's important for general health.

itsgettingweird · 02/04/2020 20:17

There is also the fact that the deliveries of medications and food parcels has now started. Remember the number of volunteers on the roads doing this. And delivery of meals to hospitals has started.

People probably are getting worried about car batteries and going for a drive to keep it topped up.

I've not noticed any lowering of social distancing even if more people are out and about so it hasn't concerned me as such.

Cacaca · 02/04/2020 20:21

I saw a lot less today (do our daily walk at the same time every day)- obviously depends on where you are in the country.

maddiemookins16mum · 02/04/2020 20:23

Yep, I noticed it. The ‘novelty’ (not the right word I know) has worn off already.

Lou0390 · 02/04/2020 20:24

Yup I've noticed the same thing. Traffic creeping up and more walkers not keeping social distance. Also spotted a lot more elderly high risk group out including my two neighbours off to buy their daily papers! I despair Angry

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread