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Original poster

Bike rides

352 replies

whenskiesaregrey · 06/04/2020 22:36

So, if someone goes on a 30, 40, 50+ bike ride, what explicit reasons can I give for why they can't do it?

Just for clarity, I don't think it should happen. But when challenged, people say there is no contact, routes are quiet etc. Just wondering how to respond to this.

OP posts:
daisypond · 07/04/2020 13:10

I know national parks are closed. But you can still go cycling, just not in the park. You can still cycle to a nearby town if you wanted, but then you shouldn’t go walking afterwards, because that would be two forms of exercise.

UYScuti · 07/04/2020 13:13

We should all be exercising, it is our moral duty to maintain and promote the health of our cardiovascular systems for the good of the nation.
That's why I go running, to show that I am a good upstanding citizen who wants to promote the health of the nation

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 13:21

That's why I go running, to show that I am a good upstanding citizen who wants to promote the health of the nation

PMSL - some people do have an incredibly high option of themselves if they honestly think people look at them running and think ‘there goes a good upstanding citizen promoting the health of the nation - I want to be like them!’ 😂😂😂😂

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 13:23

I'm puzzled how U.K. national parks can be 'closed' when many people live within them.

Absolutely car parks and visitor centres can and should be, and people may legitimately be sanctioned for travelling to them from outside of the local area (including the hypothetical long distance cyclist) but our national parks aren't like the ones in the US which have entry and exit points.Confused

UYScuti · 07/04/2020 13:27

Thank you Bearbehind😊 and yes you can be like me if you try hard enough😊😊😊

daisypond · 07/04/2020 13:59

I'm puzzled how U.K. national parks can be 'closed' when many people live within them.
Yes, they aren’t actually “closed”. Car parks and visitor centres are closed. People live in national parks and roads are open.

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 14:12

But their websites say do not travel to or visit them. Cycling is visiting and travelling.

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 14:14

And why is travelling from one town to another and bringing germs a good idea?

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 14:17

But their websites say do not travel to or visit them. Cycling is visiting and travelling.

Yes. I don't think anyone is really disagreeing with that.

And why is travelling from one town to another and bringing germs a good idea?

It isn't. Who on earth implied it was?Confused

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 14:24

Daisy said you can cycle to a nearby town if you wanted. That is unnecessary travel.

daisypond · 07/04/2020 14:27

Cycling counts as exercise, not travelling. Just as jogging or going for a walk count as exercise, not travelling. Getting in a car is travelling.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 14:28

She said you shouldn't go walking after ... maybe she meant cycle to town to shop.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 07/04/2020 14:30

Cycling counts as exercise, not travelling. Just as jogging or going for a walk count as exercise, not travelling. Getting in a car is travelling

Oh of course, because if you're infectious but cycle to another town you can't infect anyone. However, if you're infectious and drive to another town then you can infect people.

Clearly COVID19 can tell the difference between those moving for exercise and those moving for Travel

midgebabe · 07/04/2020 14:36

Oh good grief, not all the rules will make 100% sense in all cases, yes driving in your car and never getting out won't hurt anyone ( if you don't need petrol) ( and you never crash )

As soon as you get out of the car you risk causing transmission between areas

Rules need to be simple to understand , simple to enforce, fair to all and with just enough leeway to keep people fit and healthy

mencken · 07/04/2020 14:38

although many in London can't get the concept, not everyone lives the same way. Here a 20 mile daily ride is the norm for some, as even in usual times we have quiet empty roads. now you can go for miles and see maybe 3 people.

we are of course a long way from a hospital which is on its knees in normal times, so that's a good way to ensure caution.

coachman · 07/04/2020 14:42

Mencken many of us in London do get the concept. We're not stupid.

tallrachel · 07/04/2020 14:45

Whilst the government have set down some rules the general idea is to come into contact with as few people as possible. So surely people can use a bit of independent thought to work out what will be more likely to pass infection to others.

Some of the suggestions on here are totally illogical. The one about cycling a loop rather than going further away. If I were to cycle around in a loop I would be doing so in a built up area which is highly populated. If I were to do the same distance further away from my house in the countryside I would come into contact with significantly fewer people.

Come on ladies, use your brains FFS. You dont need spoonfeeding this informaiton surely.

daisypond · 07/04/2020 14:46

Oh of course, because if you're infectious but cycle to another town you can't infect anyone.
It doesn’t matter. The “rules” are what they are. No rule will cover all circumstances. Cycling is deemed exercise and is permitted, at least for now.

okiedokieme · 07/04/2020 14:49

You are allowed to exercise, walking, running and cycling were specifically mentioned. No time limits or geographical restrictions were imposed but we were told that driving to the location of exercise should be avoided if possible (but isn't prohibited). Some National Parks have closed car parks as has the National trust. Stop worrying about others, seriously, people are mostly following the social distancing rules and if it's not affecting you why get so angry. If I want to walk all day I can legally, the law only says once per day.

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 14:50

Travel is the movement of people between distant geographical locations. Travel can be done by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, ship or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one way or round trip.

No cycling long distances is travel, the same as walking or driving.

daisypond · 07/04/2020 14:52

The one about cycling a loop rather than going further away. If I were to cycle around in a loop I would be doing so in a built up area which is highly populated.
If they bring in restrictions, it could easily be to exercise no more than half a mile from your home. They may stop cycling as exercise altogether. But where I live many people cycle several miles to work. There’s even an increase of commuters cycling, as people try to avoid public transport. So there will still be cyclists on the roads.

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 14:54

Cycling is deemed exercise and is permitted, at least for now.

No one has suggested cycling is not permitted

The argument is simply that it is selfIsh and entitled to think that ‘your’ exercise is fine to go on for several hours each day whilst other people have made the very sensible judgement that about an hour seems appropriate given we’ve all been told to stay at home

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 14:57

if it's not affecting you why get so angry

Because it is very likely those people will end up ruining it for everyone

it’s exactly these people who are out and about for hours that make things feel more ‘normal’, which in turn leads to others thinking they’ll spend a few hours in their nearest outdoor space........and while they’re there they’ll kick a ball around.......and so on

PomBearsyummy · 07/04/2020 14:58

"The argument is simply that it is selfIsh and entitled to think that ‘your’ exercise is fine to go on for several hours each day whilst other people have made the very sensible judgement that about an hour seems appropriate given we’ve all been told to stay at home"

Congratuations. You have identified the worlds thinnest argument.

tallrachel · 07/04/2020 15:02

"The argument is simply that it is selfIsh and entitled to think that ‘your’ exercise is fine to go on for several hours each day whilst other people have made the very sensible judgement that about an hour seems appropriate given we’ve all been told to stay at home"

Time is completely irrelevant. Why are people failing to comprehend this simple point?

A cyclist going out into the countryside for 4 hours is going to infect far fewer people compared to a jogger or walker going around the streets/footpaths for an hour.