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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:
missmarplesapprentice · 07/04/2020 09:42

Police near us having been stopping cars/cyclists etc. We are on the edge of a popular area for tourists/second home owners and there are still people coming through for "a drive" etc.

Cyclist Friend was stopped by police on one of these roads (about 15 miles from their house as it's their normal route. Police advised them to keep within 10miles from their home and to carry proof of address/id is possible. They are asking people to cycle more locally so they can focus their efforts on people actually breaking key rules during lockdown....surprising number of caravans going on the back roads now and driving through the night.

ShootsFruitAndLeaves · 07/04/2020 09:44

I’m sure the aim of closing beauty spots wasn’t with the view to them being kept open for cyclists

Why do you think that? The issue with beauty spots is large numbers of people in cars congregating in the same spot (the car park) and then dispersing slowly along crowded paths. If you are cycling then you aren't going to be behaving in the same way as people with cars. This is not a competitive stoicism competition.

It doesn’t mean a long bike ride and time in a beauty spot for some because cycling families are special.

As I said, people should use common sense and discretion. Clearly walking on crowded streets in cities is likely to be harmful. But they can't stop it.

Otoh both cycling and walking are permitted activities and if you are doing so safely, at a distance from others, can get home without third party assistance, you don't need to feel sorry for the car drivers who are, in fact, subject do different rules. (Driving is not a permitted activity in itself, cycling is.)

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 07/04/2020 09:47

But you suggesting compromise is still saying thou shalt not isn't it? It's just you giving your opinion on what others should do. Why is it ok for you to do it but not others?

In my opinion, if we don't all follow the spirit of the law, essentially minimise the number of times and the amount of time you are away from home, then the whole thing is pointless, simply because the same risks and benefits that apply to cycling for miles can apply to other situations too. The broader the interpretation of the rules the more excuses can be found for not following them.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 07/04/2020 09:51

can get home without third party assistance,

How do you know this? I can go out in my car and won't need third party assistance to get home - so I can do it then right? I won't come into contact with anyone else whilst in my car so why should driving as a means of transport be banned but cycling as a means of transport is ok?

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 09:53

Of course other people can state their opinions - a few on MN are stating things as facts which aren't.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 09:56

why should driving as a means of transport be banned

It's not. You just have to have a good reason for doing so (one the police would think reasonable, not either extreme of MN opinion).

Using a car to get to a popular location isn't. I'd guess using a bike to do so if that resulted in crowding there wouldn't be either.

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 09:57

Shoots our National Park is closed to everybody, even cyclists. They don’t want anybody. It’s huge, we could easily park away from car parks and do a hidden walk nobody knows about but can’t because it’s closed and wouldn't because we’ve been told not to. Everybody not just the hoi polloi but everybody, even cyclists.

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 09:58

Cycling for 30, 40, 50 miles is taking the piss with the guidance, no matter how much those who clearly do it try to claim otherwise

Can you imagine if everyone decided to take 2, 3, 4 hour exercise breaks - the outdoors would be even busier than usual, not quieter as is the aim

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 07/04/2020 10:01

Using a car to get to a popular location isn't. I'd guess using a bike to do so if that resulted in crowding there wouldn't be either.

Exactly. So it's not the method of transport that's the problem, because there are similar downsides to both, it's the behaviour at the destination which is the problem, which can be addressed by closing or policing known hotspots. Therefore, if cycling fifty miles, just because, is allowed then driving fifty miles, just because, should be allowed, rather than saying you can only drive fifty miles if it is essential travel.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 10:03

Therefore, if cycling fifty miles, just because, is allowed then driving fifty miles, just because, should be allowed, rather than saying you can only drive fifty miles if it is essential travel.

Who is doing that though? The 50 miles cycle is exercise.

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 10:06

Cycling 50 miles is too long. Your time out is supposed to be minimised.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 07/04/2020 10:06

Who is doing that though? The 50 miles cycle is exercise.

50 miles around your local area is exercise. You don't need o travel 25 miles away and 25 miles back for exercise do you? You can stay within a mile of your home and cycle around for 50 miles. Cycling away for twenty five miles is travel.

blueirises · 07/04/2020 10:09

I don't care what people do, to be honest, I'm not stopping people driving where they want, the police are. I'm not telling drivers what to do.

It strikes me that this thread is all about Aut0replenish (and other drivers) stamping their feet and saying "It's not fair". I don't drive, I've never driven and nor has DP. In normal times, this means that if we have a nice day, and fancy going to the seaside we have to get onto a packed train and probably always go to Brighton because it's the easiest seaside destination to get to. We can't jump in the car, drive down, find it's packed and drive along the coast to somewhere quieter, or plan to visit a deserted beach where there's no train access. My kids are now 18 and 15, and this has always been the case. But we all cycle. Not loads, pottering around locally, as "allowed", And I swim normally, but have been cycling instead to make up for it's current loss. It's been nice. Cars are what make it horrible normally.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 07/04/2020 10:12

And for many of us cyclists who whizz past pedestrians are what make walking horrible.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 10:12

50 miles around your local area is exercise. You don't need o travel 25 miles away and 25 miles back for exercise do you?

Yes, I said as much way upthread, so did shoots.

mummmy2017 · 07/04/2020 10:13

So the fines the that the police are giving people who travel are in our imagination.

ShootsFruitAndLeaves · 07/04/2020 10:15

Cycling for 30, 40, 50 miles is taking the piss with the guidance, no matter how much those who clearly do it try to claim otherwise

30 miles is a short ride.

Why do you think it's taking the piss when the guidelines say one form of exercise daily?

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 10:17

There is foot stamping because the government have given rules and guidelines for a reason and for everybody’s benefit. Others are sticking to them, some are suffering when sticking to them. But some cyclists are saying they are somehow above everybody else and deserve special rules because they want their cycling life to continue as normal. They don’t and it can’t.

ShootsFruitAndLeaves · 07/04/2020 10:18

And for many of us cyclists who whizz past pedestrians are what make walking horrible

There aren't the people being complained about in this thread. If you are doing a 50 mile ride then you are unlikely to be on shared use paths or pavements. Those are used by casual cyclists going to the shops. If you have distance to cover you will want to be on the road, pavements are shit for cycling on because they are designed for pedestrians and for cars to cross then at driveways/junctions, not for cycling.

blueirises · 07/04/2020 10:18

I don't "whizz", I'm not a MAMIL. My bike is a granny bike with two baskets. And not having a car, it's not likely I don't also know what it's like to be a pedestrian, is it?

coachman · 07/04/2020 10:20

Why do people get so het up about this? It's not as if we all want to go and cycle 50 miles. Whether I'm allowed to or not isn't relevant to me as I'm not planning to. I'm quite happy to go for an hour's walk or a short run. If someone else wants to go on a long bike ride, fine. Why do people feel the need to police others? Let the police stop people if they feel it's inappropriate.

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 10:21

Why do you think it's taking the piss when the guidelines say one form of exercise daily?

I honestly don’t understand why people don’t immediately see the problem here 🤔

30 miles might be a short bike ride in ‘normal’ times but these are far from ‘normal’ times

Going for a 6 hour hill walking might be ‘normal’ for other people

We aren’t trying to emulate what happens in ‘normal’ times - we are being told to STAY AT HOME

Yes you can go out for one form of exercise but the spirit of that is not going out for several hours exercise every day - that is taking the piss and is not what is expected of people

As I said above, what happens if everyone decides to do that?

Cyclists are no more special than anyone else

ShootsFruitAndLeaves · 07/04/2020 10:23

But some cyclists are saying they are somehow above everybody else and deserve special rules because they want their cycling life to continue as normal.

Nobody has said that. Cyclists have and should make adjustments, for example leaving with more tools, spare tube, proper pump rather than relying on co2 inflator, not cycling with their club, not going to cafés or shops for drinks, but bringing everything from home, cancelling sportives, staying within a closer radius of home, avoiding popular routes such as Richmond Park (closed now to cyclists), etc.

Just because they are not the same adjustments applicable or relevant to motorists doesn't mean they don't exist.

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 10:25

Taking spare tubes and equipment clearly indicates you are going too far, not staying local and not minimising time out.

DdraigGoch · 07/04/2020 10:27

There is no prohibition on going on a 50 mile bike ride. However, it would be good advice in these times to avoid straying outside a distance from where you could walk home should the need arise. If that means going around in circles to keep your mileage up then so be it.

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