Public Transport to Travel for Exercise

[Flaxmeadow]

We can travel to exercise from Wednesday and there is no limit on how far (England). How do people without a car feel about using public transport again?

Is anyone on MN using public transport at the moment? What's it like and do you have any advice or tips for those who will be about to use it again this week?

Given that the advice is to return to work from Wednesday but avoid public transport, where possible, I can’t imagine why you would want to put yourself at risk for exercise.

Stay closer to home.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/everybody-should-avoid-public-transport-18234038

I have taken trains a few times (not to exercise), it’s quiet.

It’s apparently key workers only but unfortunately you’ll still come across normal annoying passengers like drunks, groups of teens with bikes, beggars ie people who generally don’t care about social distancing. Previously saw a twat pacing up and down the entire carriage screaming on his phone 🙄 and someone was smoking in the toilets

The majority of civilised passengers aren’t travelling so you’ll probably come across weirdos more often. Staff aren’t particularly present either.

I wouldn’t take public transport to exercise just yet.

I live in a rough area and would welcome the chance to get the bus to the nature reserve

I need to be very sure the police won’t stop me and fine me, my understanding is Regulation 6 needs to be rewritten or withdrawn for me to be sure.

And before anyone says “just go”, no, I am not a typical MNer who can just pay the fine.

We walked somewhere 10 miles away & took train back.
there are only 2 other people on a train that seats 120.
On a lovely Saturday afternoon.
I can't feel bad about it, but decided not to do it again coz I did feel conspicuous!

I wouldn't fancy using public transport for anything at the moment unless it was absolutely essential.

Unravellingslowley
As far as I can see there is nothing that' says people cannot use public transport and I don't think there ever has been.

It wouldn't have been fair to tell people to stay closer to home, especially those in urban areas, when people with cars can drive around as much as they like within a day.

Mnthrowaway20202
I get what you mean but there are annoying and weird people in urban inner city areas anyway and seems even more so now out on the streets. So the choice is walk around some soulless concrete empty high street with weirdos or get on a bus with a chance of there being one on there. But at least on a bus you're going somewhere nice.

LilacTree1
Same here, I live very urban too.
It's not just the fine but also that I want to stick with the rules but I can understand why people without cars would be pissed off if it was stopped but cars still allowed to go wherever they want

YeOldeTrout
Hopefully we won't feel so conspicuous now

Sparklingbrook
I think it is essential to get out of the city, for the reasons lilac describes. It feels like I can't remember the last time I saw anything but concrete

I live in central London and there are posters at every station telling people not to use public transport unless it's essential. I see buses pass my flat and they are only about 10% full. I've not used public transport at all since the lockdown started - I'm not actually too concerned about the risk to ourselves but I agree it would feel conspicuous, especially as I would have a toddler with me so it's obvious that I'm not going to work. I'm also dreading there being queues and other restrictions when more people return to work. So I'm going to continue avoiding using public transport for now. None of us in the household drives and I have to admit I feel frustrated that we can't travel further afield for a walk out of the centre, when we would be allowed to if we could drive (and particularly frustrated with DH, who has an overseas licence but needs to pass a UK test, which would have been fairly simple for him if he'd bothered to organise it ages ago).

We're quite fortunate where we are in London though as we have lots of parks and little gardens - it certainly doesn't feel like concrete everywhere.

The guidance is still clear that you should avoid public transport except for if you have to get to work you cannot do at home or for essential journeys. People might want to misinterpret many other aspects of the new guidance, but I cannot see how anyone at all could take away that we are being encouraged to get on the bus to go for a walk in the countryside.

I used public transport (London overground) the other evening because my bicycle got a puncture, I didn’t have a spare inner tube with me, and I wasn’t up for pushing it 7 miles home. I counted 6 people in my carriage. I was the only one not wearing a mask. Most people who have no choice but to use the bus or train seem to be taking the situation seriously.

Public transport is full of germs at the best of times.

No idea why you would want to use it now.

honestly, that train we went on was cleaner than anywhere else i've been for weeks. Think about it. Daily cleaned with rigor even though nobody ever there (except the cleaners). There wasn't a speck of grime or dirt anywhere.

You want to use public transport to exercise?

has the virus caused some kind of brain damage?

You said you want to stick to the rules.

You said As far as I can see there is nothing that' says people cannot use public transport and I don't think there ever has been

This is in the current 'Govt COVID Guidance'

5.1 Who is allowed to travel on public transport?
If you cannot work from home and have to travel to work, or if you must make an essential journey, you should cycle or walk wherever possible. Before you travel on public transport, consider if your journey is necessary and if you can, stay local. Try to reduce your travel. This will help keep the transport network running and allows people who need to make essential journeys to travel

And

5.3 Can I use public transport to get to green spaces?
You should avoid using public transport wherever possible

Should, could, try...
Lots of wiggle room there OP. Not a line that says you mustn’t.

‘It’s necessary for my mental health’

There you go.

Do not use public transport except for essential journeys. As someone who is out there driving trains and increasing the risks to my family, it is incredibly frustrating to be driving around gangs of teenagers, drunks, and people popping off for a jolly. We are running devices to ensure essential workers can get to their place of work. Not so you can go and have a nice walk somewhere.

You should avoid using public transport wherever possible

Assuming the OP doesn't have a physical disability, and given there's no time limit ... is there really no 'green space' within walking distance?

YeOldTrout
My sister uses the bus to go for hospital appointments and shopping and she said they're always really clean as well. Also all the windows are always open

Amelie and ComtesseDeSpair

I've already seen the guidance, but thanks for posting the info

But it does say "wherever possible". So not stopping anyone at all from using buses and trains specifically.

It isn't possible for people who don't have cars, to drive to "get to green spaces", so they will have to use public transport instead

There has not been anything saying that public transport is only for workers and that has been the case from the start of the lockdown.

purewings
There are no posters here telling people not to use public transport unless it's essential. I wonder if it's just London? .

I think after Wednesday it won't be so bad and that the buses will go back to a full service. They've been a Saturday service up to now I think.

Not many "green spaces" here but the ones that are nearby by are full of dogs off lead, dog feaces everywhere, and a tendency to follow you around, acting weird. I know they're just dogs and cant control themselves but still

Heffalumps
Yes lot's of room in there, I'm sure

Flax - “ It isn't possible for people who don't have cars, to drive to "get to green spaces", so they will have to use public transport instead ”

Agree. In a rough area like mine, the nearest green spaces are just filled with the smell of weed and people playing music out loud.

It would do my mental and physical health a lot of good to get the bus to nature reserve.

If I ever get work again, I’ll be on the Tube and the virus won’t have gone anywhere.

The 50 page government document does say they are aiming to get transport back to pre covid levels, presumably so they can maintain social distancing. But as I say - I’ll be using the Tube as soon as I get work and it’s fingers crossed at the mo for a couple of applications I’ve got in.

It isn't possible for people who don't have cars, to drive to "get to green spaces", so they will have to use public transport instead

Is a bike (as a means of transport rather than exercise) possible? (Obviously may not be if there are kids)

Errol, gird yourself- my family background is odd in that I never learned to swim or ride a bike as a child.

As an adult, I learned to swim but never learned to ride a bike as I consider it too terrifying in London. I suffered a spinal injury some years ago so no way will I learn now.

I can walk 5 miles to the nature reserve but I’d be inhaling heavy pollution and I’m asthmatic so rather just get the bus. Plus, there’s now an issue of no public loos to use, so if I want to hang out the nature reserve I’d like to make the journey there and back quicker or I’ll need the loo!

I wouldn’t, even after Wednesday, it doesn’t feel right somehow. I would leave public transport for those who is traveling to work/shop/hospital.

We can travel to exercise from Wednesday and there is no limit on how far (England). How do people without a car feel about using public transport again?

I think that if you don't have a car you don't travel for exercise.

“ I think that if you don't have a car you don't travel for exercise”

We really need the government to answer if this is in law - is it Reg 6 or 7 that needs changing - but I suspect they won’t, so the issue remains whether or not you can be fined.

Boohooyouho
My work puts me at risk as well. I'm in retail and have to face people all the time, handle cash. But I wouldn't dream of telling you not to come into our store

I'm not planning on getting drunk in a gang on a train or bus. I want to be able to do what people with cars can do and what the government says everyone can do. Which is go to "a green space.". I will because there's nothing so far that says I can't

If people are causing trouble on your train then bounce them and if they get out of hand, call the police. That's what we do. Its part of the job

Errol
Yes could get a bike but it's a really urban area and not bike friendly really. I have thought of it though but can't afford it at the moment.

LilacTree1
Yes same problems here. Kind of ironic that those of us who were not polluter car owners might now be told we can't travel on public transport.

Hardly seems fair if they tell people to "drive to green spaces" but only certain people and not others (those without a car). I don't think they will, because there was nothing to stop anyone using PT before