When do you think we'll be able to use public transport for leisure?

[AntiHop]

We don't have a car. I'm feeling so hemmed in. I'm desperate to have day out ith my dd somewhere.

Any thoughts on when this will be allowed? I guess public toilets will need to be open too in order to have a day out.

If the hospitality sector opens up in July I guess they would need to relax the rules around then to make it work. I think it will be discouraged for a long time though as a means of managing capacity.

SW England - it’s already happening here, although I’ve only caught the bus for the specified reasons.
Taxi drivers assure me you can take a cab for any reason you like.

it's not a good idea though. that is prime environment for transmission. surely you can find an alternative for leisure.

@MerryDeath what alternatives do I have? I have a 5 year old who can't walk that far. We've been everywhere that we can that's within her walking capacity!

you always could use public transport for leisure.

Given our cases don’t seem, to me, to be decreasing, and we have too many for effective ‘track and trace’, I suspect it will be after a second lockdown.

However, if the windows are open and they are pretty empty, it would probably be ok now. I would definitely avoid anything crowded or not well ventilated,though, and wear a mask.

where do you live OP? cycling is a brilliant alternative to virtually every form of transport, corona or no.

where do you live OP? cycling is a brilliant alternative to virtually every form of transport, corona or no

Cycling is great - it's my main form of transport as I don't drive - but I'd hardly say 'it's a brilliant alternative to virtually every form of transport'. It's not so brilliant if the weather is shit, and/or you have to travel long distances over hilly terrain, perhaps carrying heavy loads.

“However, if the windows are open and they are pretty empty, it would probably be ok now. I would definitely avoid anything crowded or not well ventilated,though, and wear a mask”
I agree. We don’t have a car either and those without access to private vehicles are getting a rough deal as lockdown just goes on and on. I plan to have a day out next week, taking a bus and using hand sanitizer and mask, and of course sitting on an uncrowded, ventilated part of the bus. I’ve been following rules throughout and am happy with this risk assessment.

I already started last week, travelling at non peak times, the trains are empty, negligible risk. Much safer than going into lidl or aldi imo

You can use it now if you have no car. Nobody has said you have to stay at home forever if you don't or can't drive or cycle.

I don't like motorway driving and consider the risk of having an accident far greater than the chance of dying of covid, so if I did need to go somewhere more long distance I would take the train.

I also think you need to weigh up the fact that Covid affects the respiratory system: more pollution is not a good idea, so using a bus or train is sensible in that context. I haven't needed to use a train but I would be quite happy to, I'd use my elbow to open doors etc and wear a face covering.

I've used our local trainline, off-peak for a couple of weeks now, for non-work purposes. I think it's just about being sensible - wear a mask, avoid crowds, wash your hands after etc etc. I think I've had the carriage entirely to myself each time.

Cycling would be a great way to get about if we had lots of safe cycle paths but at the moment with so many petrol heads taking out their frustrations by speeding and driving recklessly I am only biking off road and I wouldn't see that as a good way to get about if I had young children.
How I wish cycling was safer and more accessible in this country ☹️

@B1rdbra1n couldn't agree more. but depends on where you live most definitely. particularly with kids. the world would be a much nicer place to live in virtually every way i can imagine if everyone replaced car journeys with bike journeys where possible. certainly the main thing that puts me off cycling is roads where i won't feel safe because of heavier vehicles.

@B1rdbra1n

Cycling would be a great way to get about if we had lots of safe cycle paths but at the moment with so many petrol heads taking out their frustrations by speeding and driving recklessly I am only biking off road and I wouldn't see that as a good way to get about if I had young children. How I wish cycling was safer and more accessible in this country ☹️

You should do what the majority of cyclists seem to be doing at the moment - cycling on the pavement

the government is promoting cycling and so lots of people have gone out and bought bikes
but they are promoting cycling when there is no where for cyclists to exist safely
It's not safe to cycle on the road and cyclists shouldn't be on the pavement because the pavement is for pedestrians
There are cycle routes but they are woefully inadequate.
We are being encouraged to do something but there is no where for us to do it😤

Are people seriously suggesting cycling as a form of transport for a day our for a five year old?

OP just get the bus / train if you want to a s there are no better alternatives. There is no, and never has been, a rule against this.

I am rather tired of people saying that walking and cycling is a viable alternative to public transport!

I love both walking and cycling. But it’s not a clear alternative for everyone and for all contexts. I live in London and cycling in traffic is actually really dangerous unless you know what you are doing and even then it’s quite risky. There are very few bike paths and lanes. It’s definitely much too dangerous for children.

I live in london. Cycling is not an option. I've never learnt to drive and feel extremely unconfident on the roads. There is no way I could safely cycle with my 5 year old.

In theory cycling could be a great form of exercise and a great way to get from a to b
In reality cycling is just something thrown at us by the government to distract us from its failings, there are very few spaces where you can do much more than just pootle about, it's just a way to pass the time while you hope that things will get back to normal

I'm surprised people are saying taking public transport for leisure is allowed? I've been taking public transport to work. At every station there's Transport for London signs saying there only use public transport for essential journeys, and there's constant announcements saying the same thing.

There is no way I would let a 5yo cycle on roads with me (is that even allowed?)

OP, is your child able to use a scooter safely on the pavement? This might enable somewhat longer distances on foot.

OP, there's nothing in the legislation that bans public transport for leisure activities, or any other transport for that matter.

Living in a city or even a town without a car means public transport is crucial. It's unfair to expect people not to use it. I haven't even seen a garden for 3 months and the nearest park is a couple of miles away and isn't nice enough for me to even want to bother walking to. I will be using public transport soon for a day out.