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Original poster

Can we drive to exercise?

23 replies

Whatatoodoodle · 31/10/2020 22:35

Apologies if I’ve missed this either in the guidance or on here but are we allowed to drive to our outdoor exercise? (Obv within reason)

OP posts:
Lurkingforawhile · 31/10/2020 22:52

I guess it's like before. The wording is very similar. So if necessary for example if you need to walk your dog somewhere. I'll be driving out for 10 min or so to find somewhere nice and quiet with no people where I don't have to walk on a pavement. The guidance before was something like doing the exercises for longer that you were travelling for (to stop people just going for a drive and a 10 min walk, for example to Barnard Castle)

Hugosmugo · 31/10/2020 22:54

I'll be driving to exercise. I think I have read it is OK.

Hugosmugo · 31/10/2020 22:54

Due to my mental health, I will need to see people (obviously 1 at a time) and not many of my friends live within walking distance. So driving is necessary

Lurkingforawhile · 31/10/2020 22:58

Good point @Hugosmugo. I'll be going for a walk with my dad who lives by himself (but not in my bubble) so that's a short drive to walk together for at least one of us.

Lurkingforawhile · 31/10/2020 22:59

I think I read that they don't want you going on "days out" but want to encourage outdoor exercise. This is at least a small improvement.

Sleepyblueocean · 31/10/2020 23:14

The guidance says you can visit outdoor places such as countryside and beaches which would involve driving for most people. We will continue to do the driving to public outside places that we usually do.

Parkmama · 31/10/2020 23:32

Yes, there has been no guidance on how far you can travel for the exercise you want to do outdoors. The time you spend doing it is also not limited, but you can't meet other households unless you're 1 + 1. I think a common sense approach is best here, travel as far as you need to in order to see relatives or friends outdoors and to exercise yourself, your household, your dog etc. The less we all travel, the less chance there is of spreading infection to other parts of the country and also the less chance there is of us having traffic accidents which reduces pressure on emergency services. It's impossible to police of course, so up to us as individuals to work out what's really necessary. Personally I'll be travelling around 30 mins to go for a walk with my mum a few times during the 4 weeks, I'm unlikely to travel 2 hours to go to the beach and I'll likely postpone any other social plans I had to meet friends until the restrictions are relaxed again. Do what you need to do for yours and others mental health within the guidance

Watsername · 31/10/2020 23:43

I don't think it's clear - they say you can leave the house to exercise, but in the travel section it says that you shouldn't make unnecessary journeys.

PickAChew · 31/10/2020 23:45

You're allowed to go to the beach or other places so yes. It's not just exercise - you can take recreational walks.

Sleepyblueocean · 31/10/2020 23:50

We need to drive to the places where we usually exercise so that is a necessary journey. I won't be changing ds's routine I read unnecessary journeys as special outings that you wouldn't usually do.

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 31/10/2020 23:51

Will we still be able to book national trust slots for walks?!

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 01/11/2020 00:31

Well it says you can go to beaches and pay-to-enter gardens for recreation as well as exercise, and for most of us it will be essential to drive to those as it’s too far to walk

Quaagars · 01/11/2020 01:15

Common sense, isn't it?
I mean, yes you can drive to exercise.
If you're an hour or so from beauty spots or the coast though, is it really "exercise" you're driving to or just an excuse?
I mean, can exercise on your doorstep just as well via walks.
I sometimes think people look for loopholes

BrieAndChilli · 01/11/2020 01:17

Here in wales exercise but start and finish at your home unless necessary eg disabled and need to drive somewhere flat or small kids and live on an A road etc

RedRiverShore · 01/11/2020 06:24

I wouldn’t be surprised if the NT closes as it has in Wales, I would have thought driving to exercise would be OK, also in cold November there is not going to the quantity of people out as there was in sunny April, I’m certainly a fair weather walker so probably won’t bother much.

banking · 01/11/2020 06:25

I think you can, as we could before (within reason).

StarcourtMall · 01/11/2020 07:12

What are “pay to enter public gardens” (which are allowed to remain open) and how are they different to “botanical gardens” which must close?

Spikeyball · 01/11/2020 07:29

I think botanical gardens have indoor bits. Pay to enter public gardens are things like national trust.

RedRiverShore · 01/11/2020 07:32

Maybe NT will stay open then, I hope so.

RedRiverShore · 01/11/2020 07:34

I’m hoping that DH can carry on going fishing, it’s not mentioned at all.

ApolloandDaphne · 01/11/2020 07:38

I am having deja vu.

Bickles · 01/11/2020 07:43

We’ll be driving to local parks. So not long journeys- 15 minutes or so

Lurkingforawhile · 01/11/2020 07:53

I think NT has sorted out the bookings now, so hopefully they’ll be able to keep their grounds open. Botanical gardens are usually smaller, and as a pp said have glasshouses. I’m thinking of the one in Oxford which is pretty small.

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