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Original poster

Can we drive to an area for a walk?

186 replies

Swissrollypoly · 01/11/2020 00:07

Or is it like last time when you had to walk/exercise in your local area.
I want to be able to take my toddler on a walk in the woods that’s a 15 min drive from us.

OP posts:
Delatron · 01/11/2020 10:40

I bloody hate these batshit threads.

I actually believed the ‘only once per day’ for exercise crap that was spouted on here last time and with a dog and kids to exercise found it so restrictive. Only I didn’t actually need to do that. Bloody witches on here making up the law and telling people off for not following their made up rules.

It’s different this time, schools and nurseries are open? How many people will be driving to them do you think?

Of course it’s ok to drive to exercise.

Completmentfille · 01/11/2020 10:51

Rosebudsandraindrops

You won't get stopped. Crack on and see your support bubble friend Flowers

My sister's partner drove from Bristol to London every weekend to see her during the last lockdown. He was never stopped.

PicsInRed · 01/11/2020 10:53

Just make your own risk assessment and do what you feel is safe.

YouSetTheTone · 01/11/2020 11:03

I have been driving pretty much daily for 22 years and only ONCE have I been involved in an accident severe enough to require roadside assistance (but not medical care). Unless I have been exceptionally lucky how is it that suddenly NOW people are hypothesising an unprecedented series of serious crashes among people driving 15-40 minutes away for a bit of scenic walking?
And frankly if someone DOES crash and require NHS service isn’t that precisely why Boris has begged us to stay at home so that we keep the NHS functioning as it always does? I’m not going to feel guilty if I need to use NHS services! I’m doing my bit fucking the economy and people‘s mental health to keep the NHS going so if I’m involved in a statistically unusual accident or illness during the lockdown period then I expect that I’ll be able to use the NHS in return for this sacrifice.
In short Op I don’t think it would be unreasonable of you to drive carefully for a short while to take your DC for some daily exercise.

chomalungma · 01/11/2020 11:03

It's 'should' and 'must'.

You are allowed to visit public outdoor spaces.

You should avoid non essential travel.

Should just means that they would like you not to non essential travel but it's not against the law.

Spikeyball · 01/11/2020 11:04

SoloMummy is obviously one of those 'mummys' whose only worry is whether she will be able to get flour for baking banana bread.

Jog off back to your cosy life and let the rest of us concern ourselves with ours.

chomalungma · 01/11/2020 11:09

You should avoid all non-essential travel by private or public transport.

Essential travel includes, but is not limited to

essential shopping
travelling to work where your workplace is open or you cannot work from home
travelling to education and for caring responsibilities
hospital GP and other medical appointments or visits where you have had an accident or are concerned about your health.

SHOULD is different to MUST. If you read a lot of Government stuff, you'll see both words. Should is different to Must. Must is to do with the law, Should is guidelines. Just like last time with the ' 1 hour per day daily exercise' - that wasn't in the law.

lljkk · 01/11/2020 11:20

it wasn't written in law that we could only go out for exercise once a day, and yet Gove & Johnson made a big dance about multi excursions/day for exercise being suddenly 'allowed' in mid May.

chomalungma · 01/11/2020 11:21

@lljkk

it wasn't written in law that we could only go out for exercise once a day, and yet Gove & Johnson made a big dance about multi excursions/day for exercise being suddenly 'allowed' in mid May.
Exactly.

There was a confusion between guidelines and the actual law.

Chloemol · 01/11/2020 11:23

No, it says all non essential travel is banned, travel only for work or education

SeekingAnswers3 · 01/11/2020 11:23

Yes I will be

chomalungma · 01/11/2020 11:25

@Chloemol

No, it says all non essential travel is banned, travel only for work or education
It doesn't.

It says you SHOULD avoid all non essential travel.
It does not say you MUST avoid all non essential travel.

MUST means that it's in the law.

Arosadra · 01/11/2020 11:25

In Wales we haven’t been allowed but it hasn’t been policed.

We weren’t allowed last time and it was enforced by police. Maybe they realised it’s stupid.

randomer · 01/11/2020 11:28

@YouSetTheTone, I wasn't saying I agreed with it, just I think that may be the reasoning? If in fact there is any reasoning.

Personally, having exhausted the walks round me, I will be hopping in the car with a flask and a packet of hobnobs and seeing what is on offer.

caringcarer · 01/11/2020 11:40

This is so stupid. There is always someone claiming their child is so precious they don't have to follow the rules. We would all prefer to walk in beautiful secluded woods rather than walking around a housing estate but it won't kill anyone to just do as they are bloody told and only drive for food if you can't have it delivered, for medicine, care duties or to flea abuse. Those reasons have got to be more important, thetefore walk locally. Our council has written letters begging residents not to risk spreading virus further and to please consider exercising at home on exercise bike if at all possible. We got this letter yesterday morning so before national lockdown announced. This is serious not some stupid game of I am allowing my child to do whatever they want. I hope the police do start fining people who break rules, that is the only way some will learn the rules are for everyone's best interest.

Completmentfille · 01/11/2020 11:41

flea abuse

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Are you from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Fleas?

chomalungma · 01/11/2020 11:41

I hope the police do start fining people who break rules, that is the only way some will learn the rules are for everyone's best interest

You can only fine people if they break the law.

Orcus · 01/11/2020 11:46

@caringcarer

This is so stupid. There is always someone claiming their child is so precious they don't have to follow the rules. We would all prefer to walk in beautiful secluded woods rather than walking around a housing estate but it won't kill anyone to just do as they are bloody told and only drive for food if you can't have it delivered, for medicine, care duties or to flea abuse. Those reasons have got to be more important, thetefore walk locally. Our council has written letters begging residents not to risk spreading virus further and to please consider exercising at home on exercise bike if at all possible. We got this letter yesterday morning so before national lockdown announced. This is serious not some stupid game of I am allowing my child to do whatever they want. I hope the police do start fining people who break rules, that is the only way some will learn the rules are for everyone's best interest.
Oh look, another one who doesn't know what she's talking about (news flash, the new lockdown rules don't exist yet) but hasn't let that stop her from moralising.

@MNHQ, it's clear from some of the recent posts that people bullshitting, freestyling and lecturing about rules they've made up has been a real problem on here. I was talking about laughing at stupid before, but the last few posts have made me realise it's more serious than that. It's causing real difficulty for some people. I wonder a webchat with a lawyer who actually understands the regulations would be a possibility?

Mudlark1ng · 01/11/2020 12:10

Not so caringcarer

My dc will not walk in our local area he is too scared he will see somebody he knows or one of the bullies that destroyed his mental health.It has taken a huge amount of effort to get him to walk elsewhere in daylight. He is Vit D deficient already and has made great strides with his illness walking

in our local woods.

He was suicidal and won’t be alone so actually people could die if kept from areas crucial to their mental health.

Pretty sure the NHS would rather he had a quick walk 20 mins away than a stint in hospital keeping beds from Covid patients.

cologne4711 · 01/11/2020 12:16

If you live somewhere with lots of hills and/or no pavements, it's obviously not unreasonable to drive to somewhere flat/with safe paths to walk on.

I can easily exercise from my front door so unless I am meeting a friend for a run further away, I won't drive for exercise. But it totally depends where you live.

The parks will remain open this time which may make life easier for people.

And November is a bit different from April weather-wise, so I doubt there will be the same numbers wanting to travel anyway.

cologne4711 · 01/11/2020 12:18

Our council has written letters begging residents not to risk spreading virus further and to please consider exercising at home on exercise bike if at all possible

Your council needs to educate itself about the dangers (or lack thereof) of outside transmission.

TravellingSpoon · 01/11/2020 12:19

@caringcarer

This is so stupid. There is always someone claiming their child is so precious they don't have to follow the rules. We would all prefer to walk in beautiful secluded woods rather than walking around a housing estate but it won't kill anyone to just do as they are bloody told and only drive for food if you can't have it delivered, for medicine, care duties or to flea abuse. Those reasons have got to be more important, thetefore walk locally. Our council has written letters begging residents not to risk spreading virus further and to please consider exercising at home on exercise bike if at all possible. We got this letter yesterday morning so before national lockdown announced. This is serious not some stupid game of I am allowing my child to do whatever they want. I hope the police do start fining people who break rules, that is the only way some will learn the rules are for everyone's best interest.
So where is everyone going to go and buy all these exercise bikes? What a load of old tosh.

In the last lockdown, which was more severe than this one, children who had additional needs were allowed to travel for exercise as it was recognised that it was less detrimental than trying to force a child to stay at home, or to change their routine. I doubt that will change this time.

There should be a Blue Peter style badge for Covid pearl clutchers. The we would know who to avoid.

TravellingSpoon · 01/11/2020 12:21

In fact I would love to see this letter from your local council. Maybe you could post a picture for us all to see.

Deadgoldfish · 01/11/2020 12:26

@TravellingSpoon - The fact that the letter was “begging” people to use exercise bikes has really tickled me for some reason 🤣

Orcus · 01/11/2020 12:30

@TravellingSpoon

In fact I would love to see this letter from your local council. Maybe you could post a picture for us all to see.
Agreed. Care to share?