most people don't SD when out for a walk etc.

[ImNotCutOutForThis]

Well by what I've seen and I include myself in this.
I picked my dm up last week and went to a park / walk and feed ducks
It was really busy probably as busy as a summers day. There was loads of groups of 3 or 4 sat in the park area. Lots of runners and walkers. Friends /mums and daughters with kids etc. When I say lots we prob saw over 100 other groups /couples.
And I can honeslty say maybe 3 were SD
We even saw a kids birthday picnic with 5 adults and their kids (noticed as they sang happy birthday with a cake for the little boy)

The park area has open lake area. I chose to take my dm because my 2 yr old would be a nightmare by the water and I had the baby in pushchair.

And in all fairness. The path is fairly narrow with a cycle path adjacent. There is no way people in 2s could walk 2m apart without constantly bumping into people.
So I'm not judging. I just wondered if the same most places.

walkers are a fucking nightmare. They just keep coming right at you, often two or three abreast

This is the other problem with paths. I walk on my own usually, but obviously this year you're keeping distance from people. You've got families walking together for example blocking the whole path. If you're running or cycling down the promenade for example near me, you've got families with kids and dogs and it's just impossible.

TheEmoji So if you were heading towards each other then you both had opportunity to create space. If he has came up from behind you then he hasn’t breathed in your face.

I think you are slightly prone to your exaggeration with your “push past” and “breathed in my face”.

He pushed right past me, turned his head slightly and breathed into the first side of my face.

So if you want a technical argument her breathed into my 3/4 profile as l turned my head to see what was happening?

I could give you angles and trajectories if you would like and l can polish up my trig.

How do you know they aren't same households who don't need to social-distance?

TheEmoji So what you mean is he passed by you? Not pushed past?

Where I walk there are two narrow paths about 15 ft apart. I'm not too worried about catching it or passing it on in the open air, but I move to the other when approaching someone to give them lots of room.

Just me. No one does it.

Today there was a woman walking towards me on one path with her toddler on the other. I was tempted to ask "which of you is expendable?"

The way I see it better to take the precautions that cost you nothing like SD in a wide area. Daft not to really. So if you see me avoiding you like that I'm not terrified that it will leap over to me. I'm being polite and cautious in case (fairly unlikely) I have it.

He brushed hard m against my shoulder. This is hilarious😂😂

Arguing with total strangers about technical details of a random incident😂

TheEmoji Of course he did.

As an aside, do you not occasionally look behind you? Am I the only one who likes to be aware of who is around when I’m out walking?

I agree about runners being more considerate than walkers . I am constantly jumping in to bushes/ the road to avoid people. Walkers are in a world of their own. Spread across the whole path, no space to pass them.

most of the places I have walked, the paths are about 1m wide, with wet muddy grass on either side.

So it is extrememly hard to do

@Delatron

I agree about runners being more considerate than walkers . I am constantly jumping in to bushes/ the road to avoid people. Walkers are in a world of their own. Spread across the whole path, no space to pass them.

I often see runners having to go in the road to get past people (in quieter roads).

I really miss quiet walks in the countryside. I go for a walk now and spend half of it crossing the street because of people walking along blocking the whole path (or i'll just be considerate if it's a narrow path).

At least in the first lockdown you could walk in the road because there was no traffic. Impossible to keep away from people and traffic now.

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

I’ve had joggers panting up right behind me.

I hate it.

You do know the virus won't land on your back and crawl around and up your nose don't you?

I don't see why the speed that your legs move should dictate whether you have right of way on a path. Whether I am running or walking I keep right over to the left when passing people and expect them to do the same (and stay single file, but many don't, notably joined at the hip early retirees).

As for keeping 2m away you can't always if the path isn't wide enough, but you're not going to pass anything on in the split second it takes to walk past someone.

As for the "SD walk" - it doesn't happen, people walk quite close together but if they are facing the same way it's very low risk.

walkers are a fucking nightmare. They just keep coming right at you, often two or three abreast - the message from them is a very clear 'Take to the muddy bank, we aren't moving'. I've never brushed past or touched anyone, but the inconsiderate behaviour of walkers of all types is a continual annoyance

Yes. Sometimes I just stop and force them to go round me. I don't know why I always have to give way to other people! I tend to see people early on, so I do move when I can, but sometimes it's not possible eg because of traffic in the road, and they give not an inch of leeway.

Nothing to do with speed of legs. It’s to do with the panting.

And l had a hood and hat on. It was very windy so no l didn’t hear him. But obviously it’s my fault l didn’t hear him😁.

He was the one who behaved like a twat not me. I was just walking along minding my own business.

TheEmoji That’s all the more reason why you should be aware of your surroundings if it’s so windy you can’t hear anyone behind you. Although that makes it even more unlikely he breathed in you too is it was that windy.

In my experience, runners (and cyclists on shared paths) generally though not universally understand the principle of treating the path somewhat like a road, i.e. keep left and overtake on the right when it's clear to do so. Walkers usually don't treat paths like roads and wander around unpredictably or go straight down the middle which makes overtaking tricky. Which is understandable, it's a natural way for humans to move. But it would be easier if everyone adopted the path as road mindset when it's wide enough to do so.

Yeah it’s absolutely my fault😂

Thanks for your concern and over investment in my random chance meeting with an unknown jogger.

This is why I only go out late for food shopping, avoiding restaurants and anywhere remotely busy outside. SD is a huge issue, this is why cases were/are rising.

It was bad enough before all this with often no spacial awareness with people, it's just horrific right now.

I do wonder if people will change now in the way they go out or do anything. I was already getting fed up with going to restaurants practically sitting with complete strangers whilst eating because tables were so close. And being barged in shops.

@SaucyHorse

In my experience, runners (and cyclists on shared paths) generally though not universally understand the principle of treating the path somewhat like a road, i.e. keep left and overtake on the right when it's clear to do so. Walkers usually don't treat paths like roads and wander around unpredictably or go straight down the middle which makes overtaking tricky. Which is understandable, it's a natural way for humans to move. But it would be easier if everyone adopted the path as road mindset when it's wide enough to do so.

Yeah, I think the issue with walkers particularly is if there's more than one person and particularly at least a few and with dogs and children. Unless it's a very wide path, how are you supposed to overtake? Especially in the current climate where you need to keep a physical distance.

Even just walking myself i'm constantly having to cross the road or walk on grass verges to walk past people. I'll only go on the bike early in the morning as it's pointless when it's busy as you're just stop start all the time.

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

I would like them to either run on the spot until we move. If l see them l automatically move away. I didn’t know he was behind me, he just pushed past. If l had known l would have moved away. But he was right next to my shoulder.

But one guy on Sunday was panting so close l could see his eye colour. He could have waited or moved but he didn’t.

No one had exclusive rights, but politeness and consideration are key.

Yes, I think I saw you at the weekend, giving a mouthful to a man who’d dared to edge past on the pavement. Some woman had stopped dead in the middle of the pavement with her tank of a pram to performance parent to the baby in it; garden walls down one side, parked cars on the other. What the fuck she expected the rest of the humanity to do whilst she basked in unawareness and pleased her great useless self, god only knows. Apparently, do starjumps on the spot behind her or something until she decided it was time to be on her way.

TheEmoji It’s not about fault at all. However, I am genuinely trying to suggest having more awareness of your surroundings, not just for the runners that push and breathe on you but for the person who is walking behind you and will make a grab for your bag.

That’s basic safety. You shouldn’t be getting surprised if you have more awareness. Take offence if you want, but wandering around oblivious is just daft.

Just a message to say well done to the runners for getting out there and keeping fit. You get a lot of stick on Mumsnet these days.

@Kazmerelda

This is why I only go out late for food shopping, avoiding restaurants and anywhere remotely busy outside. SD is a huge issue, this is why cases were/are rising.

It was bad enough before all this with often no spacial awareness with people, it's just horrific right now.

I do wonder if people will change now in the way they go out or do anything. I was already getting fed up with going to restaurants practically sitting with complete strangers whilst eating because tables were so close. And being barged in shops.

I don't like crowds or being around a lot of people in general with some exceptions (live music for example). I go to restaurants, cinemas, museums etc at quiet times because I like having personal space.

It's a world that's been built for extroverts and that's why it's such an anathema for people now to deal with social restrictions.

Agree, not enough space, give me space!
Not helped when people whose children have been sent home from school for 14 days because they are close contacts of a positive case think it's perfectly OK to let their children walk the dog when it dark and with their hood up - your child is self-isolating because there is a good chance they are carrying coronavirus, walking the dog is not OK just because it is dark - grow a conscience!

@User158340 100% agree with you re extroverts.

Plus dogs on country walks - if you have Covid-19, chances are some of that is on your dogs fur. You may not know you have Covid-19 and I certainly don't know. Please keep your dog on a lead if you see other walkers ahead - I don't want to pat your 'friendly' dog.