Travel to exercise?

[Northernbeachbum]

I am being stupid probably but I can't see when we can start driving to exercise? Desperate to go somewhere else, 3yr old hates our walks now after being an awesome walker

You can already drive short distances, staying local.

Local isn't defined - because it varies so much depending on where you are - 5 miles across a city would probably take you past scores of open spaces. But might be the minimum needed to get to the closest (or second closest, for a change) if you are rural

There isn't anywhere that close to us, its walk from home again or a 30/40min drive (rural). So yes, we are walking from home as there is no other choice at the moment

The roolz are completely undefined, OP. At least in May (or was it ?April) 2020 they said "drive less than you exercise"

I regularly drive 30/40 minutes to exercise and have done since the first lockdown. I live in a rural area and my choices are busy, cramped town centre or endless, blind country roads I don't feel safe walking on. I drive 30 minutes to the local national park or 40 minutes to the beach nearly everyday. To me it's no different than driving thirty minutes to my nearest Tesco!

Stay local message ends 29th March according to the news.

I know of a fair few who have been fined and we can't afford it sadly.

29th March, blimey. Thats a long wait still.

God just imagine the traffic jams on the 29th March!

You can drive for exercise now. When it was in the news about the women in Derbyshire being fined for doing it our local police chief came on TV and said it was absolutely fine to do so. He said his force wouldn't be fining people for doing so and suggested that 5 miles/20 mins was quite reasonable. We've been doing so occasionally through this lockdown and know plenty of others who have. No-one has been fined around here.

@madaboutrunning - plenty of fines around here. I've had friends receive them!

29th March is when stay local ends. I know quite a few people who’ve had fines as well.

[quote Northernbeachbum]@madaboutrunning - plenty of fines around here. I've had friends receive them![/quote]
Yes, it all seems very unequal doesn't it? Maybe it depends where you go? We are fortunate to be able to go to places where we rarely see another person. I guess if the police are patrolling places, it will be busier car parks.

Where I live the police are interpreting stay local to the city. Many people have been fined going to the nearby forest just outside the city (15 min drive from my house and under 5 miles) or to the nearest beach for a walk (20 mins). There’s only so many times you can take a toddler to the same parks. I’ve never seen my local parks so rammed whilst the nearby countryside is empty!

@slayduggee its totally illogical isn't it! Fab name by the way!

@madaboutrunning apparently they've been sitting on the more commonly used roads stopping people. I don't blame them doing their jobs but rates are so incredibly low now we should be able to travel to exercise without fines

You can do it now. There is no law against driving for exercise (I have read every page of the legislation as when not on mat leave I work in law) any fines given for this will not stand up if challenged. I am driving 15 miles regularly to meet friends to exercise and go somewhere suitable for a push chair.

The forest is within 5 miles so I’m sure it’s would be seen as local. However, I don’t really want the hassle of being stopped and questioned by the police when I have a baby and a toddler with me. I also don’t have the time or money to go to court to get any fine overturned.

You don’t go to court you just complain and it gets overturned the police have admitted themselves in the case of the 2 women in Derby that the fine wasn’t legal or justified.

Ignore children who can't spell the word rules.....29th march