[Closed] When will they let us drive to exercise?

BBC are reporting an expected date of 29th March for outdoor activities with up to 6 people, and a removal of the local enforcement rule, ahead of tonight’s announcement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56148160

I thought it would be May so 5 more weeks isn’t too bad. I believe in the science and have followed all the rules carefully since the beginning but enough is enough now.

Frankly it’s been frustrating seeing people (including friends and family) come up with their own empty justifications to break the rules since the beginning, based entirely on first world privilege and a total lack of basic perspective, only to see the numbers ramp right up and lose access to outdoor exercise in the woods miles from anyone that causes no harm at all in reaction. I fully appreciate it’s more complex than that, but each time a mate’s excused ‘just going round to one mates house for dinner’ during a lockdown, then another a few days later, I’ve made it clear how selfish they’ve been.

SAGE are working on the basis that outdoor transmission is causing 1 in 100 cases, but it’s thought by their scientists the actual number could be between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 10,000. That all paired together has meant losing trips to trails has really pissed me off.

That in itself is a first world problem I totally appreciate. Others have lost their sport entirely. But cycling is one of the lowest risk activities, if not the lowest risk. Can’t wait to have those weekends back again and put this all behind us, the escapism is phenomenally important for the mind.

As it's topical, we made the mistake yesterday of riding through the cycle centre at PBA yesterday - given the fact it was literally rammed full of cars, 'stay local' is a concept lost on people.

Especially when you get buzzed by a group of 8-10 Welsh guys riding like ****s up the fire road on e-bikes & electric MX things.

Which is weird, because on Friday when I rode through it in the afternoon, there was literally one car there. Like a ghost town.

I suspect that by stopping people driving around they have helped keep the whole place quiet and stopped the inevitable crowding of people in certain locations that occurs when the only thing people are allowed to do is drive to somewhere to ‘exercise’. Whilst you can speculate on the minor impact that outdoor exercise has on virus transmission, as soon as they allow driving, some places will be rammed and this will be hard to manage and will cause issues.

Whilst I have been able to see the snow covered hills glistening in the distance but not been able to not been able to get there to enjoy them, I have really enjoyed the roads free of cars. Last year when lock down ended the traffic was horrendous where I live and I’m not looking forward to it returning to that in a few weeks. So I am in no hurry for it to open because when it does just cycling to do my shopping will turn from a pleasure to a chore.

Because we don’t want to stop doing it, I think that we ignore the harmful impact that driving to ride, surf, paddle, climb, etc has on communities and the environment. The lockdown has made me really think about this and realise that you can do things differently and whilst I won’t stop doing it altogether, I will certainly do it much less and with more care and driving to do something will become the exception rather than the rule.

Someone posting on the Dalby Forest Facebook page claimed as he drives about 600 miles a week for work, driving 30 miles for a bike ride is "local" to him. I live about 10 miles from Dalby and have resisted - Sometimes feel like a chump for sticking to the spirit of the guidelines. (not the law, as has been pointed out repeatedly there is no law that can stop you driving for exercise)

Personally I think traveling 30 min is fine say once a week to exercise outside

S'not up to you though is it? It's up to the cop who stops you and asks you where you're going and where you live, and they'll make that decision for you...

 Sometimes feel like a chump for sticking to the spirit of the guidelines

Yep, me too, and in September I moved from literally one of the best places for mountain biking in the country (Hebden Bridge) to South Manchester, where it's fair to say it's less than stellar locally, There's the Peaks just over there, and my old stomping ground is less than an hour away, but...Them's the breaks..

Which is an issue as they don’t know, we regularly have the police in work, so I asked 2 of them what they thought about travel 30 miles to exercise, first one said no problem he knew there’s no where close by to mountain bike so it’s understandable plus going solo riding solo it’s low risk, second officer said he would fine as it’s clearly not local...so 2 officers same force on same shift together 2 different outcomes.

It's an annoying balance isnt it.

on one hand, the wife an I driving 30 miles into the peak, staying away from the honey pot cafes etc and riding seeing very few people outside, then driving home adds virtually no increase to the C19 problem.

Its temping to think that what I choose to do isnt the problem...

But the problem isnt what I choose to do, but what EVERYONE also chooses to do.
If you let people travel round the country you will get more people doing it, more people pushing the rules a bit more, and more associated problems.

Whilst you have to 'stay at home/local' in theory there is less traffic, less traffic accidents needing hospital care, less people in flip flops suck on a hill when it started raining....

Now the pressure on the hospitals is coming down, I had been holding onto the hope that they would lift the 'stay at home' part of the restrictions, still keeping the not mixing with others tight so we could drive away from the city and enjoy low risk outside activities but the tone of the messaging now suggests that it might be wishful thinking 🙁

so 2 officers same force on same shift together 2 different outcomes.

There in lies the issue of the Govt not defining their "rules" well enough, My view personally is "If you get stopped* do I think what I'd say (I'm just driving a wee way to go and enjoy myself on my bike) would sound reasonable to a bored cop, resentful of having to to do traffic duty on an early Sunday shift"

* I know the chances are slim, but...

second officer said he would fine as it’s clearly not local

a bit difficult to issue a legitimate fine for a law that doesn't exist, no?

I'm about 20 minutes from Whinlatter & 30 minutes from Keswick (where most of my rides start). I've not been to either since this lockdown started. No mountain biking from the house either.

But I'm really starting to feel like I need the headspace riding brings me. If people can meet for a coffee I think I'll be heading out for a ride.

If you turned up with a load of mates in the carpark then they could issue a fine for too many people gathering, 2 is it? as this is the legislation.
But they cant fine you for traveling too far as there is no legislation for this, guidance only. It would be like being fined for not eating your 5 a day.

I like most have observed the spirit of the law of not the letter but I would challenge any fine issues to me

Do people really load their bike into their car, just to drive 10 miles? Why not ride the 10 miles?

Because who wants to do 20 miles of road riding on a mountain bike, just to get to the fun stuff? Luckily I'm within riding distance of decent trails, so I haven't been tempted to drive out. But I can understand why people would.

Lots of fair points well made. Immensely complex this mess, the relative simplicity of the summer is almost too incredible to risk thinking about.

I’ve been surprised by how fast even sticky trail tyres are on the road if you pump them right up and lock the shocks out. I’ve been setting a Magic Mary Soft and DHR2 to 45 psi to get to some local trails by road, letting them down to trail pressure there and then pumping back up for the trip home, and it’s quite easy to see 15/16mph avg on tarmac.

I was out on the South Downs yesterday (riding from home) - absolutely lovely in the sunshine. Wouldn't have know there was a 'lockdown' on.  Kids playing football in Lewes park, families meeting up for walks, loads of cyclists out both on road and off, mainly in pairs but some small groups.  Several kayakers out off Seaford bay and cars strapping Sit on Tops and open canoes to car roofs as I cycled back home via the river at Barcombe.

Several small groups sitting in peoples gardens deep in the countryside where no one would ever know.

Really felt like a normal spring day except the pubs were closed!

Do people really load their bike into their car, just to drive 10 miles? Why not ride the 10 miles?

Time restraints for me. That and I struggle with road rides at the best the best of times.

~15 miles to Whin, ~25 to Keswick down the 66.

Ive been struggling with this tbh. Ive been keeping family at arms length because we dont want to risk spreading anything but its regular for me to see 5+ folks (from different households) out for a bike ride past my house. Because i know them i know that they have travelled by car to get here. I then get upset with myself that i am restricting seeing my daughter from seeing my grand parents (something shes upset about) so Should i go and see them (travel about 20 miles to be outside) or is that breaking the rules? is t ok to go mountain biking but not walking for example?

I see groups of kids out playing, families out for a walk with several sets of parents and kids. how come these other people get to enjoy themselves but im not allowed to?

I dont think theres a line to be drawn. Im finding it hard and im getting upset at others doing what they like. Im just holding on till we can see people.

is t ok to go mountain biking but not walking for example?

It is OK to meet one other person for exercise. That can be cycling or walking for example. Seems pretty standard round here for two people to meet up for a walk and a chat. Only one other person and only once a day but I can't see much harm in stretching that a little if you are outside and generally keeping social distance.

Sunday is just silly – lots of large groups walking dogs, hikers on the bike trails. It’s just not fun.

this is the same in forests everywhere - ride before 11am or be forever dodging families.

its good people are getting out and enjoying the local outdoors but it was dead nice when i had teh forest to myself!

Never stopped !