Social Media and Government guidelines

[jim8flog]

I had thought about PMing those involved but I reckon I would get fairly curt replies. One of them I know thinks that about 50 miles is a short bike ride.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Not commenting on the rights or wrongs of it but from a security point of view a far safer and easier place to secure.

Totally agree, but a different discussion and what you say was not even proposed as an official answer.

We are talking about Joe Public, who, as some have said, will look for any excuse to find a loophole or counter argument etc, don’t forget this cycle ride was the argument raised when the media found out about the 2 women in Derbyshire who were fined for being only 5 miles from home.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I had thought about PMing those involved but I reckon I would get fairly curt replies. One of them I know thinks that about 50 miles is a short bike ride.

Depends on the standard of cyclist/route/bike etc, to some it is short.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I've got plenty of nice places I can drive to and then walk.....but I can also go for plenty of long walks straight from the house, which is what I do. I know I'm not supposed to drive to the other places.....and I don't want to be yelled at/shot/fined, so......simples

Me too, all my exercise starts and finishes at home, unfortunately not everybody is able to.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Me too, all my exercise starts and finishes at home, unfortunately not everybody is able to.

Surely anyone is able to start and finish their exercise at home. I started doing Couch to 5k. I worked out a route that would take me from my front door around the neighbourhood and back to my front door. As I got a bit faster I lengthened the route to take this into account. I can't believe that there's anywhere in the country that it's not possible to leave your front door, do your exercise and return to your front door.

 

[Neilds]

Surely anyone is able to start and finish their exercise at home. I started doing Couch to 5k. I worked out a route that would take me from my front door around the neighbourhood and back to my front door. As I got a bit faster I lengthened the route to take this into account. I can't believe that there's anywhere in the country that it's not possible to leave your front door, do your exercise and return to your front door.

Agree totally. The government could stop all ‘confusion’ about the rules by simply stating that you should not drive to your place of exercise. This would mean people were more spread out and beauty spots would not be rammed by people driving to them

 

[Wilson]

I saw this over the weekend, a friends husband posted pictures of himself & two friends riding their bikes in the woods, he doesn’t claim to be a genius but I’d hope he’d know that two is more than one.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

What about Old people or people disabled who prefer to walk in a safe environment or people with dogs who want to be able to allow their pets off the lead etc.
This really isn’t as black and white as some make it.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Surely anyone is able to start and finish their exercise at home. I started doing Couch to 5k. I worked out a route that would take me from my front door around the neighbourhood and back to my front door. As I got a bit faster I lengthened the route to take this into account. I can't believe that there's anywhere in the country that it's not possible to leave your front door, do your exercise and return to your front door.

Agree totally. The government could stop all ‘confusion’ about the rules by simply stating that you should not drive to your place of exercise. This would mean people were more spread out and beauty spots would not be rammed by people driving to them

See post #17

 

[Neilds]

See post #17

I did read that post but has it been proven that Boris drove to the Olympic Park? If he cycled there then, in my opinion, it was within the rules/guidelines as the exercise would begin and end at his door. If, however, he was driven there, then that is wrong and he deserves all the stick he gets.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I did read that post but has it been proven that Boris drove to the Olympic Park? If he cycled there then, in my opinion, it was within the rules/guidelines as the exercise would begin and end at his door. If, however, he was driven there, then that is wrong and he deserves all the stick he gets.

So until we get a definitive answer your initial post is flawed.

I actually agree with your sentiment, but at the moment the measures are “wooly” for want of a better word.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Agree totally. The government could stop all ‘confusion’ about the rules by simply stating that you should not drive to your place of exercise. This would mean people were more spread out and beauty spots would not be rammed by people driving to them

Hancock said early on whilst on TV it's fine to drive to go for a walk somewhere

ATM I'd walk kids round block but their 3 y and 4 months .. so eldest is fine twins don't notice

If was 3 years time I'd need to go to some kind of park

 

[SteveJay]

The guidelines are very unclear. "Local" is not defined, and driving somewhere to exercise is not prohibited.

I follow forums for 2 other hobbies, fishing and cycling, and both have lengthy threads about the guidelines (and whether they are actually law). Individuals have to determine how far they are comfortable to drive - some suggest 10 miles, others less. Fishing is currently permitted but few anglers can walk to a water. A short drive within their "local" area is endorsed by the Angling Trust who negotiated with the Government.

Similarly, many cyclists interpret the guidance as staying close to home, although their ride may consist of loops - so could be 40 miles + near their home. Others suggest staying close enough so you can get home unaided if you suffer a breakdown, but that could be very limiting.

So yes, the guidance is not clear and some are not being stupid posting on social media as they, and many others, interpret the guidance in a certain way. Some however, are clearly abusing them.

Just to be clear, my cycling has been limited to indoors on a trainer, and I haven't fished since the lockdown was imposed

 

[USER1999]

The problem with running, walking, cycling from your door is urban areas. The number of side streets, junctions, driveways, etc is prohibitive to actually getting going. It's very bitty, and potentially dangerous with small kids. I can see why people, PMs included, might want to start from a place from which you don't have to stop very often.
Getting there may involve driving. It still doesn't involve driving hundreds of miles though. That is pushing the boundaries in an unacceptable way, just because you are looking for a rule to bend that was left open for a reason.

 

[Neilds]

So until we get a definitive answer your initial post is flawed.

I actually agree with your sentiment, but at the moment the measures are “wooly” for want of a better word.

I am agreeing they are woolly and suggested a simple way to close the ‘loophole’. I think we are actually in agreement and just saying things slightly different ?

 

[Robster59]

Back to the OP, we did post on Facebook when we went for a walk on my (snow covered) golf course on Facebook, but generally speaking that's about it. I have no desire for the world and his dog to know what I am doing. However, some people love it and can't wait to post their lives to all and sundry. There are plenty of stories where people who claim to be sick or injured have posted themselves on Social Media on holiday, exercising, etc.
More employees, insurance companies, etc use Social Media to check up on people than they realise.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

More employees, insurance companies, etc use Social Media to check up on people than they realise.

We have stated this constantly to our two kids, neither are social media posters thankfully. When I started to mention the employers aspect to my son he stated that his university lecturers are constantly warning students about what they post, how employers will check social media accounts and so on before interviews etc. It is something they are very aware of, educational establishment are very aware of. If people then continue to ignore the advice then you an only shrug your shoulders and roll your eyes

 

[Mandofred]

Yep, the rules aren't set in stone. But.....if they did set all the rules for every possibility they would be 500 pages long and then the excuse would be it was too much to read. People just take advantage of things.....they always have.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

My local walking group are doing a good job of stopping numpties overstepping the rules.
My favourite respondence was the replies to a couple who showed on facebook that they had traveled through two LA Districts to picture themselves with their dogs off the lead in a field of sheep.

Mind you this pair were not the brightest of specimens.
Fife women charged over Covid lockdown breach after Ben Lomond rescue (msn.com)

 

[jim8flog]

My local walking group are doing a good job of stopping numpties overstepping the rules.
My favourite respondence was the replies to a couple who showed on facebook that they had traveled through two LA Districts to picture themselves with their dogs off the lead in a field of sheep.

Mind you this pair were not the brightest of specimens.
Fife women charged over Covid lockdown breach after Ben Lomond rescue (msn.com)

One of my farming mates blocked off the entrances to his field of cows because of the number of people letting their dogs loose in it.