Don't ride in groups or we will be stopped cycling completely.

[nickyboy]

Then don’t post controversial comments just to wind people up.If you do then you can expect people to respond

Hmmm...I'd suggest that calling me a bigot is a tad more controversial. However, as it's a "fun and friendly" CC, I decided to let it pass (not least because if you look at my posting history you can see that being a bigot is a million miles from the truth)

 

[Maverick Goose]

Exactly. They are just regular village people.

IIRC only one of the Village People was actually gay...

 

[CanucksTraveller]

That's a rare sight nowadays - very few police forces operate planes any more, favouring helicopters instead as they are much more flexible.

Pedant mode on, (apologies), no specific police force operates planes or helicopters, the full fleet falls under the umbrella of the National Police Aviation Service. There are actually 4 fixed wing aircraft, available to many forces. I think the poster that mentioned the fixed wing aircraft is close to Doncaster airport where one is based.

 

[MarkF]

Not to bad up in my area (newcastle) but some very old bikes dusted off and given a run out.
This seems to be causing problems even with the very limited traffic with some very dodgy bike handling due to inexperience and or fatigue due to overestimating fitness.
So if your new or havnt cycled for a while be carefull and head home before you get tired and take some water with you and sip it before you get thirsty.

There were some top cack riders on the canal last Saturday and I bet many didn't realise they were riding now desirable 1990's MTB's! I could spot them way off because they were wobbling and texting..............

 

[Ming the Merciless]

That was a bit abrupt, couldn’t you have let us down gently?

The posts went into free fall

 

[Rusty Nails]

It's not just small market towns getting parochial. Some Welsh folk have got rather het up about people self isolating in second homes. I mean, if they're genuinely self isolating then theres zero chance of contracting or spreading the illness. Conversely, Welsh folk are happy to be Ambo'd to Bristol or Hereford for treatment when they get poleaxed by the virus, so the parochial nature of such whittling has been conveniently one way.

As have people across England and Scotland living in areas popular with second home owners, including Prince Charles. I think people, living near borders, poleaxed by the virus are happy to be Ambo'd, as you quaintly term it, to any hospital near where they live, in either direction. Being 'Ambo'd' would suggest they are seriously ill, and have little choice.

 

[I like Skol]

For the avoidance of doubt I'd like to make it clear that I'm not this country's leader. Heck, I'm not even my house's leader

Isn't that what they all say before they run for the position?

IIRC only one of the Village People was actually gay...

Did that make him the only gay in the village [people]?

 

[Vantage]

I have to say in complete contrast to @PaulSB 's experiences, here in Bolton on the Lancs/Mancs border, social distancing and staying home seems to be unheard of.
The roads are quieter, but they are still pretty damn busy. Even on my own little street I'm regularly seeing cars and vans coming and going.
The next door neighbours are having family members visit often (young couple and no health issues that are apparent) as are the couple across the road.
Lots more walkers in the moors/hills although they seem to be couples and families.
The 2m thing isn't all that widely used from what I'm seeing. It didn't bother me much at first but as the death toll rises, its bothering me alot now.
There is a completely unrelated silver lining though...the mutt and I are garden camping tonight

 

[lane]

Generally from what I see where I live it is being observed. Many people clearly do get the 2m thing. I went out on my bike yesterday got waves from pedestrians on two occasions for leaving a gap. However was close passed by an idiot cyclist who was out with his mate and on a walk tonight two cyclists riding together chatting. No doubt someone will come along and say family members but really they weren't. Still it's being observed to the point it's probably sufficient for the purpose.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Article on Medium about spacing required when cycling and jogging. Suggests that safe distance is more than 2m in slipstream.


View: https://medium.com/@jurgenthoelen/belgian-dutch-study-why-in-times-of-covid-19-you-can-not-walk-run-bike-close-to-each-other-a5df19c77d08


As ever keep your critical faculties active when reading. It cites a Dutch website and a non peer reviewed white paper. So it could be all or partly bollocks. Or maybe it isn't.

 

[mjr]

Still it's being observed to the point it's probably sufficient for the purpose.

The purpose of slowing infection, not stopping them. The government is probably doubly happy to have some idiots risking infection: first, it sacrifices some more plebs to their goal of herd immunity; and second, it builds support of well meaning sadists for tighter lockdown if government wants to distract from its failures. It's got very little to do with whether anyone cycles and I doubt Boris is really in favour of collective punishment, all else being equal.

 

[mjr]

Article on Medium about spacing required when cycling and jogging. Suggests that safe distance is more than 2m in slipstream.

Belgian health ministry advised 5m gap behind. I hope they followed some evidence to arrive at that.

 

[lane]

Belgian health ministry advised 5m gap behind. I hope they followed some evidence to arrive at that.

Yes I saw this - the speed you are traveling means you arrive in the air of the person in front more quickly makes sense. The faster you go the bigger gap you need. If someone passed you and pulls in front it's a problem though.

 

[rogerzilla]

I would have thought far more than 5m, given how long road spray from cars remains in the air.

We'll mostly all get it in the end, asymptomatically or not, unless there is a vaccine. It's about slowing it down, not about totally eliminating the risk.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Yes I saw this - the speed you are traveling means you arrive in the air of the person in front more quickly makes sense. The faster you go the bigger gap you need. If someone passed you and pulls in front it's a problem though.

Yes it works in a "common sense" kind of way but that's not evidence. And as we know common sense can lead to erroneous conclusions. The article I linked above does describe some actual studies but I don't think they are peer reviewed.

Still, given the need to make decisions quickly I'm not going to criticise the Belgians for erring on the side of caution.