Cycling UK asks government how “local” is “local” – and the answer is, use your “common sense”

"a recent UCL report indicating that 40% of people were now exercising less than they were during the first lockdown"

Huh? Who would've expected that? People are more enthusiastic about exercising outdoors during a rather nice (IIRC) spring than in the middle of the most miserably wet winter anyone now living can remember? Wow! So glad we have these clever academic chappies doing all this research stuff so we know what's going on in the world...

Didn't Cressida Dick say that local was starting and finishing at your own front door. 

Quote:

However, Covid-19 cases remain high across the country and the single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

Demonstrable nonsense. Home is where covid is most like to be transmitted. Outdoors is where it is least likely to be transmitted. Exercise helps 'save he NHS', inactivity has the opposite effect. These are known facts, and are not new.

And yet, the official messaging continues to tilt people away from exercising outdoors, instead corralling them into vegetating in the place with the greatest chance of transmitting or catching covid. Genius.

I'm holding my breath when I overtake peds and then wheezing -with unfitness and minus air temps- again when way clear of them.

It would have been better for cycling UK and British cycling to get together and agree a reasonable approach, and then put that to the government.

Rather than asking non cyclists to define a limit. We should be grateful that they did not respond with an arbitrary 15km distance or similar. ( coincidentally jyst over the distance from downing Street to the Olympic Park)

The question about cycling during lockdown has been asked and the answer is as clear as can be, that cycling is not deemed a problem. I'd suggest people just get on with cycling yet resist the temptation to go out in non household groups for a few more weeks or feel the need to brag about 100 mile rides on social media.

Cycling UK trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist. The only people complaining about cyclists and possible distances they might have travelled are people who would never consider riding a bike. Let it go Cycling UK, no police force is stopping cyclists and asking where they came from. The only thing cyclists need to stop doing if they are doing it, is riding in obvious groups because that just provides ammo. I seriously doubt that any cyclist has spread the virus whilst out cycling, and the often phrased 'but you might need support/medical emergency if you go further' is complete and utter nonsense..what's the difference between cycling local 20 times a week or going the same distance but in one trip? Statistically we are more at risk cooking dinner, so should we recommend everyone drive to McD's to be safer?

Just follow the common sense exhibited by our Dominic. That should do it.

There is no such thing as 'common sense'.

By not setting defined limits, the Govt gets to claim all the praise if things go well while taking none of the criticism if it goes wrong ("clearly they weren't using their common sense, nothing we could do about it").

did British Cycling get a different letter or just translate it better ? as they updated their guidance to a more reasonable stay local, ride within your limits and ensure you are self-sufficient, which seems sensible guidance, which I guess means it cant possibly have then come from the government.

regardless it all relies on you not then encountering someone wishing to apply a completely different interpretation to the term local, and then does Cycling UK or British Cyclings legal support then help you defend against a covid fine if you prove youve followed their guidance, be an interesting question to have answered.

Boris Johnson said that “good solid British common sense....”

JHC, is there no end to this man's stupidity, arrogance and sheer idiocy?  For god's sake man, they were cretinous enough to vote for you, you don't have to keep rubbing it in.

It may be different elsewhere, but in North Lancashire you can cycle where you like, when you like, as often as you like which is about right. How much risk does a lone Old Knacker cycling through the rain pose to anyone else?

I think we can all agree, that if the illegal rave is in the next county, then it's too much effort to cycle to. Especially if they don't have changing facilities on hand to change out of your cycling leotard.

😉