[David9694]

Today was brilliant. Lovely, sunny not overly hot. Very few of our four wheeled friends out on my country roads on my Sunday exercise. When you read the accounts of some of the Stupid reasons (I realise we only get the highlights) drivers give to the police for being out, it really makes you think about the need and proportionality of it all.

Paused for a pull on my bidon and some home made cake – nothing but the sounds of nature, and my restored Raleigh Record Ace saying “c’mon, let’s go”. Families – mum, dad, kids, walking together, cycling together – I just can’t remember ever seeing this before. Can we hold onto this, or am I living in a dream?

In some ways, living the lock-down reminds me of parts of childhood. A plainer version of our past life, when There weren’t attractions, Shopping centres, coffees, restaurants, drinks. I’m not an only child, but my brother and sister are older and had left home by the time I was 5, so I really felt like it. Winter Sundays in particular were really tedious If you couldn’t go outside (which at least we were able to do). You might get lucky with an afternoon film, with Jack Hawkins winning WW2, there might be an afternoon outing, probably to grandparents.

Topic

[David9694]

“Normal” – I understand what

“Normal” – I understand what you mean – “how they were”. I always wonder if we could go back to the year 1900 and have our time again, is what we’ve got now (or had until recently), which is slowly becoming a heap of misery for drivers and all those around them alike, what we’d choose?

[PRSboy]

Yes, definitely feels like

Yes, definitely feels like more vehicles about this week.  Be interesting to see what the stats say.

It has been a joy though, my older daughter has starting cycling during the lockdown… and I keep saying to her as we cruise along deserted A roads at 5:30pm etc not to take this for granted!  Much as I worry about the economy and peoples’ livelihoods, I am dreading when the roads return to normal.

[Daveyraveygravey]

David9694 wrote:

“Bike behind!” In as nice a tone as you can manage.
Most people are fine, appreciative even.  

I call even if there’s sufficient room to pass comfortably, just to avoid the “nice country walk but spoiled by cyclists whizzing past” Facebook  posts appearing in the evening – what with us being so deadly, polluting, noisy and space-hungry and all. 

Same here, and usually I say “Have a nice walk/ride/run” too just to reinforce the nice cyclist message! 

[David9694]

“Bike behind!” In as nice a

“Bike behind!” In as nice a tone as you can manage.
Most people are fine, appreciative even.  

I call even if there’s sufficient room to pass comfortably, just to avoid the “nice country walk but spoiled by cyclists whizzing past” Facebook  posts appearing in the evening – what with us being so deadly, polluting, noisy and space-hungry and all. 

[David9694]

Sounds super early to me. 

Sounds super early to me. 

[David9694]

I hear you, but I’m really

I hear you, but I’m really teetering on this – some of those Sundays were distressingly dull.  
Only skate boarders and war gamers got organised and did something about it. 

[David9694]

And in a way.  that is how it

And in a way.  that is how it should be – an every day thing that you don’t need to be a fanatic to do. 

my new vocation as a cheeky street caller 
Bicycles to mend! Tyres to mend! 

[Notbuilt2climb]

Totally agree.  I hope people

Totally agree.  I hope people decide to make time to go for walks and rides when it’s back to normal. Most people seem to be friendly but what is it with pedestrians walking in the middle of the road (often when the pavement is empty) and then getting annoyed with you or pull a face at you when you want to cycle past them. Or some just walk out into a road without looking.  I know my bike runs smoothly and quietly (plenty of time for mainenance at the moment), but so do electric cars, though admittedly, not so many of those around as there are bikes.

[Jem PT]

Rick_Rude wrote:

Rick_Rude wrote:

We should go back to closed Sundays. I remember going into city centres in Sundays to skateboard as it was the only time you had access to all the terrain. There was rarely anyone there. In general I think people need to learn how to switch off sometimes.

Definitely (and I’m an atheist!) This is one of the nice things about visiting Germany. On Sundays even cities are quiet and (nearly) everyone gets a day to switch off.

[brooksby]

I rode a bike to and from

I rode a bike to and from work yesterday, first time since The Lockdown.

Once out of the city I started onto the shared-use path as is my wont, but I had to go back onto the road.

There were so many families (genuine sitcom families: mum, dad, two kids, one dog) walking around – all keeping a large distance from other families – that I couldn’t  pass them all, let alone pass any of them leaving a decent amount of space.

I swear it was busier than it is during the school holidays at times when we’re not in the middle of a global viral pandemic…

[David9694]

Now I realise what’s being

Now I realise what’s being missing in my life! 
 

where is the luminous city centre, the five smiling companions, the mountain trail, the sweeping coast road, with not a parking sign or a jam in sight? Such wonderful experiences await me, down at the dealership.

[brooksby]

It’s funny, I hadn’t really

It’s funny, I hadn’t really noticed but but now you mention it you’re right.

(Mind you, I have been reading that all this car leasing might be becoming a bit of a problem (ticking financial time bomb, as usual), so perhaps the car companies have decided to pull back…).

[ktache]

I’ve not seen a car advert

I’ve not seen a car advert for so long.  I cannot remember the last one.

Strange, when the roads really are as empty as the adverts tend to show.

[TheBillder]

I saw a well-upholstered
I saw a well-upholstered fellow this evening in a hoodie football shorts and trainers, tattoos all over his calves, on a fixie. I caught him up at a junction, and then he rode away from me cos he was quite a bit faster than me, in proper kit on a road bike. Shamed. Every silver lining has a cloud…

[bbir]

Whatever anyone says until

Whatever anyone says until there is a vacine the “bear is still out there” and physical distancing will have to remain / continue.  If that continues and keeps unnessary journies in a car to a minimum riding a bike will be a pleasure.  We need to encourage all local authorities to change the way roads are configured to support walking and cycling over vehicles.

[Author]

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