Cycling in the time of Corona

Ha - see edit.

I'd argue, if you left knowing you would go on to the bbq (even via the butchers) you're still banged to rights, but then its mad we even have to argue about this interpretation. How did no one spot this when it was drafted?

It's a good thing they aren't in charge of anything important, like drafting laws...
I've definitely no knowledge of how prosecution works, but the way I read it, I don't think intent would come into it, as buying food is a reasonable excuse to leave house.

I know one of the reasons its so bad is that it was done in a hurry, but I'd have thought the civil service's top legal bods would have been all over this SI. I work on legislation in the civil service (IANAL) and even with the standard legal team they are very good at helping us spot and work through loopholes.

I'm surprised its so shit. It's not the government drafting this stuff, so I'm disappointed in the civil service really.

Went out yesterday - cycled from richmond along south circular in towards central, cut across through putney which was the busiest area and looped back round for a short 10 miles. Hadnt been out in a couple of weeks so just doing a risk assessment. Think main roads are the easiest areas to keep distance from peds or fellow cyclists as it allows you plenty of room to overtake safely.

Going to try going the other direction, feels weird hunting out the main roads that are usually busy, but are now the quietest, in terms of pedestrians or cyclists.

'd suggest this is a perverse interpretation, but is an example of why poor legislative drafting can be a major headache down the line.

The SI is incredibly poorly drafted. I've been trying to work out what the words "including from any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2" are supposed to mean, and whether they're supposed to mean that any travel to and from "any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2" is permitted. Still not sure what they're supposed to mean.

edit* there is the loop hole however that argues that if you initially leave your house to go to the shop (legal), but then while out, get a whatsapp from a mate asking if you want to come round for a beer and a burger, you technically are permitted by the law to do just that, as you didn't leave your house for that reason initially, and the act of leaving your house is the only thing that is specifically restricted.

Unless you have a child with you, in which case it would be illegal given the use of the words "outside the place where they are living" in regulation 8(5) as opposed to "leave the place where they are living" in regulation 6(1). Which makes no sense at all.

loads of people going mental about joggers running about panting on them. Will jogging be banned?

I think it must be - the businesses in Part 3 Schedule 2 are those that are allowed to remain open, as they are deemed "essential".

As a result, 6(2)a permits you to leave your house to visit those businesses.

It wouldn't be much use if you allowed Bargain Booze to remain open, but then also made it unclear if leaving your house to go to Bargain Booze could be deemed illegal, as it's not "necessary".

The whole of article 6 really is a dogs dinner - it reads like you can only visit them to get money...

do think running poses a greater risk to other pedestrians than cycling, small paths and is a more common exercise along with walking, meaning most paths are actually quite busy

While out cycling there were two occasions where I was close to someone, once when someone started crossing the road before I had even passed yet and at a red light / busy cross road. Out walking there does seem to be more times where being 2m from someone is nearly impossible and more occasions of people being inconsiderate.

The problem is the use of the word 'including' in the phrase 'including from any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2' - including what? Does it mean that you're allowed to travel to get things from those businesses, as long as they're the basic necessities or money identified earlier in the paragraph (in which case why are the words 'including from any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2' because everywhere else is going to be closed) or does it mean that you can travel outside your home to buy anything which one of the businesses listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2 is selling, which would mean that you're permitting non-essential travel.

It really is painfully badly written.

I'm not sure what a sidebar of shame is, although if you mean feeling bad for the way I conveyed myself, I do.

it's a visibility thing too-every time I go to the shops there's some terminal mouthbreather almost humping my leg, or the scabby parent letting their kids hoof around on their scooter/balance bike inside the shop. These people are a fucking menace, but how can you ban them?

Joggers should at least hold their breath if squeezing past people, but again, we're trying to moderate the human condition. Times were simpler when everyone lived in walled cities you could just board up and wait till everyone copped it.

Think I've worked it out -

You can leave your house to get essential supplies.

These could be from a business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2 (the only businesses that should be open for you to visit)

However, you could also be getting essential supplies from somewhere else that isnt a business, and this should also be allowed. Could be an allotment, or a friend or contact who is able to supply you with essential things.

Thats why you can leave your house for essentials "including" visiting those businesses, but not only for visiting those businesses.

do think running poses a greater risk to other pedestrians than cycling

Members of the public have been putting up pissy handwritten signs telling joggers to back off and keep their distance near us. I was a bit surprised to see this because it generally feels like the vast majority of people are distancing well around here.

I guess people like to find a group to grumble about.

I'm over in Twickenham but can recommend a 30kish loop out from there out to Sunbury, down to Walton and back along the thames towards Hampton court and home. Very empty roads, pan flat.

i know someone who does this regularly at a speed I dont expect him to ride given his fitness .. I am inclined to think its constant downhill

It does go out towards Escher to be fair.

Can you PM me a link please.

I reckon you're right, nice work. Still appalling drafting though.

Ooooooft. Strong.

thats good

Well, that turned out to be more than an hour, was a fucking long walk home.

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So if recreational cycling does get banned am I gonna get stopped by the filth every time I'm wearing lycra on the way to work

My heart sinks every day when I look at this thread and there's five new pages of sermonising shit..

So right. Round and round and round

The authorities should limit everyone to one daily post, up to 50 words, on this thread, or else...