- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Cyclist inHyde Park (picture copyright Britishcycling.org_.uk)Updated: Health secretary says no plans to ban cycling and other exercise - after suggesting earlier that it might be
Updated: Health secretary Matt Hancock has said this evening that the government is not looking at stopping people from exercising outdoors – having suggested this morning that it would do just that due to people ignoring government advice on staying at home and social distancing.
Delivering the government’s daily update on the coronavirus pandemic, Hancock said that there were no plans to toughen up restrictions on people exercising outdoors, reports the Guardian.
“What we are doing is being absolutely clear that the current rules must be followed,” he explained.
Dr Jenny Harries, the government’s deputy chief medical officer, added: “It is not just what you are doing but how you are doing it.
“If you are sitting on a park bench, people tend to accumulate - it is very difficult to prevent that.
“Having rules where we are getting all of the benefits and minimising the risks and harms is an important approach to maintain.
“We have set those rules, we are enforcing against those rules and we will reiterate those rules, because that is the best way to be able to bend the curve down and stop the spread of the virus.”
Earlier today, Hancock had suggested that people’s right to exercise outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic may be ended if government rules are not followed, saying it was “quite unbelievable” how some people ignored official guidelines yesterday to sunbathe in parks.
Under current regulations aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19, people are allowed to leave their homes to undertake one form of exercise, including cycling, each day, provided it is done alone or with household members.
> Daily exercise rules: current cycling dos and don'ts
Other exceptions to the government guidelines to stay at home are to undertake essential shopping trips, to care for a vulnerable person, or to travel to and from work if it cannot be undertaken from home.
Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr this morning, Hancock said: “If you don't want us to take the step to ban exercise of all forms outside the home, you have got to follow the rules.
“Let's not have a minority spoiling it for everybody.”
He acknowledged the “really important” physical and mental health benefits of exercise and said that the government did not want to take away the opportunity for people to undertake it outside the home.
However, he added: “If the result of that is that too many people go out and flout the other rules because they say, ‘Well, I can exercise then it’s fine for me to do other things’ then I’m afraid we will have to take action.
It was a point he also made on Sky News today in an interview with Sophy Ridge.
He said: “To the very small minority who are continuing to flout the guidance – you are putting others’ lives at risk and you are putting yourself in harm’s way."
Hancock added: “We are crystal clear in the guidance what people should or shouldn't do," he stressed.
“This is not a request, it's a requirement. People need to follow it.”
On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to avoid the temptation to ignore lockdown restrictions ahead of what is proving to be a warm and sunny weekend across much of the country.
He said today: “Thank you to everyone who is saving lives by staying at home this weekend.
“I know it's tough, but if we all work together and follow the guidance, we will beat coronavirus.”
> How much distance should you leave to the cyclist ahead in a time of pandemic?
Pictures emerged in the press and on social media yesterday of police speaking to people who were sunbathing in locations including South London’s Greenwich Park and Brockwell Park.
The latter, located close to Herne Hill Velodrome, confirmed yesterday that it will now be closed to the public after an estimated 3,000 people visited the park yesterday.
Meanwhile, police in East London broke up an 18th birthday party attended by 25 people, while in Brighton, two people have been summonsed for taking part in a barbecue on the beach.
However, there has been criticism of some of the images used by certain newspapers in an attempt to highlighting apparent disregard for social distancing rules.
Yesterday, we reported on how an image used by Mail Online of cyclists apparently riding in a group in London’s Regent’s Park was misleading – and perhaps deliberately so.
> Mail accused of distorting truth in “MAMIL madness” Regents Park cyclists story
Taken from the front using a telephoto lens, foreshortening meant that the riders in the picture appeared much closer together than they actually were.
Regent’s Park Cyclists, which represents riders who use the park, retweeted a picture of the image together including the caption that Mail Online had given it.
It took them a week to get that photograph. https://t.co/wLYI5hBCqm
— RegentsParkCyclists (@RPcyclists) April 4, 2020
That same picture was published online by The Sun, for example, with its caption claiming that it showed the cyclists “huddled together.”
However, Regents Park Cyclists said yesterday that “the vast, vast majority” of cyclists had been “extremely respectful” of requests by the Royal Parks and the police to ride responsibly and follow social distancing guidelines.
> Updated: How to cycle responsibly in a time of pandemic
Please note: This story was originally published at 11:57am on Sunday 5 April 2020 and udated at 9:30pm the same day to reflect Matt Hancock's comments in the evening press conference.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- lesterama 13 min 7 sec ago
Not an advertorial, and you've not used one yet, but:
- john_smith 15 min 16 sec ago
Very nice. The stem looks quite futuristic for 1983. Do you know if it's original?
- Flâneur 24 min 34 sec ago
From a population density 6 times higher?...
- bobbinogs 24 min 38 sec ago
Corrected that for you
- Global Nomad 45 min 54 sec ago
if you think this is a religious war you are fundementally mistaken - it is about power and control and land.
- panda 1 hour 4 min ago
I need an ice bath in Singapore after walking from the hotel to the office!...
- hawkinspeter 1 hour 21 min ago
Growling and barking are often signs that a dog is scared or uneasy, but yeah, that'll be why the sign is there.
- Secret_squirrel 3 hours 17 min ago
You do get that there will be no material differences between the 2 right? Apart from 150g (1/3 of a poo or a 1/3 of a water bottle full) or so or...
- Rendel Harris 5 hours 13 min ago
Think you're correct on the Renault. I don't find it makes any difference to breathing, because if you look at the picture their upper arms are...
Add new comment
57 comments
Kier Starmer oozes integrity and a desire to do the right thing. Not easy to accomplish in politics, as Tony Blair found - G W Bush wants to kick some Middle Eastern ass - do you side-step/ stay out of it, join in, or publicly criticise and resist? Each choice will have consequences and will be judged, with hindsight dialled-up to 11. Starmer can't get to no 10 quick enough in my view, but he's got the same Hill to climb as Blair and Co did to get the Labour Party to return from "away with the fairies" to electoral credibility and government material.
I wouldn't get too conspiratorial about the government's response to COVID, viz 10 years of austerity. We all hope various lessons have been learned and that maybe some things won't eventually bungee back to how they were, according to our own preferences.
Boris and co had already announced reversals of a lot of the past austerity - unfortunately including a lot of road building that with luck we're going to find isn't needed and of course zippo for cycling.
Get well soon Boris, btw.
One of the hindsight questions for me is whether we should have really acted a lot sooner than 23 March. It's human nature to deny, to bargain, rather than fully accept. As a political leader, you have to grapple with the public mood and the possibility that you're seen as over-reacting. I don't normally go in for the close the borders stuff, but that's what comes out of this for me - it was evident in late February that this thing was quite deadly, highly contagious and kept itself concealed for several days. I hope we get an effective vaccine very soon so we can avoid "Welcome (back) to Britain - this coach will take you to the quarantine centre."
thank goodness for cycling's many health benefits that are keeping the ban wolf from the door. You're not going to pass it on solo on a country road and my sense, based on very little science is that fresh air is a good place to be. Are CUK and BC pushing back against the iffy peloton photos?
We've made ourselves in to curtain-twitching Facebook posting tell-tales, where this has happened, with very little help from the government. But We've been raging on here for yonks against our 4 wheeled bete noirs - do any of them listen? Has the Audi owner's club reached out the hand of friendship to CUK or BC because they recognise themselves on a CPotD post?
Whatever happens in terms of emergencies nearly always impinges on society's most vulnerable the most. True, a few people don't seem to get it, don't think it includes them and their actions are going to mean the lockdown is longer, possibly stricter, the risk of spread increased, and the hard work of so many in hospitals undermined.
Funny how different people perceive others. To me, he oozes the typical high-flying politician slime.
I've never really thought of Tony Blair as having had good intentions. Then again, I firmly believe he should be tried for war crimes due to his falsifying information to get us into the Iraq war and all the people who died because of that.
Speeding drivers now being let off by overstretched police
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/speeding-drivers-let-off-by-overstretched-police-0zg0xrtk5
The adage 'speed kills' has been replaced with 'cyclists - when they're not spreading covid-19 to everyone they pass they're falling off and taking up our NHS beds'.
Meanwhile, PC Paul Brown was recently let off for driving at 101mph in a 30, running 4 red lights, drove at 122mph on the A11, went round a roundabout the wrong side - 16 seperate charges.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-7993475/Former-Det-Chief-Superintendent-Kevin-Hurley-let-policeman-speeding-101mph.html
JHC, that really is utterly appalling. Borrowed an unmarked police car for private business, drove extremely dangerously just because he could, the flimsiest of defences, but he gets off. Completely irresponsible and no way should someone with such a cavalier attitude to public safety be a cop, and he deserves to be in prison, which his colleagues and the former Detective Cheif Superintendent seem to agree with. As he points out, hardly calculated to improve confidence in the police.
He got lagged by a colleague that checked the cars data and dashcam recordings; imagine what cops have got away with before such recording technology was in place; he may have gotten off the traffic charges but police have internal procedures and I can see a resignation in PC Brown's near future.
Really relieved to hear this. A short ride after work has been a great chance to reduce the stress of the current situation. Have still seen a fair few people cycling in groups (not families etc) which is disappointing. I have a decent zwift setup but it's really not the same.
Stay safe everyone and let's hope we can beat this thing soon.
Is this all media driven; "oh look Govt, people aren't following your rules". Govt responds by saying they might tighten things up. Police appear a bit 'heavy-handed' in enforcing the rules and the media are all "we're turning into a police state" so they back off. BBC this morning, "wouldn't it be unfair to to force people to stay in their tiny flats?" They're all at it; not just the Daily Mail.
Ref cycling through parks; cutting down a section of bike path 2 weeks ago I worked out that it was a bit 'congested' (ie failed social distancing rules) with walkers, cyclists and joggers so have avoided parks and bike paths since. Doesn't matter as the busy roads that the paths help you avoid are now quiet. Leave the paths and parks to families.
my assumption is the decisions already been taken,those Sunday talk show things are always about gently nudging policy decisions out into the public realm and it will be put in place before the Easter weekend,which theyve consistently said they expect to be the peak of the virus.
It will probably be framed as a we are all in this together thing, but is a means to curb the non exercising public deciding to pop out for a family drive to the coast as theyve seen their neighbour happily jumping on a bike or going for a run every day,so whats the harm for them going for a small drive, as Im assuming the schools are now properly shutdown for the next two weeks,and plenty of people who were wfh,had booked leave to coincide with Easter, so lots of people with nothing to do and the weather is supposed to be nice and warm, for a change.
Still pillocks on my strava feed going out for 100 milers ...
Pillocks?
Why not unfollow if it offends you so much?
I bet you drive an Audi
Why?
(and no I don't, so you can stick your stereotype up your fat arse)
You just seem to be rather self-centred, opposed to any sort of collective sacrifice and ignorant about the implications of your actions.
How am I self-centred?
Do you know what sacrifices I make? No.
Do you know what efforts I make in the current circumstances? No.
Do you know anything about me apart from comments on road.cc? No.
So the one who is more ignorant and arrogantly slating other people with no good reason is YOU. Best that you take care not to fall off that high horse of yours.
Simon, there are some big numbers on Strava this weekend, a few I follow over 100km, I did 60 today. Nothing unusual in that. If you are riding alone on a road there should be no harm. However Cyclists are going to partly blamed for a more severe lockdown. Parks in London should be closed to stop people going there. We are all going to be stuck inside if Londoners can't control themselves, they are the hot-spot after all. I can't blame riders for trying to get one last ride in before the inevitable.
Maybe there are significant numbers of Londoners and people in other busy urban locations won't behave but the majority will be on foot. It makes no sense that an experienced cyclist doing a long ride in Yorkshire or Wales (and hardly sees a soul in the process) attract such ire. Too much hypocritical and self-righteous slagging for my liking.
The only reason cyclists as a group will be blamed will be because it suits the MSM and the government to scapegoat people who like to cycle. That is certainly not new.
...and probably not coming within 2m of a single soul.
I rode through central London on Thursday. It was dead. I'd have got closer to more people going for a walk round the block.
Went out this afternoon. All seemed good except for the group of men trying to take advantage of favourable winds to set new PRs on the Hillingdon cycle circuit. Wasn't in the mood to get into a fight with a bunch of knuckle draggers so left them to it. Here's hoping they all get punctures on the way home.
“To the very small minority who are continuing to flout the guidance"
As far as I can tell, locally and nationall virtually everyone is behaving properly so why punish the whole population rob all of us of the ability to go outside for a walk or cycle ride?
It's disproportionate, unjustified and won't address the problem.
If there was a very small minority of youths stealing from stores they wouldn't ban all under 18s from ever entering any shops.
If there was a very small minority of people speeding and putting lives at risk they wouldn't ban all cars from the roads. We are very sure of this because a significant number of drivers already race around with f**k all consideration for others, and it has got worse during the lockdown.
Anger and resentment doesn't quite do justice to my reaction to this threat.
I'm inclined to agree with handlebarcam and billymansell, this government has shown a lack of leadership and co-ordination in this crisis. They want to blame 'the little people'. It's worth listening to the video that Rupert Read published during the week. This is a 47 second clip, the full 7 minutes is linked in the tweet and IMO worth a watch/listen:
https://twitter.com/GreenRupertRead/status/1246535580290297860
I've seen lots of rumours of groups of people exercising, but with the exception of the misleading DM picture, I've seen no evidence. If they ban exercising it will be just to pretend that it's all our fault and the government have done everything they can, when really it's their fault and their utter failure to take timely action.
Yes and given Johnson & Hancock both ignored their own rules and caught the virus, it's hard to take lessons from them.
I wish Johnson a speedy recovery, as I would any person. It's probably completely inappropriate to admit this, but it is sweet relief not to have to listen to lies and bluster from that bullshitter, even if it only lasts a few days.
No, it isn't completely inappropriate, it is bliss. Not to have to hear that liar, cheat, hypocrite and coward tell the rest of us how to behave really is bliss. The only reason they got the queen to make an announcement is because people might listen to her, but nobody in their right minds believes anything anyone in this ultra-shambles of a government says.
"Let's not let the minority spoil it for everybody" - but the conservative party has had a good go at it over the last few years, hasn't it?
Now is not the time to moan at the government, all governments around the world have been guilty of one thing or another over the years. They are all struggling to overcome this virus now.
Do you think Labour or Lib Dem would be any better? They are all in it for themselves, whichever party is in power. What about Keir Starmer? Do you think he would do any better? Remember him helping Jimmy Saville evade justice?
Yes, Keir Starmer would be much better. He's honest, and interested in other people - he doesn't just want to be PM for the sake of his ego. That's a good start.
But he was head of the CPS when they decided that there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute Jimmy Saville, and unlike all the made up smears of Corbyn, that is true.
"Remember him helping Jimmy Saville evade justice", don't talk bullshit. It's bad enough the far right trolls peddling this crap on social media without idiots believing it and spreading it further afield.
The CPS have to dismiss thousands of requests for prosecution every year, only a retarded conspiracy whackjob with no knowledge of law nor historical context would look retrospectively and cherrypick information from that case to suit their own deluded agenda.
What we do know about Saville is that he was a very good friend of Thatcher and as a result was for decades protected by the tory establishment and the police, making prosecution extremely difficult.
Also, Thatcher, the tory establishment and the Arch Bishop of Cantebury gave protection to pedophile priests in the CoE helping them evade prosecution. Then we also have the tory minister under Thatcher who prowled children's homes looking for prey.
When it comes to pedophilia and politics there's one person and one party that keep cropping up and they both begin with T.
Hoisted by his own petarded conspiracies.
"Hancock added: “We are crystal clear in the guidance what people should or shouldn't do," he stressed."
That would be the same Hancock, Secretary of State for Health, who ignored the WHO guidance about quarantining himself for 14 days so that he could open a covid 19 hospital?
Is there a single competent person in this ultra-shambles of a government?
Pages