I would like to see the "sunbathers" fined or cuffed first before we all have to suffer as a result of their selfish actions.
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Enforcement of the new rules on social distancing, unnecessary journeys etc.
- Thread starter AM9
- Start date
- Status
I would like to see the "sunbathers" fined or cuffed first before we all have to suffer as a result of their selfish actions.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
TBH if I lived in central London at the moment I'd run a route along Oxford Street, then along Regent Street, down to the City round and back if I wanted a long run. I bet I'd see tens of other people at most if I did.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I am (despite my above post) inclined to agree, we should not introduce new laws until the existing ones are enforced.
Police "overzealousness" was about them enforcing things that weren't the law, such as driving a short distance for exercise, or the length of any exercise. This is the law because sunbathing isn't exercise - so enforce it!
Well, one of my regular walking routes takes me through the local town centre. I see about four people there, all of whom are easy to avoid because it's pedestrianised.
We're de-facto adopting a policy of only one of us going out with the kids at a time anyway, and also not taking any kids shopping with us (as supermarkets are already politely requesting). Just to save the awkward questions (plus it gives the adult remaining in the house some space to do laundry, washing up, etc)
Though I personally don't see issues with (say) kids of secondary school age being out singly.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Assuming it hasn't been banned by then I might take in central Bletchley tomorrow just to see. I doubt it is going to be difficult to avoid people there.
Indeed. Enforcing the laws that are there is infinately preferable to collective punishment.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
The trouble is that teenage kids (lads in particular) are the ones who don't "get" it and will still go and meet their mates on the quiet (the young male brain is well known for having a poorly-developed risk assessment ability and dislike of authority). You'll have the odd one who likes to run or walk alone, but most kids are very social animals, and provided the Police behave well with enforcement (i.e. not dragging home a kid out on their own) that law would work fine.
In which case, the ban on groups suffices, not of age ranges.
The more rules that get set, the more people become detetmined to ignore them.
I'm convinced that my secondary school only had so much chewing gum stuck under the tables *because* they made such a big deal about banning it. If it wasn't explicitly banned, people wouldn't chew it...
Last edited:
Quite possibly because those people who are crowding a particular area aren't locals.
Ultimately, this park, which seems to be at the centre of things, looks set to be closed for the duration. Sad for those who were using it in accordance with the guidance, but probably more effective than ramping up rules which have to be enforced.
What is so wrong with sunbathing if it’s part of your walking exercise?
Probably less transmission risk than all the joggers puffing away.
The parks situation is massively overblown by the media. They take a low angle telephoto shot and the park looks far busier and less spaced out than it really is
I don't know how far people travel to get to Brockley park, but I'll hazard a guess that they're not travelling from Yorkshire.
scotrail158713
Established Member
So you’re saying lying down is exercise?
But given the general lack of green space in parts of London, it's "catchment" across South London is probably much larger than a typical park, especially with London's population density.
It is, but if people are gathering there outside of their family groups, it is a problem, regardless of the size of the catchment area.
Still doesn't change the fact people are still getting in their cars and traveling to parks, beaches and other touristy areas.
https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/london-coronavirus-bromley-family-caught-18044760
Even when people go to their local park. They are still ignoring social distancing and still congregating. By closing the parks you then push people to stay local. You can just as easily cycle round the block.
If it’s a stop on your exercise and you maintain separation sitting on the grass what is the risk?
Less risk than if they just wander about instead.
From the reports I've seen, there seems to have been a genuine drop in such activities around here. I haven't seen any reports of crowded beaches at Scarborough and Whitby, or crowded paths in the Dales.
I suspect that the cases highlighted in the media are the exception.
benches are a bit different from grass as the bench itself can be part of transmission, especially if people sit on it to smoke/eat/drink
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Possibly so in the case of Brighton, but the London parks I doubt.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Grass could be as well. TBH, I think if you're doing the kind of exercise that requires you to sit down for a sandwich you're probably doing a bit much for the circumstances.
CaptainHaddock
Established Member
- Joined
- 10 Feb 2011
- Messages
- 2,213
Supposing I go for a walk, climb a hill and when I reach the summit stop to sit on a bench to get my breath back. Have I broken any laws?
Sandwich? They are just sitting in the sun aren’t they? There is a lot of complaining about it from those who have a garden to sit in so don’t understand.
So the other Thursday, everyone on their doorsteps clapping hands for the NHS.....A week later, they are sticking two fingers up at them, by flocking to the park / beach, not a care about spreading virus, and making the NHS's work even harder ! strange old Country !
Do you base all your judgements purely on what is legal? Does any consideration for others or what might simply be the right thing to do come into it at all?
I’m sure if you do break any laws they won’t be able to do anything because the policeman’s helmet wasn’t on straight or he hadn’t calibrated his watch that morning.
No it is fine.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Though in terms of consideration the hills may not be the place to be as Mountain Rescue service is going to be rather limited if it's available at all.
I take your point - I was referring rather to pausing on a bench if tired during exercise.
Yes - people are turning into utter curtain twitchers now.
Sunbathing on your own, metres from anyone else, is not a risk to anyone. In fact, given we are only allowed out once a day - getting the sun on you is vital for general health - which is the best defence against this.
Given many, the majority, of people in Cities don’t have gardens then it is essential green and other open spaces stay open.
What is an issue is groups and being too closely packed - that can be enforced and that will encourage self enforcement. No different to the supermarket or on the pavements etc when walking.
Over zealous petty policing by forces who have forgotten their culture of consent, has already been rightly pulled up and it is disturbing seeing normal people leap into snitch, sneer and spy mode. No wonder police states were able to recruit informants on such a large scale.
As ever of course the media make it worse, especially now as they are desperate for stories to justify their own “out and about” “essential” travel.
- Status