Allow Driving to Exercise

Make it legal to drive to your place of exercise, so long as the time spent exercising outwieghs the time spent driving to the place of exercise and/or is less than 1 hours drive both ways.

Why the contribution is important

Will make sure local areas are not swamped. Where I live, there is so many people walking locally that it is not possible to maintain social distancing, as paths are narrow and people are plentiful.

by jgray2020 on May 05, 2020 at 04:04PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.2
Based on: 20 votes

Comments

  • Posted by JohnT May 05, 2020 at 16:09

    This is the current UK government policy.

  • Posted by KirstyCraig May 05, 2020 at 16:13

    As I understand it, the issue with driving for exercise isn't the distance or where people are going - it's that people on the roads at all increases the risk of accident, which would divert emergency responder resources. Minimising that has been vital to stop the NHS etc being overwhelmed. When we start to see the R number reduce and with it the threat of overwhelming emergency services then we should start to see these kinds of options opening up again.

  • Posted by davina May 05, 2020 at 16:21

    The centre of Edinburgh is packed with people, cyclists and dogs, so much so that social distancing is practically impossible. Riding a bike for exercise on the paths is also very difficult as it involves stopping and starting the whole time. Please allow people to drive somewhere into the open to exercise as it will enable us to do so social distancing and reduce over crowding in cities. Please also open car parks in places where we can go for walks / bike rides eg Pentlands.

  • Posted by scottmcmartin May 05, 2020 at 16:47

    Mental Health and lack of general exercise could have a last and long term affect on peoples health and well being for decades if easing of the 'outside' activity is not changed soon. For instance, everyone and literally their dog are using Golf Courses as their private play grounds. Yet golfers are not allowed to use the course that they have paid a membership for.

    Allow a saw an initial 5km as the crow flies, distance on home to course. Members only, with increased tee-times. No opening of Clubhouse/Locker rooms. All of these measures were put in place by golf clubs pre lock-down. Increase the travel distance in phases. This is what Ireland is doing.

  • Posted by PB0307 May 05, 2020 at 16:56

    Sorry - I for one don't support this idea. Driving an hour to exercise? There's just not a need for that. I used to live in central London, and even there you can find a green space within 20 minutes of home. By allowing the public to drive an hour for exercise you're taking the virus from cities to rural populations. We live in the Scottish Borders, which has a mostly elderly population, and the area has been hit hard. We have noticed increased traffic with the road outside our house busier than ever and regularly filled with parked cars that don't belong to residents - people travelling here from the cities and towns to exercise at the nature reserve near our house. In my view, that just isn't acceptable. If you have a garden, exercise there. Or find a park near home. Or a canal path. 15-20 mins from home for exercise, great. A one hour drive? Totally unneccessary and in my view, incredibly selfish of the risk you may be bringing to rural communities.

  • Posted by Hannahmabob May 05, 2020 at 17:15

    This is allowed in England. So hope Scotland follow on this point eventually.

  • Posted by whuang May 06, 2020 at 00:32

    There is obviously no point to drive 1hr for exercise. Why can not you cycle 1 hour instead...

  • Posted by CharlottePlayfair May 06, 2020 at 09:57

    I would rather encourage a longer walk or a cycle and a walk rather than a drive. I have posted on another post, but as a farmer in a remote area, I can tell you that where we live in Southern Scotland the Countryside is busier than ever with people taking exercise - so don't assume it's quiet or that you would be getting away from people. There has also been an increase for us in irresponsible access which needs to be addressed as part of a wider encouragement to get people out exercising in the right way.

  • Posted by ebgt May 07, 2020 at 15:02

    I would settle for allowed to drive say 2 miles to an open space to exercise. That, in my opinion, is local.
    The current interpretation by the Police on the ground that you can't drive any distance to an open space is a misinterpretation of Thee Governments and the Police Scotland's published advice.

  • Posted by aileensmacleod May 07, 2020 at 20:27

    Would like to be able to visit local country parks, NT parkland, and beaches to take exercise in different areas - beneficial for mental health, and as easy, if not easier to socially distance in these environments than around where we live. Car parks at these places would need to be opened.
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