Allow walking outdoors with a friend

Allow distanced walking outdoors with person from out with your household

Why the contribution is important

It important for people to see others and to be able to communicate in person. Walking is good exercise and being outdoors reduces risk of infection. Supports mental health - talking is therapy .

by JAd on May 08, 2020 at 04:56PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.9
Based on: 48 votes

Comments

  • Posted by IanF May 08, 2020 at 18:13

    Many outdoor activities can and should be pursued safely in the countryside. Access to open space is vital and we can do this while socially distancing and adopting safe practices. It should be permitted to drive a reasonable distance to do this if safe parking is possible. This principle should also extend to those who have outdoor work to do.

  • Posted by rationalone May 08, 2020 at 18:18

    Totally agree. This would have huge mental health benefits with relatively low risk of spreading Covid.

  • Posted by CapPugwash May 08, 2020 at 18:39

    People are already doing this in the mistaken belief it is permitted under the current rules. I wish they would either just allow it or specifically forbid it.

  • Posted by Malcolmlowe May 08, 2020 at 20:06

    I agree 100% with this, also people using their cars takes strain off public transport allowing people without cars more scope to travel.

  • Posted by mproudfoot May 08, 2020 at 20:29

    This makes a lot of sense. I live in a medium sized town and the streets are full of people trying to not walk into each other on the pavements. While I agree that it may not yet be the time to start heading into the Highlands, to avoid any stress on the frontline services up there, I feel like there's scope to allow outdoor activies such as walking, trail running, cycling and low-level hillwalking within reasonable short drives of where people are based.

  • Posted by FunnyFace May 08, 2020 at 20:43

    Totally agree with this. Staying local but being allowed to drive to quieter spots for walking does not seem to endanger anyone. With 20 mph roads (Edinburgh) a short drive is surely pretty safe.

  • Posted by Pjjones May 08, 2020 at 21:56

    I'd love to be able to drive to walk further from home. Putting a fixed maximum distance drive is likely to concentrate people in areas closer to the central belt. When hillwalking starts to open up strictly limited parking in popular areas would help to prevent overcrowding of certain areas and may be more useful than a distance limit on driving.

  • Posted by SkyeMac May 08, 2020 at 22:06

    Why concentrate people walking on busy streets when they could be in the wider countryside with much lower infection risk.

  • Posted by apple4me May 08, 2020 at 22:52

    Yes please. Separately two of my friends (both single women isolating at home alone) have asked me to meet them for a walk this week because they're just needing company. I know of several others doing the same. Very low risk but very beneficial for mental health and happiness. One friend met a lonely friend for a walk this week who had just lost her son, lives alone and had absolutely no-one to turn to for support. Online contact is good, but human contact face to face is better.

  • Posted by alistairarthur May 09, 2020 at 07:41

    I would also totally support walking and even having to drive a short distance to get there.
    The walk having to be longer than the drive and overall time limited but it enables you to get away from the petrol / diesel fumes.

  • Posted by Pegger May 09, 2020 at 13:51

    Seems very low risk, and current guidance is ambiguous anyway. (Gatherings of 2 people outdoors are allowed?) Please just be clear about this being allowed. You could also consider allowing 2 people to meet up and sit (at least 2 meters apart) so that people with mobility issues who cannot walk are not excluded.

  • Posted by outdoorsy May 10, 2020 at 18:54

    I think it would be safer if I meet a friend, go for a walk staying 2 metres apart if we are both healthy than standing in a queue at the supermarket where people can brush past.

  • Posted by Fionaa May 11, 2020 at 10:54

    Agree with this 100%. Only two people NOT any more

  • Posted by JuliaM May 11, 2020 at 17:39

    This seems a sensible change in England:

    You can exercise outside as often as you wish and from Wednesday 13 May, you can also sit and rest outside – exercise or recreation can be alone, with members of your household, or with one other person from outside your household, while keeping two metres apart at all times.
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