Remove restriction on outdoor access and activity

Remove the restriction on outdoor access (e.g. car parks, reasonable distance travel) and activity as long as social distancing measures (including household/ bubbles) are adhered to.

Why the contribution is important

Increase citizen sense of autonomy again where the risk is lowest, helping them to adhere for longer where the risks are greater; indoor activity.

by Suze1 on May 05, 2020 at 02:43PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.7
Based on: 27 votes

Comments

  • Posted by scotdavid63 May 05, 2020 at 17:16

    I think this is a good way to start to consider how to get limited tourism going as well. Family members only, confirmed hotel bookings only, no camper vans or caravans.

  • Posted by sbecker May 05, 2020 at 19:18

    I couldn't agree more. Allowing people to access the outdoors, while social distancing, offers huge benefits to mental health with only a minimal risk of increased virus transmission. In practice allowing people who live in cities to travel further and access outdoor spaces, increases their ability to actually socially distance effectively. Where I live local outdoor spaces are now regularly crowded with people exercising which makes effective social distancing extremely difficult. The ability to travel further and enjoy some outdoor activity would definitely make even strict adherence to social distancing much more manageable the rest of the time.

    To decide how and when to remove a given restriction you need to look at why that particular restriction was enforced to begin with. I think it's important here to distinguish between restrictions which were put in place because they directly impact the transmission of the virus, like social distancing and other restrictions that were aimed at reducing any additional demand for the NHS.
    To me continued social distancing seems completely justified given the rate of infection in the population is still high and the current lack of treatment or a vaccine.

    But other measures like restrictions on travel and guidance against outdoor activity were deemed necessary based on the fear that the NHS would be imminently and catastrophically overrun by Covid-19 patients. So now that we are past the peak and hospitals have fortunately not been catastrophically overrun as initially feared, restrictions on travel and outdoor access enacted in response to that fear, should now be lifted.

    Accessing outdoor spaces is good for mental health and makes social distancing guidance easy to follow. Continuing to unnecessarily restrict access because of a perceived threat that never materialised can no longer be justified.

  • Posted by ProtestTheHero May 05, 2020 at 19:40

    I fail to see how a short drive to a (currently closed) car park in a public park, followed by responsible and socially distanced exercise, can cause more harm than the benefits it brings compared to walking round urban streets stepping into the road every minute to avoid other pedestrians. Althiugh the risks are higher, I would also encourage the reopening of children's play parks, which are invaluable for allowing youngsters to burn off energy away from the home.

  • Posted by Ayecanchange May 05, 2020 at 20:50

    Access to outdoors has huge mental well-being benefit. Also need to ensure that we keep our hard won access rights. I live in a rural area and it seems some are using this as a chance to restrict movement...

  • Posted by elmrow May 07, 2020 at 10:52

    I agree to a certain extent but coming from a vulnerable / aging rural community in the Highlands - lockdown rules regarding driving to walk are already being breached and we dont have the police resource to enforce them. Despite requests by mountain rescue groups, people are still driving 100s of miles to go camping in remote glens - putting lives at risk and spreading the disease. I agree that certain restrictions can be eased in major cities perhaps - like visiting parks - but I am very worried about a sudden rush to rural communities like the highlands brought about by easing restrictions. rural communities, especially those up North are a couple of weeks behind the curve and are still experiencing increasing case load. It is not fair to put them at risk and if lockdown on exercise is lifted - it must be properly to enforced to ensure long distance travel does not happen.
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