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Cycling UK asks government how “local” is “local” – and the answer is, use your “common sense”

We’re glad that one’s been cleared up

Cycling UK has asked the government how “local” is “local” when it comes to taking a bike ride for exercise in England – and, as anyone who has followed our stories over the past year explaining the difference between official guidance and what the letter of the law actually says, the reply is as clear as the mud that is probably clogging your drivetrain if you’ve been out on a ride recently.

> Cycling dos and don'ts in a time of pandemic – how to be a responsible cyclist

Government guidance in England during the current lockdown is that outdoor exercise “should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.”

That’s not reflected in the actual legislation, however, which places no restrictions on how far people can go on a bike ride, nor its duration, and likewise there are no limits in law over, say, driving a car somewhere with your bike on a roof rack and starting your ride once there.

Cycling UK, along with British Cycling and British Triathlon, wrote to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to ask for clarification following reports that despite what the regulations say, some people have been fined for travelling outside the areas where they live to take exercise.

Minister for Sport, Nigel Huddleston, replied, saying: “I appreciate the concerns you raise and agree that sport and physical activity play a crucial role in supporting people to be active and healthy. No government would want to be in a position of needing to restrict something that brings so many benefits to so many people and communities.

“However, Covid-19 cases remain high across the country and the single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

“As you are aware, the government’s current guidance regarding outdoor exercise states that people are allowed to leave their home to exercise outdoors, and should remain as local as possible.

“As you state, people’s circumstances are different and so this guidance relies on people to use their common sense to determine what is and is not a reasonable distance for their outdoor exercise.

“As we navigate these necessary new restrictions, we remain clear on just how important exercise is to people's health and wellbeing, whilst staying safe at home.”

You may recall that nine months ago, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “good solid British common sense” was helping the country get through the pandemic, yet here we are once more with a government minister urging us to employ that trait without explaining what it actually means.

Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, Duncan Dollimore, said: “Physical inactivity is responsible for one in six deaths in the UK, so while everyone must comply with coronavirus regulations and guidance around outdoor exercise, it’s also essential for the nation’s health and wellbeing that people aren’t dissuaded from exercise through misinformation and a perception that they’re doing something wrong by trying to stay active, keep themselves healthy, and get some fresh air.

“Tragically, too many have been, with a recent UCL report indicating that 40% of people were now exercising less than they were during the first lockdown.

“That’s why Cycling UK is relieved that, in England, the government has reiterated the importance of physical exercise while complying with the guidance – and, critically, that individual circumstances are different and the guidance relies on people using common sense.

“We have been inundated with questions about how far and for how long people can cycle or exercise outdoors, and what ‘local’ means, so clarification that some common sense can be applied is extremely helpful, and will hopefully reassure people that they can go for a bike ride, a run or a walk, provided they use their reasonable judgement.”

The charity has updated its guidance to state that while it encourages people to continue to cycle for exercise during the current lockdown, they should do so in a manner which minimises risk, for example avoiding narrow routes where it is impossible to maintain social distancing.

It also advises people to start and finish their rides at home, where possible, and to ensure that they do not go that far away that a mechanical problem or injury would cause problems returning there.

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.

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30 comments

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oceandweller | 3 years ago
0 likes

"a recent UCL report indicating that 40% of people were now exercising less than they were during the first lockdown"

Huh? Who would've expected that? People are more enthusiastic about exercising outdoors during a rather nice (IIRC) spring than in the middle of the most miserably wet winter anyone now living can remember? Wow! So glad we have these clever academic chappies doing all this research stuff so we know what's going on in the world...

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jollygoodvelo replied to oceandweller | 3 years ago
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Very true, also let's not forget that govt guidelines actively encouraged people to get outside and exercise in the first lockdown (leading to the initial confusion about how much exercise was 'allowed'), yet this time around there's no mention of it.

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mdavidford replied to oceandweller | 3 years ago
3 likes

oceandweller wrote:

...the most miserably wet winter anyone now living can remember...

Erm, except for the last one. And 2016. And 2014...

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schlepcycling | 3 years ago
1 like

Didn't Cressida Dick say that local was starting and finishing at your own front door. 

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jollygoodvelo replied to schlepcycling | 3 years ago
6 likes

schlepcycling wrote:

Didn't Cressida Dick say that local was starting and finishing at your own front door. 

Best not tell her that I take my bike out of the back door when I leave for a ride then...

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Captain Badger replied to jollygoodvelo | 3 years ago
1 like

jollygoodvelo wrote:

....

Best not tell her that I take my bike out of the back door when I leave for a ride then...

Derty pervert.....

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FrankH replied to schlepcycling | 3 years ago
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schlepcycling wrote:

Didn't Cressida Dick say that local was starting and finishing at your own front door. 

The BBC thinks that local for me is the whols of East Anglia.  3

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Sriracha | 3 years ago
3 likes
Quote:

However, Covid-19 cases remain high across the country and the single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

Demonstrable nonsense. Home is where covid is most like to be transmitted. Outdoors is where it is least likely to be transmitted. Exercise helps 'save he NHS', inactivity has the opposite effect. These are known facts, and are not new.

And yet, the official messaging continues to tilt people away from exercising outdoors, instead corralling them into vegetating in the place with the greatest chance of transmitting or catching covid. Genius.

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NPlus1Bikelights | 3 years ago
2 likes

I'm holding my breath when I overtake peds and then wheezing -with unfitness and minus air temps- again when way clear of them.

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wycombewheeler | 3 years ago
5 likes

It would have been better for cycling UK and British cycling to get together and agree a reasonable approach, and then put that to the government.

Rather than asking non cyclists to define a limit. We should be grateful that they did not respond with an arbitrary 15km distance or similar. ( coincidentally jyst over the distance from downing Street to the Olympic Park)

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Mungecrundle | 3 years ago
7 likes

The question about cycling during lockdown has been asked and the answer is as clear as can be, that cycling is not deemed a problem. I'd suggest people just get on with cycling yet resist the temptation to go out in non household groups for a few more weeks or feel the need to brag about 100 mile rides on social media.

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Muddy Ford | 3 years ago
4 likes

Cycling UK trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist. The only people complaining about cyclists and possible distances they might have travelled are people who would never consider riding a bike. Let it go Cycling UK, no police force is stopping cyclists and asking where they came from. The only thing cyclists need to stop doing if they are doing it, is riding in obvious groups because that just provides ammo. I seriously doubt that any cyclist has spread the virus whilst out cycling, and the often phrased 'but you might need support/medical emergency if you go further' is complete and utter nonsense..what's the difference between cycling local 20 times a week or going the same distance but in one trip? Statistically we are more at risk cooking dinner, so should we recommend everyone drive to McD's to be safer?

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Jenova20 replied to Muddy Ford | 3 years ago
4 likes

Muddy Ford wrote:

Cycling UK trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist. The only people complaining about cyclists and possible distances they might have travelled are people who would never consider riding a bike. Let it go Cycling UK, no police force is stopping cyclists and asking where they came from. The only thing cyclists need to stop doing if they are doing it, is riding in obvious groups because that just provides ammo. I seriously doubt that any cyclist has spread the virus whilst out cycling, and the often phrased 'but you might need support/medical emergency if you go further' is complete and utter nonsense..what's the difference between cycling local 20 times a week or going the same distance but in one trip? Statistically we are more at risk cooking dinner, so should we recommend everyone drive to McD's to be safer?

Well, we'll have to drive there, as apparently they won't serve us in the drive thru on bicycles.

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Hirsute replied to Muddy Ford | 3 years ago
6 likes

Poster Rendelharris did get stopped in regents park whilst on his bike. Although they may have been due to his tshirt

//www.redmolotov.com/image/cache/catalog/designslarge/t/thoughtcrimescat_blacktshirt-570x570.jpg)

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Awavey replied to Muddy Ford | 3 years ago
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But what happens if those people who complain about cycling, happen to also be the police.

As a for instance I know the local police have been fining people for not in their view staying local enough if they drive more than 10miles to go for their daily walks along the coast.

Now ive not heard of any cyclists being stopped but thats not to say they havent,the news only reports the numbers of fines,not the exact circumstances,

so why can I assume if I ride to the exact same places, covering the same or even further more than 10miles distances to get there, even if it's a distance within my capability/self sufficiency, this same group of police wont deem my ride staying local enough either. I mean what's the difference really if theyve already chosen to apply their own definition of local, why would they treat anyone outside at the moment differently.

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Muddy Ford replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
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I don't believe cyclists are being stopped. It may have happened once or twice at the beginning, but I doubt police are bothered to stop cyclists unless there is something else the cyclist is doing that agitates them (such as being a dick, hurtling along a pavement/promenade/park with scant regard for others safety, or hanging outside a Costas in a group with bikes blocking safe passage) Riding safely on a road will not get you stopped just to see how far you went.

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Captain Badger replied to Muddy Ford | 3 years ago
0 likes

Muddy Ford wrote:

I don't believe cyclists are being stopped. ...

Of course they're not. We all know that the law doesn't apply to cyclists, and they never obey it anyway.

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Bungle_52 | 3 years ago
7 likes

Just follow the common sense exhibited by our Dominic. That should do it.

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Captain Badger replied to Bungle_52 | 3 years ago
0 likes

Bungle_52 wrote:

Just follow the common sense exhibited by our Dominic. That should do it.

Only works for Dom. Have a coffee whilst walking in a national park with a friend and you'll get a fine.....

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Steve K | 3 years ago
7 likes

There is no such thing as 'common sense'.

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brooksby replied to Steve K | 3 years ago
3 likes

That's a very common sense approach: I approve  3

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TheBillder replied to Steve K | 3 years ago
0 likes

There is a Conservative Common Sense group in the House of Commons. Personally, I find that very reassuring, and it's decent of them to self-identity ahead of the overdue revolution.

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brooksby replied to TheBillder | 3 years ago
0 likes

They'll be the first up against the wall...  3

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brooksby | 3 years ago
6 likes

By not setting defined limits, the Govt gets to claim all the praise if things go well while taking none of the criticism if it goes wrong ("clearly they weren't using their common sense, nothing we could do about it").

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Awavey | 3 years ago
1 like

did British Cycling get a different letter or just translate it better ? as they updated their guidance to a more reasonable stay local, ride within your limits and ensure you are self-sufficient, which seems sensible guidance, which I guess means it cant possibly have then come from the government.

regardless it all relies on you not then encountering someone wishing to apply a completely different interpretation to the term local, and then does Cycling UK or British Cyclings legal support then help you defend against a covid fine if you prove youve followed their guidance, be an interesting question to have answered.

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eburtthebike | 3 years ago
6 likes

Boris Johnson said that “good solid British common sense....”

JHC, is there no end to this man's stupidity, arrogance and sheer idiocy?  For god's sake man, they were cretinous enough to vote for you, you don't have to keep rubbing it in.

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wtjs | 3 years ago
2 likes

It may be different elsewhere, but in North Lancashire you can cycle where you like, when you like, as often as you like which is about right. How much risk does a lone Old Knacker cycling through the rain pose to anyone else?

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muhasib replied to wtjs | 3 years ago
1 like

I suppose that is a positive from all your experience with how your local Police don't pay any attention to cyclists!

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wtjs replied to muhasib | 3 years ago
0 likes

I suppose that is a positive from all your experience with how your local Police don't pay any attention to cyclists!

It's more that they don't pay any attention to cyclists' complaints! You're never going to see police out on the roads I ride, and for once that isn't a complaint about the police.

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0-0 | 3 years ago
3 likes

I think we can all agree, that if the illegal rave is in the next county, then it's too much effort to cycle to. Especially if they don't have changing facilities on hand to change out of your cycling leotard.

😉

 

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