Public say Boris Johnson's bike ride makes it more difficult for police officers to enforce lockdown laws

Seems a bit inconsistent, people think Boris has set an example which respects the law, yet simultaneously think his example makes the law more difficult to enforce? Generally, where there is confusion, I find that a worked example can only help.

Ah, contradictory answers, but two separate surveys. I think it was explained to a different Prime Minister
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ZZJXw4MTA

"been travelled"?!

I don't think that there is any confusion or lack of clarity between the rules and the guidance but it is a point of difference that interests me in. In Scotland the rules are slightly different to England but I would be able to travel up to 5 miles in order to take exercise. Once on the bike I can ride as far as I want as long as I finish in the same place I started. However, guidance from the government at the moment is basically asking that we only excercise locally (though what local means doesn't seem to be defined).

Generally I would cycle outdoors a few times every week and usually cover 40-80 miles on a ride but I also have the option of hopping on a trainer in the shed. Given the guidance at the moment, combined with the news coverage of the hospitals bursting at the seams and with NHS staff at their wits end, I have made a decision to stick to the trainer for now as there is less risk of me contracting / spreading or having a non covid related incident that would place further demand on the health service (I also don't consider 40-80 miles would really qualify as local even though I know the roads in the area well).

I know the added risk of an outdoor ride is fairly small.. but it is an increased risk over walking to the shed all the same. I also know of 3 riders (from my 120 or so followers on Strava) in my area that have come off and ended up in hospital during lock-down (two ice related and one hit a sheep!).

I guess it's a personal decision and maybe having rules and guidance is pointless as fundamentally we all tend to push rules to the edge in order to suit / justify our actions. I just feel that at the moment everything I can do to mitigate risk is the right thing.. whether in relation to shopping, socialising or exercise. For me that means considering the guidance as well as the rules and opting to hop on the trainer rather than ride around the block a few times.

I'm not sure that Boris' ride makes any difference.  The former Lord Chief Justice, Jonathan Sumption, has already opined on the subject of distance and exercise and the law is clear on the matter: you can ride as far as you like, and you can travel to exercise - as the law is currently drafted. 

That said, I'm personally grateful to Boris. Anything that makes life more difficult for the police hanging around London parks questioning people's daily exercise whilst there are actual crimes being committed is a good thing. 

I would strongly suggest Road CC and Simon MacMichael keep their political opinions out of Road CC or people will just hit 'delete' and move on. We cycle to get away from this crap.

I'll bet if Wee Nicky rode 7 miles, the Scottish would think it acceptible.

"Labour voters (47 per cent), people who voted Remain in the 2016 EU referendum (44 per cent) and women (40 per cent)were most likely to agree that it had made police officers’ enforcement of the rules much harder."

No shit Sherlock, anything to get the boot into Boris! What sort of skewed survey was that?

"Hello, Could you answer some questions please? Firstly, do you think Boris travelling 7 miles on his bike makes it harder for the Police?"

"Secondly, Did you vote remail or leave?"

The only survey that was, it appears, was an attempt to stir up yet more Brexit shit.

Haters gonna hate.

I know when this story first emerged I was happy to stick the boot in.  I don't believe that he cycled the 7 miles to the Olympic Park. Let's be honest he doesn't walk across St James's to walk around Buckingham Palace Gardens. I'm sure that must be on security advice so it's unlikely that the risk assesment to cycle along the Roads was going to be positive. I think he wanted to go for a cycle and his security team thought the place that they could best protect him was Olympic Park. That's their Risk Assessment and that's absolutely fine; he has proven that there was a need for him to be driven 7 miles to take exercise. If that's the case just say so.

Show people how to do Risk Assessments. Avoiding the question and not giving straight answers to straight questions is what's causing the problems and confusion.

Shock horror!  People who don't like / disagree with a person are more likely to think he did something wrong.  Meanwhile, in the woods...

I think you will find it is lack of clarity about legislation vs guidance, lack of the majority of the public even bothering to read the legislation and understand what they can legally do and not do, who are then passing judgement and police not sticking to the principles of policing the law and incorrectly issuing illegal FPNs that has created most confusion.

PP