How far from your house is still in your local area?

I can’t go far for fear of getting a fine.

If it's seven miles each way, I doubt Boris, who I presume is no more than a 'casual' cyclist, would get there, round the park and home again within an hour (but is that 'hour' actually an official rule anyway?) especially with bodyguards along for the ride

I'm not a 'serious' cyclist, but I do cycle quite often, and I think of 10 miles an hour as a good average for a casual cyclist.

Not that that is what bothers me - it's the mixed messages and the lack of clarity that really bug me. As has been said up thread, it is about the need to lead by example.

7 miles is OK I think

Whitewavemark2

7 miles is OK I think

On what do you base that Whitewave?

By any stretch of the imagination for a Londoner, Downing Street to the Olympic Park is not 'local'.

It seems from what people have said that there are so many circumstances where local area cannot be defined, which is why the guidance has been left deliberately vague.

My nearest NT place is open and has vast grounds. Normally I would say it is in my local area, but in this context, I don’t think it is. It is probably about 10 miles away. I am not driving there at the moment, but in fact it would feel safer walking there ( and in various other country parks) than round the busy streets or small crowded local park. But I put in the risk factor of having an accident en route, potentially needing an ambulance, and decided against.

If I turn left at the end of our close, I can be in open countryside in 200 yards, but in a different council area. Turn right and I stay within the borough, where it is just houses and streets. Guess which I prefer!

Isn’t local defined by distance rather than local authority? Does anyone actually know? Surely nobody’s going to quibble about you being 200 yards from home, even if you’re in the next county?

Hmmm I'm nearly 8 miles from the Olympic Park, not in my wildest imagination would I call it local. I've wondered about a lovely park 3 miles from my home, guess I don't have to wonder any longer.

I think that a cycle ride, starting at your home, is perfectly acceptable for your exercise. Doesn’t matter if it’s 7 miles or 17, most serious cyclists easily cover that sort of distance.

However, if you strap your bike onto your car, drive 7 miles away, then start cycling, that to me is not local.

I hope Boris started from home. As for bodyguards, well of course he would have them with him. I imagine they are in his bubble.

There is no point worrying what other people are doing you cannot change their behaviour if you do not agree with it.

Matt Hancock was questioned by a journalist at this evening’s briefing. He said if you go for a long walk and find yourself 7 miles from home that’s fine.

Just heard that Boris has set an example of how far we can go by travelling 7 miles to cycle to a park so he could cycle. Disgraceful behaviour from someone in his position who preaches about the need to stay home. But what can we expect.

For goodness sake.Our SILs only break in the day working from home and juggling home schooling is his bike ride.A couple of times a week he does a longer one and unlike walking can easily cover 6 /7 miles up to a resevoir then back home.This area is very popular with serious cyclists who train.I wouldn't expect them to go round in a half mile circuit.

if he got there and back by power of his own legs, i think that's ok.
and i don't see why people have to go to parks, woods, moors, hills, lakes, country estates in order to exercise.
it's self-indulgent nonsense.
walk around in your house, watch joe wicks, shake, rock n roll, or step outside and walk about. simples.

Yes I agree with what you say but I am on about the double standards, 2 women out for a walk, arriving in different cars with a coffee each and then going for a walk in a beauty spot. Fined because they were away from home (5 miles) and believe it or not having a picnic. I also cycle, leaving home and going any where between 3 to 15 miles.

Wellbeck we will find out tomorrow whether he cycled there or took a car. People go to these places because they are local to them.

Maybe we need a rule similar to the one France had, 1km from home, no disputing that.

Everyone has a different opinion as to what "local" means so it seems to me that it should be properly defined, especially when people are being fined substantial amounts if they are considered to have gone beyond their "local area"".

welbek Some people live in heavily built up, traffic polluted and unattractive areas. I don't think it is unreasonable for them to travel to a more attractive and healthy location.

If someone is cycling or driving in their own car, I don't see why there is a health risk, provided they are not driving miles and miles away. I don't criticise Johnson for cycling some distance but it does demonstrate that there is no clear understanding of the rule.

So, let me get this right.... you can't get into your car from your front door and drive 5 miles to go and walk around a reservoir (especially whilst carrying a cup of coffee), but you can get on your bike from your front door and cycle 7 miles? Hmmmm, wonder how far I can go on the kid's space hopper?

Heard Hancock at the briefing this pm answer this “local” question. He said if you go on a long walk and it’s 7 miles that’s ok ?. When asked what local meant he said don’t travel to another part of the country sic, passing on the virus from your area. Clear as mud.

If the PM does such things and it was good enough for Cummings! We have no public open space in our town but a deserted beach is 3miles away so I think that is now within my “local” area.

Oldbat1

If the PM does such things and it was good enough for Cummings! We have no public open space in our town but a deserted beach is 3miles away so I think that is now within my “local” area.

But it always was Oldbat.

7 miles is nothing to a regular cyclist. DH aged 78 and with a stoma and permanent catheter can still do that and much more on his regular exercise outings. There is nothing in the rules limiting how far a cyclist can go. They do need to socially distance of course.

We know Boris has been on a get fit campaign after his covid illness so this does feel a bit of a "have a go at Boris" to me. He could easily cycle there, do a circuit and cycle back.

I can only go out for about 2 hours then I need a wee!
?
No toilets open so walking near home suits me right now.

Anyway, I agree with that guy on tv tonight, police chief or something in Cumbria (?McCall) who said instead of stretching things right now to see what you can do why not try to see how you can manage doing less? Just for a few weeks.

Made sense to me.