Coronavirus lockdown and exercising outdoors

[DieselnDust]

I think I might have missed a few updates in the regulations .... could have sword there was a time and distance limitation, a requirement for wearing masks outside and keeping a social distance.  And I could have sworn I read something about "social distancing" and no groups .....

 

 

But I clearly missed the updates ...

 

By 8:00 this morning the sun started showing itself in the Cape.  Initially you could see these were the regular athletes out and about.  At worst, they would run\ride without mask, BUT pull it up when another rider\runner came into view.

 

And then it all CHANGED .... by 8:30 the roads and pavements got FLOODED with walkers, runners and riders.  Most runners had their buffs around their neck, or simply had no mask.

 

And then my jaw dropped !!  Riding up Mountainview Road the locals were out walking in the many green-belt sections .... but they kept on stopping to meet up with friends along the way, step one - mask down, and then have a nice close huddle and a lekka chat before moving on to meet up with the next friend\neighbour a short distance later.  YES, it is nice to be part of such a community where their kids grew up together and they have shared a lifetime, and to be able to meet up on n stunning morning .... surely it CAN be done while maintaining a safe distance and while keeping those masks on your face.

 

 

And then I see this :

Tygerberg.jpg

 

Tygerberg has gone from the lowest infection rate to the highest in the last three weeks..... and yet we keep on ignoring the most basic steps to keep our families safe.

 

 

So now I have to decide, do I want to ride in the dark of the morning, avoiding this mob behaviour, or stay on the indoor trainer ....

 

 

NOTE - I am long past worrying about the behaviour of others, as long as they only endanger themselves .... BUT, when some blithering idiot runs\rides past me huffing and puffing their droplets into my face it potentially endangers my health ....  

 

 

work the math. How far are those droplets going to travel as the athlete exhales. Its not a sneeze, so maybe 2m?

Condensation of the water vapor in their warm breath will cause the droplets to drop quickly. Its a very low risk mechanism of transmission. Worry more about PnP/Woolies/Spar/clothing stores/workplace

[Jbr]

oh and as I get home I open strava and see that a "friend" went from Burgundy Estate (which seem to be a hotspot) to Noerdhoek this morning ????

[ChrisF]

work the math. How far are those droplets going to travel as the athlete exhales. Its not a sneeze, so maybe 2m?

Condensation of the water vapor in their warm breath will cause the droplets to drop quickly. Its a very low risk mechanism of transmission. Worry more about PnP/Woolies/Spar/clothing stores/workplace

 

Jip.... 2m seems to be norm for a "safe distance". (let's ignore for now the many articles speaking about much longer distances in slip streams ...)

 

Problem being that many runners run on the wrong side of the road, facing oncoming traffic - understandable.

 

 

Often cyclists have to pass these runners with a few cm between them .... 

 

 

I was slowing down, checking for cars from behind, going wide where possible.  Still way too many times where I was less than 1m from a runner ....

 

 

Nope, I dont like these odds ... all because another athlete is too damned self important to care about those around them ....

 

 

 

sadly this is not a fight that we can ever win .... so just safer for me to adjust my time and routes to try and avoid the idiotic masses .....

[Chris_]

...

Problem being that many runners run on the wrong side of the road, facing oncoming traffic - understandable.

 

...

 

You are supposed to run on the right side - into oncoming traffic.

[NotSoBigBen]

'The natives are getting restless'

[eddy]

You are supposed to run on the right side - into oncoming traffic.

You are supposed to run on the right side - into oncoming traffic.

This is so, pedestrians are encouraged to walk facing the traffic.

 

But I don't think it is so you can see the white of the driver's eyes as he runs you down, but rather to be able to move out of harm's way.

 

What is disconcerting is when walkers/runners hold their line it forces a cyclist to move across, potentially into the path of a vehicle passing from behind...

 

It defeats the road safety object

[ChrisF]

You are supposed to run on the right side - into oncoming traffic.

 

Agreed ....

 

 

But maybe you can help me understand the options :

 

- on the pavement (where these are usable)

 

- in the cycling lane (when there is a perfectly tarred pavement)

 

- on the white line between the cycling lane and the cars ....

 

 

OR ... run on the white line, then start a little tap dance left and right, not clearly indicating if you are going to run in the "road", the "cycling lane", or the pavement .... making it impossible for the cyclist to know which route to follow .... and then finally brushing right past the cyclist.  All this with the runner not wearing any mask.

 

 

Frankly, I expected a bit more common sense from the residents in Stellenberg ..... and once again, it is "the few" giving the rest a bad name.

[Chris_]

Agreed ....

 

 

But maybe you can help me understand the options :

 

- on the pavement (where these are usable)

 

- in the cycling lane (when there is a perfectly tarred pavement)

 

- on the white line between the cycling lane and the cars ....

 

 

OR ... run on the white line, then start a little tap dance left and right, not clearly indicating if you are going to run in the "road", the "cycling lane", or the pavement .... making it impossible for the cyclist to know which route to follow .... and then finally brushing right past the cyclist.  All this with the runner not wearing any mask.

 

 

Frankly, I expected a bit more common sense from the residents in Stellenberg ..... and once again, it is "the few" giving the rest a bad name.

 

Yoh lekker by die Kaap hey. We don't really have pavements here, nor cycle lanes, nor much painted lines other than main roads.

 

No relax, all I thought was you were telling people to run on the incorrect side of the road, I too have problems with people who cannot exhibit a fraction of common sense. Its a real problem.

 

Personally I would rather run in the middle of the road and let you cycle down the side, at least I can see behind you and it makes life easier for both parties.

[Mojoman]

Agreed ....

 

 

But maybe you can help me understand the options :

 

- on the pavement (where these are usable)

 

- in the cycling lane (when there is a perfectly tarred pavement)

 

- on the white line between the cycling lane and the cars ....

 

 

OR ... run on the white line, then start a little tap dance left and right, not clearly indicating if you are going to run in the "road", the "cycling lane", or the pavement .... making it impossible for the cyclist to know which route to follow .... and then finally brushing right past the cyclist.  All this with the runner not wearing any mask.

 

 

Frankly, I expected a bit more common sense from the residents in Stellenberg ..... and once again, it is "the few" giving the rest a bad name.

Ag ja...once again its mos julle Kaapies that are giving the rest of us a bad name...!!

[The Ghost]

I'm starting to really develop a hate for runners

Phase one - infection, fear and death

Phase two - economic disaster

Phase three - hate, labelling, bigotry

 

It’s growing.

 

Not aimed at you Jbr it’s far broader than that

[Stevief]

'The natives are getting restless'

yip about time to..

[Stevief]

Phase one - infection, fear and death

Phase two - economic disaster

Phase three - hate, labelling, bigotry

 

It’s growing.

 

Not aimed at you Jbr it’s far broader than that

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to the dark side..........Yoda

[The Ghost]

Fear leadstoanger. Angerleadstohate. Hateleadsto the dark side..........Yoda

This suffering is what I’m worrying about, thanks for extrapolating my point [emoji1303]

[Pieter-za]

This is so, pedestrians are encouraged to walk facing the traffic.

 

What is disconcerting is when walkers/runners hold their line it forces a cyclist to move across, potentially into the path of a vehicle passing from behind...

My m.o. when running is, as I can see the road behind the cyclists, to move (in good time, clearly communicating intention) to the middle of the lane if road is clear, to enable the cyclists to keep his line. If it is not clear I will jump on the pavement. In any case I will actually shout eg 'car coming' if I see a possible situation can develop.

(This however does not work so well when a peleton appear, or when encountering 'casual' riders. Works well when encountering single and fast (perhaps the more 'serious') guys.)

 

Long story short, for me it is about 'situational awareness', and to act accordingly.

[The Ouzo]

My m.o. when running is, as I can see the road behind the cyclists, to move (in good time, clearly communicating intention) to the middle of the lane if road is clear, to enable the cyclists to keep his line. If it is not clear I will jump on the pavement. In any case I will actually shout eg 'car coming' if I see a possible situation can develop.

(This however does not work so well when a peleton appear, or when encountering 'casual' riders. Works well when encountering single and fast (perhaps the more 'serious') guys.)

 

Long story short, for me it is about 'situational awareness', and to act accordingly.

I encounter a few runners on my normal route that do this, its always appreciated. 

[Mamil]

Factually incorrect

 

Dunno but there's no scientifically proven reason to wear one. It's just because WHO says it might be a good idea