Dulwich Park is open

[beansprout]

Just come back and park is open - please can people keep their distance.

[singalto]

Thank you for letting us know. I popped in for a walk and it was really quiet with everyone keeping their distance..

[holloway]

I fancy going jogging. am I going to get a rollocking if go around dulwich park a few times? i'll be by myself and intend to keep a suitable distance from other park users.

[womanofdulwich]

we went at 8am, we always do, definitely more people there than usual. You have to move from others as they won't move for you -unless running at you -to get the social distance . I suggest going as early as you can- I imagine it got much busier later.

[KidKruger]

For the runners - don't just zoom up behind people and pass a few inches away. So remember - keep your distance.

Go AROUND those you are approaching.

Also when running towards people, don't just expect the seas to part because you got your dayglo shirt on, often walkers can't react as quickly if they don't see you coming (or even if they do). So remember - keep your distance.

[KidKruger]

Also runners and cyclists, when you cycle / run 2, 3, 4, or even 5 abreast on the road in Dulwich Park, WHERE are the people on foot supposed to go ?

They are trying to distance themselves and suddenly a wall of people arrive leaving them little options but to run to the side (where there are other people anyway).

Please be less selfish.

Try SINGLE FILE so you?re not dominating the space.

[Clutterqueen]

Hope the caf? is closed.

[Clutterqueen]

Surprised that the park is still open.

[Clutterqueen]

And that people have the time/inclination to go jogging.

[singalto]

The cafe is closed. It was very quiet today: just a few parents trying to entertain their children. Social distancing was observed. If we could behave like that all through this crisis, the park will be a life saver through the summer...

[Clutterqueen]

Only time will tell but if you really don't need to go to the park in this time of crisis then just don't go. You are just adding to the numbers that the government are trying to tell people to stay away.

[Zig-Zag]

I walked alone in the park yesterday, very studiously maintaining my distance from people, but I was always the one having to move out of the way, which is fine but you might think they would want to be careful for their own sake. Two joggers side by side came up behind me, so I was unaware of them until one actualy knocked into my arm as they passed. Amazed at the arrogance and stupidity.

[first mate]

That is appalling. I suspect that for individuals still exhibiting unthinking behaviour that until they have someone close that gets very ill or worse, they will continue with the illusion that it happens to other people not them.

I have been alarmed by reports today of people in their 30?s with no underlying conditions dying from this in the last few days. Because so little is known about this virus we are all vulnerable.

[KidKruger]

So, again in Dulwich Park, on one of the dirt tracks around edge of park behind bushes, walking dog and runner from behind strides past maybe 12 inches away.

I was near a clearing, he could have waited 2-3 secs until I reached it and gone around me / allowed me to move.

Tomorrow I may be coughing loudly as I see / hear runners approaching - they can perhaps rethink their route near me !

[alice]

Running in Peckham park earlier. People using the bigger grassy areas, no rule breaking.

[tarafitness]

Was in PR Park after lunchtime. Lots of people, but all maintaining a decent distance. Was quite impressed. It was all so considerate and civilised.

[i*Rate]

Yes, Peckham Rye and Dulwich parks still open after announcement this weekend that Southwark would close their parks.

It's a shame for anyone that picks up the virus at either place (God forbid) that Southwark aren't taking thing's seriously enough when this borough has second highest number of people testing positive in Britain.

It does need drastic measures at the moment, even if the sun is shining and all looks well with the world.

Take care everyone and good health!

[AylwardS]

We all need to do our bit. If people want to walk outside, and government advice based on the latest scientific knowledge is exercising outside if you maintain a 2 metre distance is a reason to leave your home then it?s a choice each person makes. That walk might be the difference between them staying calm or losing it with those they are going back to. Seems reasonable to me. Tarafitness was in PR park and people were maintaining a distance which wasn?t the case last weekend.

There is more chance of picking up the virus, than the food you?ve gone for on Sainsburys from my last visit, admittedly before the latest restrictions were announced. The same cannot be said for those who gather when government advice is no gatherings of more than two or who travel on the tube on non essential travel which are banned. Yes it?s serious but we have to be led by government and health advice at the time.

I*Rate Advice and information, for me, needs to be official so I can make an informed choice, maybe not always the right one but that?s democracy. I?ve seen twice now that Southwark has the second highest number of cases in the UK but not where the information is coming from. I?d expect figures to be higher here than say Westminster - there are more residents. Not to say it?s not a worry but could there be media sensationalism at play? The number may be high but what?s that out of. Maybe the number is high but as a percentage of the population say the number might be much lower. I?ve just checked the .gov.uk cases and Southwark is 4th on the list behind Hampshire, Lambeth and Birmingham for number of cases but the percentage of the population is the sam in Lambeth and Southwark.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/f94c3c90da5b4e9f9a0b19484dd4bb14

The BBC cases in your area, based on Public Health England data,shows Southwark 181 cases (0.06%), Lambeth 188 cases (also 0.06%)

[dresswaves]

i*Rate Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes, Peckham Rye and Dulwich parks still open

> after announcement this weekend that Southwark

> would close their parks.

>

> It's a shame for anyone that picks up the virus at

> either place (God forbid) that Southwark aren't

> taking thing's seriously enough when this borough

> has second highest number of people testing

> positive in Britain.

>

> It does need drastic measures at the moment, even

> if the sun is shining and all looks well with the

> world.

>

> Take care everyone and good health!

Southwark?s announcement at the weekend was that playgrounds & other areas that could be locked WITHIN parks would be locked, not the parks themselves. Like Chinese whispers this spread around to say parks would be locked. I was walking a dog in Peckham Rye Park & it was in no way crowded & everyone was being sensible & keeping a 2m distance.

[i*Rate]

Alywards,

I stand corrected about the parks, fair comment.

Just try to keep the queue for the ice cream van and cafe spaced out though.

All the best, keep safe.

[NewWave]

Zig-Zag Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I walked alone in the park yesterday, very

> studiously maintaining my distance from people,

> but I was always the one having to move out of the

> way, which is fine but you might think they would

> want to be careful for their own sake. Two joggers

> side by side came up behind me, so I was unaware

> of them until one actualy knocked into my arm as

> they passed. Amazed at the arrogance and

> stupidity.

Ditto same thing happened to me.

and with cyclists brushing right past me on the pavement heading to the park.

Some people are just ignorant arrogant and foolish

[Applespider]

As always some people get it and some don't. 90%+ of people when I was in the park yesterday seemed to be trying to stick to it and, as always, it would be horrendous to punish the majority for a few who aren't. I do believe the level of risk in fresh air such as Dulwich Park is less than if people aren't distancing indoors. My personal choice is that the benefit of fresh air and some light exercise outweighs the risk of having odd person inside a metre for a second or two. Having said that, I'll do all I can to mitigate that by moving aside if necessary.

While going around the carriageway yesterday, there were a few thoughts that sprang to mind. If you are going to stop to look at your phone, think about moving to edge of the pavement so that you're not suddenly a 4m obstacle in the middle of the path. And if you are taking a slow meander through the park, consider using the pavement over the carriageway (unless you've got a buggy or wheelchair) so that those who are moving faster have more room to overtake. Similarly, if you are a household exercising together, think about using 'lane' of the carriageway rather than walking down the middle. If you take up a couple of metres, it doesn't leave much room for anyone else to overtake while still given you space.

[singalto]

Could the joggers use the sandy riding track maybe?