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Although we are all being told to stay at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, the current regulations state that going outside for one form of exercise per day is permitted. Walking, running and cycling are all allowed, either alone or with members of the same household.

Walking and cycling are also permitted as means of travel when making essential journeys, and are great alternatives to making local journeys by public transport, particularly with the reduced number of vehicles on our roads.

Providing you are not required to self-isolate because you or a member of your household is displaying symptoms of Covid-19, and providing you are not in one of the vulnerable groups who are being encouraged to stay at home, then there is no reason to stop cycling, providing you follow government guidance on social distancing and keep at least 2m away from other people.

There are currently no rules in England about how long or where you can cycle. However, cyclists are encouraged to use common sense when planning their rides. Official Police guidance suggests that driving somewhere for the purpose of taking exercise is permitted, providing the period of exercise is longer than the time spent driving. But people are being encouraged to stay local wherever possible and to avoid visitor hotspots. Some popular places have taken steps to discourage visitors. For example, the main car parks serving Greenham Common remain closed until further notice.

We would also recommend that cyclists should try to avoid busier areas or narrower routes where it would be difficult to maintain social distancing. Remember that the canal towpaths and public rights of way may be busier than usual, particularly in and around our towns and villages.

Wherever you choose to cycle, always ride within your limits and do not take unnecessary risks. The last thing you want to do is to place additional unnecessary demands on the emergency services, so practising your jumps when riding on the trails is maybe not the best idea right now.

It is also a good idea to take the time to learn some basic bike maintenance skills. Check your bike before each ride, and always remember to take spares and tools so you can fix a problem at the roadside and avoid unnecessarily calling someone to rescue you. We recommend Made Good, which has lots of useful videos.