About Contact Nations Join Donate ShopMy accountLogin Start Cycling Go Cycling Campaigning Get Involved Coronavirus rules are still in place throughout the UK and are occasionally updated. Photo: Peter Cornish By Julie Rand Monday, 29 November 2021 Coronavirus: Updated guidance for individual cyclists and cycling groups Coronavirus rules and restrictions vary across the UK and may change at any time. Here is the latest guidance for individual cyclists and cycling groups ***This is a live document and was last updated Monday 29 November to reflect the recent changes in England. Note that it is not possible to cover every local variation across the UK here, and you should always follow local restrictions where these are imposed.*** Please also see Coronavirus and cycling: your FAQs answered by our experts for further advice. Statement from Cycling UK As the national cycling charity, our aim is to support the UK’s population to cycle. This remains true during this period of coronavirus affecting the UK. Above all, the safety and welfare of Cycling UK’s staff, volunteers, participants at our rides and events, beneficiaries of our cycling programmes and the general public are always our main priority. We are closely monitoring the situation and taking advice from the government, the NHS and partners where applicable. The virus and its variants are still very much in circulation so Cycling UK encourages people to cycle but to do so in a manner which minimises the risk to themselves and others from it. Cyclists should use their common sense: for example, by keeping an eye on Cycling UK and government guidance for their nation around participating in and organising cycling activities and events; and by maintaining good hygiene practices and not cycling with others if feeling unwell or told to self-isolate. England As of Monday 29 November, face coverings must be worn again in shops and on public transport. There are currently no restrictions or set numbers of people who may gather indoors or outside. However, Cycling UK advises that limiting group rides to a maximum of 15 is sensible and generally considered best practice anyway. Certain other recommendations also still apply as coronavirus continues to circulate. For example, face coverings are advised in crowded settings, though not while exercising, and participants, volunteers, spectators and others are strongly advised to carry out a self-assessment of symptoms before attending a ride or event and should definitely not attend if unwell or contacted by NHS Test and Trace and told to self-isolate. You may choose to limit the close contact you have with people you do not usually live with. You may also choose to take a lateral flow test before being in close contact and also encourage those people you are meeting with to do so, which will help to manage periods of risk. This includes close contact in a higher risk environment, or when spending prolonged periods of time with a vulnerable individual. There are also special considerations event organisers should take into account in line with government advice for England - see Events section below - and also Sport England's FAQs for more information. Scotland From Monday 9 August, most remaining legal restrictions ended in the nation. This is known as 'Beyond Level 0'. However, caution is still required and Cycling UK's advice is that group rides should be limited to no more than 15 people, in line with current best practice. Other requirements remain in place, in accordance with guidance issued by the Scottish Government and Sportscotland: Face coverings compulsory on public transport and inside places like shops "for some time to come" Indoor hospitality venues must collect customer contact details Outdoor events up to a limit of 5,000 participants are permitted but organisers of large events must apply for permission: further guidance for event organisers will be available shortly Clubhouses and sports facilities which provide catering and bar services, can operate providing they adhere to Scottish Government guidance Avoid car sharing with anyone from another household unless you deem it to be necessary. If individuals or groups do car share then they should follow Transport Scotland: advice on how to travel safely and put in place appropriate risk assessment and mitigations Good hand hygiene and ventilation where possible is still advised 'Give people space' messaging should also be promoted if you don’t have symptoms, take regular lateral flow tests – especially before mixing with other people Certain other recommendations will also still apply as coronavirus continues to circulate in the population. For example, face coverings should still be worn in crowded settings, though not while exercising, and participants, volunteers, spectators and others are strongly advised to carry out a self-assessment of symptoms before attending a ride or event and should definitely not attend if unwell or contacted by NHS Test and Protect and told to self-isolate. Participants and activity organisers should also continue to check the protection levels in their areas as these may change from time to time. Covid officer Groups and clubs in Scotland must appoint a coronavirus co-ordinator (also known as a Covid officer) to act as a point of contact and undertake online coronavirus training to ensure full risk assessments and mitigations are put in place before any group rides or activities; specific consideration should be given to those at greater risk, including some older adults or those with disabilities, and any local variations in protection levels taken into account. All members of a group should be aware of who the Covid officer is in order to pass their details on. These details as a minimum must include: name phone number date and time of the activity attended There should be a register taken at each session which should be accessible by both the coronavirus co-ordinator and the event organiser or ride leader. The register should also note the name(s) of the ride leaders and anyone else who came into close contact with the group during the session. If anybody attending an event or activity reports symptoms, they should be directed to NHS Test and Protect. Note that it is not the responsibility of the club to inform members if someone at the club has tested positive for coronavirus. This will be done by the NHS Scotland Test & Protect team. An individual’s right to privacy must be observed. However, the club will be expected to be able to pass on contact details of all participants should they be asked by a member of the NHS Scotland Test & Protect team. Local health protection teams will continue to monitor coronavirus levels and may request additional mitigations are put in place if and when required. Wales The nation has moved to Alert Level 0. This means: no legal restrictions on the number of people who can meet indoors, including in private homes, public places or at events face coverings remain a legal requirement indoors, with the exception of hospitality premises. This will be kept under review. Certain other recommendations also still apply as coronavirus continues to circulate in the population. For example, face coverings should still be worn in crowded settings, though not while exercising, and participants, volunteers, spectators and others are strongly advised to carry out a self-assessment of symptoms before attending a ride or event and should definitely not attend if unwell or contacted by NHS Test Trace and Protect and told to self-isolate. Legal restrictions allow any number of people to meet outdoors. However, Cycling UK normally advises that group rides should be limited to no more than 15 people in line with current best practice, and people are warned to avoid large gatherings where possible. You must also wear a face covering (if you are able to) in all indoor public places excluding hospitality venues such as cafes, restaurants and pubs (unless you are meeting with only people you live with). You should also observe social distancing with people you do not live with, or who are not in your exclusive extended household, and minimise travel to areas of high prevalence. Organised activities Activity and event organisers should follow the Welsh government guidance for Employers, Businesses and Organisations and continue to undertake a specific coronavirus risk assessment plus take reasonable measures to minimise exposure to, and the spread of, coronavirus. We strongly recommend therefore that all groups wishing to organise cycling in Wales allocate a Covid officer, who should undertake online training to ensure the activity is safe and mitigate any hazards, particularly if held in indoor premises. Northern Ireland It remains a legal requirement for people to wear face coverings on public transport, in shops and indoor attractions - unless they are exempt. From Thursday 14 October, the restrictions on the number of people allowed to meet inside a home increased to 30 from an unlimited number of households. There are no restrictions on the number of people that can meet in a private garden. The guidance allows groups of up to 30 people to meet outdoors without the need for risk assessments. However, Cycling UK's advice is that group rides should be limited to no more than 15 people, in line with current best practice. Organised sports events are allowed but a risk assessment is needed for groups of more than 30 people. We strongly advise therefore that all groups in Northern Ireland wishing to put on an organised event for more than 30 people allocate a Covid officer, who will undertake online coronavirus training to ensure the activity is safe and mitigate any hazards. A person responsible for organising a gathering must, if requested to do so by a relevant person, provide: a copy of the risk assessment and an account of the reasonable measures taken The legal requirement for social distancing outdoors and in hospitality no longer exists in Northern Ireland, however social distancing is advised for all outdoor events and coronavirus testing should be considered in advance of large events. When travelling to large events, you should walk, cycle or use private transport, shared only with members of your household where possible. Indoors, a maximum of six people can be seated together in hospitality venues such as a cafe or restaurant. Children aged 12 and under are not counted in the total. More than six will be permitted if they all belong to a single household, as long as it is not more than 10. Children aged 12 and under are not counted in the total. Venues will also be required to collect customer details to help with the Test, Trace, Protect contact tracing programme. Customer details will include the: name and telephone number of each visitor over the age of 16 date and time of arrival Face coverings must be worn if you leave your table (to pay/ to access toilet facilities), unless exempt. To determine the maximum number of people permitted to attend an indoor gathering, in a non-domestic setting, the organiser or operator must carry out a risk assessment. Indoor gatherings of 15 people or fewer do not need a risk assessment but the organiser must also take all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of the coronavirus. A person responsible for organising a gathering must, if requested to do so by a relevant person, provide: a copy of the risk assessment and an account of the reasonable measures taken It is important that indoor spaces are well ventilated at all times, by leaving doors and windows open. Frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, should be cleaned regularly. Good hand hygiene should be encouraged and social distancing between households maintained. Certain other recommendations also still apply as coronavirus continues to circulate in the population. For example, face coverings should still be worn in crowded settings, though not while exercising, and participants, volunteers, spectators and others are strongly advised to carry out a self-assessment of symptoms before attending a ride or event and should definitely not attend if unwell or contacted by NHS Test, Trace and Protect and told to self-isolate. Events In addition to the above, we recommend event organisers follow these guidelines also: clearly communicate ahead of the event that participants and spectators should not attend if they, or anyone they live with, have been asked to self-isolate, or are required to self-isolate after travel, or because they are displaying any coronavirus symptoms, and should follow the guidance on testing and self-isolation pre-event briefings should take place virtually where possible and should take into account the needs of those who have hearing or visual impairments or who do not have English as their first language consider allocating a Covid officer to carry out a coronavirus risk assessment prior to the event and mitigate any hazards (this is a requirement in some nations) consider putting in place crowd management measures if the event involves large numbers of attendees consider displaying a QR code to assist with NHS tracking and tracing continue to limit the amount that equipment that is shared provide hygiene measures in the form of hand sanitisers, wipes etc to ensure any shared equipment is thoroughly cleaned reinforce messaging around hygiene and social distancing by displaying clear signage, such as the 'Staying safe' poster in the event organiser's and Covid officer's toolkits. Insurance Cover provided by Cycling UK under the organiser’s liability insurance could potentially be invalid if a member or affiliated group decides to go against the advice issued by Cycling UK or their national government and arranges group rides and events that exceed the numbers permitted or do not have in place mitigations against the transmission of coronavirus where required. For individual cyclists, the third-party liability insurance included within membership will protect a member of the public against the risk of a cycling-related incident involving an insured member. The safety and wellbeing of Cycling UK’s staff, volunteers, riders, beneficiaries of our cycling programmes and the general public remain our number one priority. Cycling UK will continue to monitor the situation and will be taking advice from the government, the health sector and our partners. Avoiding contamination NHS guidance for avoiding transmitting or catching coronavirus is to: get vaccinated – everyone aged 18 or over can book coronavirus vaccination appointments now meet people outside if possible open doors and windows to let in fresh air if meeting people inside limit the number of people you meet and avoid crowded places wear a face covering when it's hard to stay away from other people – particularly indoors or in crowded places wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day Remember also to capture coughs and sneezes in a tissue and dispose of it hygienically. Further Queries Please see Coronavirus and cycling: your FAQs answered by our experts or contact the Volunteering Team or Cycling UK's Groups Engagement Officer on 01483 238338. local groups and cycling clubs volunteering for cycling uk road off-road and mountain biking coronavirus Further Reading Coronavirus and cycling: your FAQs answered by our experts Covid officer's toolkit Allocate a Volunteer Covid officer to your group Join our 70,000 strong membership and together we can make a better world by bike Join Cycling UK continues to support the UK to cycle This remains true during this difficult period with the ongoing threat of coronavirus Covid-19 READ OUR LATEST ADVICE ON CYCLING Speak to us today Subscribe to Cycling UK SUBMIT Patron: Her Majesty The Queen President: Jon Snow Chief Executive: Sarah Mitchell CYCLING UK IS A TRADING NAME OF CYCLISTS’ TOURING CLUB (CTC) A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE, REGISTERED IN ENGLAND NO: 25185. 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