Social distancing is the new norm during this pandemic. Many guidelines ask us to maintain a 6 foot spacing and local guidelines allow us to leave our shelters for exercise. But how close is too close while exercising?
A Dutch study uses this thing called science to predict exposure rates as a function of distance while walking, running, and cycling. I encourage you to read the entire article which references a study by the KU Leuven (Belgium) and TU Eindhoven (Netherlands). (1)(2)(3).
Summary:
- When you go for a walk, run or bike ride you should be more careful.
- When someone during a walk/run/bike ride breathes, sneezes or coughs, those particles stay behind in the air. The person behind you in the slip-stream goes through this cloud of droplets.
- It is important to note that you need to avoid each other’s slipstream
- Recommended distance for walking: 13-16 ft (4-5.5 yards)
- Recommended distance for running / slow cycling = 33 ft / 11 yards
- Recommended distance for hard cycling = 66 ft / 22 yards
Judge for yourself what “hard cycling” actually means, but 22 yards is roughly the length of a short course swimming pool.
Thanks, Bob for finding this one!
References cited in article:
(3): http://www.urbanphysics.net/Social%20Distancing%20v20_White_Paper.pdf