Paphos Life

Apologies in advance if this is a daft question. I understand the dog walking rules, but I can't find any reference for permitted areas in which you're allowed to walk for exercise. During the last lock down I believe the permitted area for walking exercise was within your postcode. This time, though, it's not so clear. For example, can you get in your car and drive to the beach, park, etc.in order to walk as long as you're back within 3 hours? Or has the government left it suitably vague?

Thanks

You can walk on the beach, in parks, and in linear parks.

This begs the question: what is a linear park?

I assumed it was a bad translation. I was wrong.

From Wikipedia:

A linear park is a park in an urban or suburban setting that is substantially longer than it is wide.[note 1] Some are rail trails ("rails to trails"), that are disused railroad beds converted to recreational use, while others use strips of public land next to canals, streams, extended defensive walls, electrical lines, highways[1] and shorelines.[2] They are also often described as greenways.[3][4] In Australia, a linear park along the coast is known as a foreshoreway.

This to me would include the entire Paphos walkway.

No it doesn't. That is just for walking your dog without needing to send an SMS.

You can definitely drive to the beach as per the specific areas in the guidance stated by Dominic. Guidance is a little unclear again as I also think you could walk around your own neighbourhood - the guidance doesn’t specifically say this. Some people won’t have access to a car.

Jeanne

Lincoln wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 10:33 am Read the info as it clearly says within 500 meters of your residence.

This is from the government guidance from the PIO:

15. In what cases is physical exercise/training allowed?

Physical exercise/training is only permitted in public open-air areas where access is allowed in accordance with the decree. Specifically, in parks, linear parks and beaches and provided that participants do not exceed two (2) persons and physical exercise/training takes place within a reasonable period of time up to three (3) hours.

Many sites posted incorrect forms yesterday (including in-Cyprus) where number 6 stated you can only exercise in your neighbourhood. These are still doing the rounds and confusing people. The correct government forms state for no.6:

6. Physical activity or individual sport practised in areas where access is permitted.

Jeanne

Dominic wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 10:32 am You can walk on the beach, in parks, and in linear parks.

Hi Dominic. These are the planned linear parks for Paphos although I am sure there will now be some delay https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/two-li ... or-paphos/

Jeanne

Reading many comments on this on FB and overall it appears you can go for exercise anywhere within your district in the areas that are permitted.
Only people from Nicosia district can go to another district in order to swim in the sea.

Thanks for the comments, including Lincoln's! We are driving to Paphos Harbour and/or one of the beaches, in a short while for a walk. If we get fined, we'll let you know!!

It seems like the Governments are indeed being vague throughout.

Ours in UK is also causing confusion again with the wording for exercise being within your local area. No time reference is stipulated other than it should be reasonable.

If you recall the last time someone asked a UK minister for clarification of a reasonable time, Gove thought 30 minutes was sufficient.

Sounds to me that man has a home gym or does no exercise at all away from the home....

In one respect, we're lucky we have the river footpath, the coastal footpath as well as woods but they can get busy, especially if it's a pleasant day with sunshine.

We had such a day last weekend and I've never seen so many people or cars on the public car park by the ferry slipway and café.

But these were all local people, it's just that our village spreads back quite a way from the coast. Nobody is going to walk around the streets when they have beautiful scenery a couple of miles down the road.

I reckon Cyprus with a 3hr time slot has at least made allowances for the fact people may initially need to travel to get to a place to exercise and complete it.

All the rules, and shed load more info, are here

https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/eng

See the red box section for official guidance relating to current measure in place.

Ian

A couple of neighbours were going out for a walk around the neighbhood and asked my wife if she wanted to join them, anyone know if there is a specific number allowed in a group, thanks

Only 2 I believe

WHL wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:57 pm A couple of neighbours were going out for a walk around the neighbhood and asked my wife if she wanted to join them, anyone know if there is a specific number allowed in a group, thanks

Page two of the guidelines in the link on my earlier post.

Ian

I suppose that the translation from Greek to English doesn't help with making these provisions clear... maybe the Govt in trying to be specific has only added to peoples confusion.
The Sunday (Cyprus) Mail has some interesting and amusing articles on this subject. Reading comments in 'Tales from the Coffeeshop'. Helps if you are feeling fed up with all these curbs on peoples freedom.

Dee

I am not fed up with the curbs on peoples freedom, because it is done for the best of reasons ...
Even now when you are out you can see people walking about on the streets with no mask on..

Termites Dream wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:55 am It is a shame we cannot use the countryside to walk in and must use areas that are likely to be busy. I would have preferred areas where I was not likely to bump into anybody.

Why not? I haven't read anything specific about banning people from the countryside and yesterday people were driving out to take a walk.

Dominic wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 10:32 am You can walk on the beach, in parks, and in linear parks.

This begs the question: what is a linear park?

I assumed it was a bad translation. I was wrong.

From Wikipedia:

A linear park is a park in an urban or suburban setting that is substantially longer than it is wide.[note 1] Some are rail trails ("rails to trails"), that are disused railroad beds converted to recreational use, while others use strips of public land next to canals, streams, extended defensive walls, electrical lines, highways[1] and shorelines.[2] They are also often described as greenways.[3][4] In Australia, a linear park along the coast is known as a foreshoreway.

This to me would include the entire Paphos walkway.

There are already Linear Parks in Nicosia and Limassol and, as Lofos-Jan commented earlier, two intended for Paphos.
I would also include the Paphos coastal walkway in the above description.

Termites Dream wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:55 am It is a shame we cannot use the countryside to walk in and must use areas that are likely to be busy. I would have preferred areas where I was not likely to bump into anybody.

Is walking on your own (or in groups of 2) e. g. in the forest or in the fields really banned even if the next person is hundreds of meters away?

Yes, only two people are allowed to walk in the Paphos area at any one time.

It is still not clarified if I am allowed for a walk or some exercise (crystal hunting...) in the countryside in places where normally nobody appears. (only hunters on Wed/Sun) It would be crazy to get a fine at these places...

Max