Originally Posted by
asgelle
You're not as bad as they are. You're worse. In a car, the exhaled droplets and aerosols are virtually entirely confined within the passenger compartment. On your bike, you're spewing possibly virus laden material into the atmosphere for others to inhale.
Well, Yes and No. COVID-19 has a very short life in open air and only in close proximity, thus the 6ft. rule. In controlled conditions about half the virus might linger an hour, then disperses. Even during that time there’s only a slight chance of inhaling it. In an open air environment coming out of a fellow or nearby cyclists mouth at 12-15 mph, you would have to be nearby (riding a pace line ?) to inhale or get on your skin. It’s not a good idea to be riding with others is good advice, and when you pass others, don’t be sneezing or coughing. I’ve abandoned bike paths for this reason, too many people in close proximity, even though I’m riding by at 12 mph. And I move away from folks running or walking on sidewalks. The chances of contracting or spreading while you solo rode a bike on the streets is minuscule from all I’ve read.