DreamRider85

Is this good news? Is it true? An expert says unless you’re with a big group, the amount of virus a cyclist can give you just going past you is very small. He says when you’re in a group for periods of time and then you rub your face, that’s how you get it. He said you shouldn’t worry about contracting the virus just riding alone and passing a rider once in a while.

Do you agree with him?

alo

Yes

bigd777

I would't believe anything on CNN

Oneder

That completely depends what you do, and I see tons of riders right next to each other all the time. It only takes one virus particle finding a way into one cell to infect you even if statistically you probably would have to be exposed to many more - but there can be millions in a single droplet from a sneeze or cough which can travel much much further than 6 feet. People should be riding with masks on if they might be anywhere near other people. You could bee sick and incubating for weeks before you know it. Even the flu and colds are mainly spread when incubating.

tkamd73 

There are no experts on CNN, but common sense would tell you that, he or she is right.
Tim

CaptainPlanet

I was biking along a extremely packed narrow bike lane, literally bikes one after another, and the person in front of me gave a huge cough and there was no possible way to even avoid that. It was quite upsetting

veganbikes

You might get it or you might not. Keep your distance, try to wear a mask and keep clean and try and find a riding route away from others or pick a different time.

CNN, Fox, NBC, NYT, Springfield Shopper, Radio in your teeth or wherever you get the news..whatever doesn't matter what matters is ending this virus as quickly as we can and doing everything in our power to flatten the curve so maybe just maybe we can go back to some modified normal of some sort.

ZHVelo

Yup, everyone just needs to take hydroxychloroquine then no one can get covid19 anymore.

subgrade

^ This, but how is that (original statement) news? Or have the 'experts on CNN' been telling the opposite this whole time?

shelbyfv

Usually an "expert" in this context on CNN or elsewhere will be an epidemiologist or at least an MD. If that's the case, absent evidence to the contrary, they will know more than I do. I've never worried that passing another cyclist on the road would be an issue. What bothers me is riding for prolonged periods close to others, even my friends. I'm not convinced it's yet safe to ride in groups and I miss it.

RH Clark

The best way to prevent yourself from ever contracting a deadly virus is to never go outside again. Masks aren't completely effective either. I suggest you tie a plastic bag over your head to completely prevent any virus entering in.

Phil_gretz

We need the television to explain things that are within the grasp of simple common sense? There is no hope...

Koyote

This is one of the problems with our country: an individual who you yourself describe as an “expert“ gives advice, and then you go on an Internet forum to ask a bunch of anonymous strangers if it is correct. Sheesh.

ZHVelo

I always wondered what kind of people it takes to get a country to over 100k deaths. Now I know.

AlmostTrick

Old news, and in most situations true. Now if an infected rider coughs in your face that's a different story.

Which "News" network and self proclaimed genius ever pumped this idea? Wait, never mind.

Biker395 

Not sure I agree with this. First, who the media call an "expert" often isn't anything of the sort, or their expert opinion is not mainstream ... there are a lot of rogue "experts." One of the ways to ferret out what is true and what is not is to ask others what they have found out themselves. Some respond with their personal opinion, some with links to articles they have found on the subject (either corroborating or refuting the claim ... quite helpful), and some respond with a knee-jerk politically-tainted response or other childish nonsense.

The key is to learn to recognize good information from bad, and ignore the BS. I've certainly learned some things here.

Koyote

The OP described the person as an “expert.”

skookum

It would be helpful to know who the expert on CNN was, and what are their qualifications, as well as exactly what they said.

I agree there are lots of fake experts, many with MDs or other higher qualifications.

However, I am reminded of Tom Nichols' book the Death of Expertise. In this internet age, everybody considers themselves an expert, and real expertise is ignored and looked down upon.

ZHVelo

That quote is very apt.

Cyclist0108

Who is the person, or do you have a link to the CNN report by any chance?

These assertions tend to be based on probabilistic arguments and observations such as who gets sick in a crowded restaurant (people downstream of the airflow from the viral spreader, rather than across the room), and that more traceable contacts occur inside (at choir rehearsals and phone centers) than outdoors.

The main thing to keep in mind is that it takes only one virus particle (under ideal conditions for the virus) to infect you. If you are bombarded by 100,000,000 particles when someone coughs, you are proportionately more likely to contract the disease. Recirculated airflow indoors is worse than being out in the park, but a tightly-packed bevy of cyclists snot-rocketing isn't exactly a guarantee of good health.

The reports I have read basically summarize their statements like this: Six foot distancing might be enough to protect you outdoors, but is probably inadequate (as in the case of the choir) indoors, with recirculated air and prolonged exposure. The longer you are exposed, the higher the probability you will contract the disease.

Koyote

That’s funny – I almost cited the book myself, in my post above. Yes, plenty of people put themselves forward as “experts“ when they actually have no special expertise… Among them, many news personalities on a particular network. But that does not make it wise to ignore real experts, whose credentials are easily verified. And yet, it’s become increasingly popular to scorn those real experts. I could give an example of a noted public official who routinely ignores expert opinion, but it would probably get my post deleted.

Jim from Boston

An expert on CNN says you’re not likely to contract a virus bikingFWIW here Boston, the experts are chiefly M.D.s at the Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospitals, for example on a Governor's COVID Advisory Panel that just yesterday released a four-phase re-opening protocol for Massachusetts. We still have shelter-in-place-mask-on-in-public status, but bicycling and MUPs are not prohibited.

There was this recent discussion about wearing masks while cycling, in particular on the popular Minuteman Bikepath:

wolfchild

It doesn't take an expert to know that your chances of catching covid19 when riding solo is absolutely zero...You're much more likely to get hit by a distracted driver than get infected with a virus.

RH Clark

You don't have any idea what kind of person I am. I care about the 100K that died from this flu just as much as the 100K that died from the last one or that die every day in all kinds of ways. The only thing you need to know for sure is that I am apparently not nearly as fearful as you and certainly not as easily manipulated. My best to you but I will not live in a world where I have to wear a mask outside in the open air away from anybody. Don't worry though ,I'll stay more than 6 feet away from you. I'm just sad that freedom died without so much as a whimper, let alone a good fight. My motto is, "I'm going to live,or die trying!" I won't live a life full of the fear of dying.

tds101 

My take: Riiiiigggghhhhttttt,....only CNN has "experts" that state these types of "facts". Fox would NEVER do such false pontificating,... Question is, as asked, who was the "expert"? Inquiring minds would like to know. Otherwise,...meh,... Only the MEDICAL experts are worth their salt. And not left OR right leaning.