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Coronavirus conundrum at Jamaica Pond

In the Before Times, some people would walk or jog clockwise around Jamaica Pond while others would go counter-clockwise. As long as people didn't keep their heads down, it worked out fine and life was good. But now, with infections concerns at a fever pitch, some folks are wondering: Should people all walk or jog in the same direction, to reduce the odds of getting coughed or sneezed on by somebody coming the other way and increase that social distancing to at least six feet at all times? And if so, which direction?

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Comments

I think they should do this places like the Mass Ave bridge too. It's not wide enough to keep all the tons of people out running and walking around the river apart, so make each side's sidewalk one way only so we can keep our distance.

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With the reduced level of car traffic, maybe they could close one lane each direction on the bridge to cars and allow pedestrians to walk/run in the lane? Plenty of space there (and I know runners prefer running on asphalt to concrete anyways).

(this is not intended to be a "all cars r bad" post -- just noting that there is a lot less auto traffic right now and plenty of room on that bridge)

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The Harvard Bridge

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Hopefully that will be an official declaration by noon today.

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for counterclockwise.

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Use to park on the north side and would go counter but now I start on the south side and go clockwise, from the new stop light/crosswalk on the J Way (which is such an awesome improvement!)

#sneetchproblems.

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On the northside like you said on Perkins St. Or the south side by the boat house.

As long as people aren't spitting on other dogs feet then we should be free to go either way.

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It's probably appropriate that circumnavigating it would be a constant turn towards the left ;)

I'm picturing a scene like this taking place around the pond eventually, but involving a MAGA hat and with the directions reversed.

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People who walk counterclockwise around the pond are plainly dangers to themselves and others and should be locked up. Now what's this about a "coronavirus"?

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Sad to say but I want to go there but won't. Too many people walking and running around.

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It's too crowded

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in the Southern. Ya gots to follow the Coriolis force: it's just science, people!

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.

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We joke, but somebody on Facebook in the neighborhood was trying to petition 311 to close down the Pond because it was “too crowded” and thus a public health hazard.

Sanity is not prevailing here.

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Why is this night different from all other nights? On most nights, we walk around JP clockwise or counterclockwise, but on this night, we only walk around clockwise.

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Are those who insist on recreational walking near others, in an urban setting, during a State of Emergency, really concerned about clockwise or counterclockwise? Bring an instrument, Nearer my God to Thee might be appropriate.

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I don’t consider it “recreational walking,” I call it “maintaining my physical and mental health, thereby reducing potentially needless demands on a stressed healthcare system.”

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Clockwise.

Faster movers should take the "long" route, and should be passing on the left.

That calls for a clockwise motion.

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Whichever is decided, on street cleaning days everyone should be required to move in the opposite direction.

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Some fellow names Jesus supposedly did that a few years ago. Maybe a another divine exception to the laws of gravity will be granted during this peculiar moment.

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(and, before I get the obvious response, _that_ Jesus)

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My counter-clockwise or your counter-clockwise?

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Bird counter-clockwise or fish counter-clockwise?

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North or South?

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does that mean everyone has to go at the same pace so as not to pass others/get within 6 feet?

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Over the PA, the announcer says “all change”!

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Let's go dancing around the pond. Get our whirling going. Any bona fide Whirling Dervishes in town to give us lessons?

Pray, whirl, pray twirl, pray swirl. This is a natural fit. Dancers need space between each other.

Or, maybe wait until this ordeal is over. Then give a gigantic thanks of dancing around the pond to whatever deities one believes in.

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The path isn't wide enough for 1 line in each direction, people passing only when there's a large-enough gap?
I know, I know... people would walk side-by-side and foul that up, too....

One direction only (either clockwise or counterclockwise) wouldn't work because some people want or are capable of only a short walk and don't want to have to circumnavigate the entire pond to get back to their starting point - they're going to walk a bit, turn around, and go back.

IF this really needed to happen, I would suggest different directions on alternating days. I used to be a member of a Y with a teeny little indoor track - balcony of a small gym, banked lanes and especially corners, lanes marked WALK, RUN, PASS - they alternated daily because it would otherwise mean uneven development of runners' legs (yes, I know this wouldn't be a concern on something the scale of the pond)

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On the indor track, they had a sign with a direction. Follow the sign, or be shamed.
They changed the direction every day (I guess to wear it out evenly? Or for those hardcore Coriolis-truthers out there?).

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I'll walk both ways and I sometimes reverse the direction if I am going to circumnavigate the Pond more than once. But, I prefer clockwise because I like to be near the water. Also, I've noticed over the decades that more people walk counter-clockwise so that's another reason to go against the tide, in normal times.

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