Netherlands Closes Sex Shops, Cannabis Cafes Due To Coronavirus; Bike Shops Stay Open

In an effort to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus the Netherlands is joining other European countries by closing all schools and many cafes, announced Dutch health minister Bruno Bruins in a televised news conference on March 15.

Sex clubs, cannabis cafes, saunas, and some shops will be shuttered from 6pm on March 15, and Bruins said it is likely they will not be allowed to reopen until April 6 at the earliest. Bicycle shops-an essential service in the "bicycle kingdom"-are not part of the closure plans.

Meanwhile, leisure cycling is facing restrictions in France, Spain and Italy.

On Friday the Dutch government said that schools and daycare centers should remain open.

The decision to close cafes and bars had been prompted, said Bruins, by "undesirable"' tourism from Belgium. The region of Noord-Brabant has the highest concentration of coronavirus cases in Belgium.

The Dutch public health institute RIVM said that 20 people have so far died in The Netherlands from contracting COVID-19, including eight on March 14. The number of positive tests now stands at 1,135, although health experts say this is likely to be far lower than the actual number.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will address the nation on Monday evening-the last time such an address took place was during the oil crisis in 1973 when Saudi Arabia refused to supply The Netherlands because of its support of Israel.

"'The prime minister will talk about the difficult situation we find ourselves in," said the state information service RVD, adding that Rutte would also discuss "possible further developments in the coming weeks and months."

RESTRICTING BICYCLE USE in The Netherlands would be incredibly difficult but elsewhere in Europe some limited bans have already been put in place. Italy has imposed some restrictions on leisure cycling, including sport cycling, and according to Spanish newspaper El País, Spain has followed suit.

"If you go out cycling and have an accident your health care will have a very negative impact on a healthcare system that is on the verge of collapse," states Spanish government advice.

Those caught flouting the ban in Spain face fines starting at €100, and leisure cyclists risk a year in prison should they "resist or seriously disobey the authorities or officers when they are carrying out their functions."

Cycling for transport is still currently officially allowed in both Spain and Italy, but the position on the ground is confused- El País reports that some police officers in Madrid have been stopping all cyclists, including those riding to work and to shops.

"The bicycle is allowed to reach the place of work, the place of residence, as well as to reach the shops of first necessity and to carry out physical activity," states Italian government advice, adding that sport cycling is allowed but only if cyclists ride at least one meter apart.

The Spanish government is preventing most road transport, with exceptions for hospital visits and shopping in pharmacies. All forms of "pleasure" transport-including motoring for leisure-have been banned.

Spain-based Irish cycling coach Dave Smith reports that sport cyclists in Girona, Spain-home for many pro cyclists-are being warned off cycling with fines of €3,000.

"Riders were stopped today and warned," he said. "The lockdown starts in full [on March 16]. You can leave the house for essential supplies and medicines but that's it for the next two weeks at least."

On March 16, Madrid and Barcelona suspended their public bicycle rental systems, citing Coronavirus. The Madrid system-called BiciMAD-has more than 2,000 e-bikes operating from 165 docking stations throughout the city. Barcelona's Bicing system has 6,000 bicycles and 420 docking stations.

MEANWHILE, IN FRANCE cycling-solo-had been deemed to be safe, but this changed on March 18. In an evening televised address to the nation on March 16 President Macron put the country into almost complete lockdown, declaring "we are at war with the coronavirus."

Alongside the announcement of suspension of rent, taxes and household bills he said that only essential journeys should be made for the next two weeks-such as traveling to buy food, or visiting pharmacies-but that "exercising alone" was still allowed. This meant that cycling-for sport, leisure and transport-was still allowed.

However, this is no longer the case. Those venturing outdoors now need certification- "attestation de déplacement dérogatoire" - justifying their presence. Physical exercise must be "brief, close to home," which rules out leisure rides.

In the U.K., cycle organizations, user groups and specialist academics have called on the government not to impose similar restrictions on cycling.

"Cycling is an important part of U.K. resilience against the Coronavirus," the executive director of the Bicycle Association said.

"It enables travel without using public transport, and in relative isolation. It also allows people to keep exercising without using gyms or going to classes."

In an open letter sixteen public health and transport academics called for the U.K. government to "enable safe walking and cycling during the Covid-19 pandemic."

They said that despite the pandemic's potential lethality, "all of our existing social and health risks do not simply go away."

The experts added that the government needs to be mindful of the many health benefits of walking and cycling.

"In a rapidly escalating situation," warn the academics, "policy could be adopted that largely confines the general asymptomatic population to their homes, potentially for some time."

This would be counterproductive and bring with it other health risks.

"Walking and cycling, particularly in greenspace, is good for mental as well as physical health," wrote the experts, which include the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine's Professor Sir Andy Haines.

THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT has encouraged cycling as a key transport mode to use during the Coronavirus crisis, support welcomed by bicycle industry organisations in the country.

In a joint statement the Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV) and dealer cooperative Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft eG (ZEG) said: "Millions of people will follow the advice of Health Minister Spahn and will use their bikes instead of buses and trains over the next few weeks."

The statement concluded: 'The bicycle will be the most important form of transport next to the car in the next few weeks, as it is infection-proof and can be used by everyone."

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