Since yesterday Cyprus has returned to a Covid-19 lockdown and the dreaded use of the SMS to ask for permission for movement. The measures will last until the end of January. Despite the unfair way that our state treats all sports besides football, the measures are a lot less restrictive than last Spring - at least for cyclists!
Article main pic Markus Winkler
The article was updated on 16/1/2021
This time around the “Measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic” allow for two SMS per day and “Physical exercise” is one of the 8 reasons allowed. According to the new decree issued by the Ministry of Health (see here) physical exercise or individual sports are allowed between 5:00 am and 9:00 pm by sending an SMS to 8998.
The structure of the SMS should be:
X(number corresponding to the reason of movement) space Identity Card or Passport Number space Home Postcode.
For example, a cyclist with the ID card #654321 who lives at the postcode 2020 in Aglantzia and wants to go out for a ride will send the SMS “6 654321 2020”
Following that, he will receive an automated reply with the following possible answers:
- Approval
- Rejection due to the structure of the message
- Rejection for exceeding the maximum number of movements allowed
- Rejection for non-compliance with the curfew hours (5:00am - 9:00pm)
If the SMS is approved, he can go out for a ride of a maximum of 3 hours.
While the government has made some effort to clarify the most common questions that people have (see here), they could not cover every possible scenario. Ride Cyprus tried to contact the Ministry of Health, repeatedly throughout the day, but all calls remained unanswered…
We did manage to contact the press office of the Cyprus Police, who was very forthcoming to clarify things. We asked them some of the most common questions cyclists in Cyprus are asking each other on Social Media:
1- How many people can ride together?
This is answered in the FAQ that the government has prepared. Answer to question 15: “[…]and provided that participants do not exceed two (2) persons[…]”
So you can find a riding partner for the quarantine period. Chose wisely!
2- Are there any restrictions on the distance from one’s home during the physical exercise?
No there is no restriction on how far from your place of residence you can ride, as long as you are back in 3 hours max.
3- Can I ride my bike in the park?
Although access to parks and linear parks is prohibited, it is allowed to access them only for physical exercise purposes.
So yes, get out there and ride your bike in the park, within - of course - the limitations imposed by the minister's decree.
4- Can I drive my car to reach my riding place? (example: load my bike in the car to get to the forest for Mountain Biking)
Yes, you can drive to your favorite riding spot, provided that getting there, doing your ride and returning home doesn’t take you more than 3 hours.
You also need to remember that no more than 3 persons from different households can ride in the same car and they all need to wear a mask.
5- Can I drive to another district? Can I change districts during my ride?
This is answered in the FAQ that the government has prepared. Answer to question 7:
“Yes, movement between Districts is permitted provided that the purpose for which the movement takes place falls within the points of use of a text message, which normally does not exceed three (3) hours, […]”
6- Can I extend my outing by sending a second SMS?
On a new decree on 16/1/2020, the Ministry of Health clarified that it is also allowed to send a second SMS to add 3 more hours to your outing.
It is clarified in the updated FAQ that the government has prepared. Answer to question 15:
“[...]It is understood that the cyclist/person who moves for exercise purposes, has the option to resend an SMS message with the option number 6, once the three hours are up, and extend his/her exercise time for another three hours (a total of six hours). These are upon the condition that no more than two SMS messages are sent in one day and that all the other measures foreseen in the valid Decree are upheld.”
Get out there and ride your bike responsibly everyone. Stay safe and healthy.
20 days to go…
[EDIT 16/1/2021]
After the general dislike and reactions, the Ministry of Health has issued an update of the decree and added clarifications in the FAQs which confirm the above article of Ride Cyprus. It also clarified that it is allowed to extend your outing to a further 3 hours by using your second SMS.
Pic ryan-darin