Runners on country lanes

[mangid]

Nearly ran into I guy I often meet on my early morning rides. Always say 'Good Morning' when our paths cross. But this morning he had taken to wearing a flashing red light on his chest. I had seen the light off in the distance, and associated it with a bike on my side of the road. Knew I had plenty of time before I caught up, and then got distracted by a car coming from behind and trying to find the best line to avoid potholes, and give the car plenty of room. Looked up, and I swear he was only 20m in front me. Got around him with no issues, and went back to apologise. But all a bit too close for comfort.

Should runners running into traffic wear a white light, or would that just cause confusion?

 

[mattobrien]

I'd say that lights are not bad thing for runners and the fact you saw him would suggest it helped him stand out. I can't see that wearing any other colour then white at the front is sensible. A walker may use a torch which would be white and they should walk into.facing traffic.

 

[Spinney]

Some light is better than no light, but having red on the front is just asking for confusion.

I have a head torch that can do red or white light. When getting back to the car after a hill walk on a busy road, I've been walking at the back of the party and put the thing on the back of my head shining red. Always white for shining ahead.

 

[DRHysted]

Personally I use green as it's different. I always run facing the traffic so a white light may confuse them, whereas I hope makes them have a "what's that" moment and take a closer look.
I do however try to avoid road running after dark as motorists and cyclists seem to hate giving up any of their tarmac.

 

[si_c]

Light is good, but reflectives are better. Especially for walkers and runners I find.

 

[Starchivore]

Anyone else see people running on the pavement wearing lights (sometimes several)? What is the need to wear a light if you're going to run on the pavement? Are they worried about cars deliberately mounting the pavement?

 

[ColinJ]

I cycled into a fog bank 350 metres up on the local hills yesterday and soon saw something odd looming up in front of me in the murkiness. It turned out to be a young woman riding a horse. The horse was wearing a reflective coat with a flashing white light on the front and a flashing red light at the back. It was quite an effective combination. I'm still not sure that I would fancy riding a horse on a public road in fog, but I suppose that wasn't much safer on my bike.

I had flashing lights front and rear. Most cars had their lights on but a few went by at speed with NO lights on!

Anyone else see people running on the pavement wearing lights (sometimes several)? What is the need to wear a light if you're going to run on the pavement? Are they worried about cars deliberately mounting the pavement?

Unless they are going to run in circles round the block, at some point they will have to cross roads!

 

[Yellow Saddle]

A flashing blue light does the trick for me. All cars, bikes and walkers slow down. Some even stop and turn around before I get to them.

 

[ColinJ]

A flashing blue light does the trick for me. All cars, bikes and walkers slow down. Some even stop and turn around before I get to them.

Isn't that illegal?

 

[G3CWI]

Lights for dogs seem popular here. I have been confused more than once on a quiet dark lane on my commute. It's popular with dog walkers some of whom have several beast, all with different types of lights running about. When seen in the distance I have more than once thought WTF...

 

[Starchivore]

Unless they are going to run in circles round the block, at some point they will have to cross roads!

Yeah but don't they look first? And how long does it take them to cross?

I know I shouldn't care but their hyper-cautiousness confuses me!

 

[T4tomo]

Yeah but don't they look first? And how long does it take them to cross?

I know I shouldn't care but their hyper-cautiousness confuses me!

You only see the bit you see, part of their route is probably unpavemented country lane.

 

[Bazzer]

Nearly ran into I guy I often meet on my early morning rides. Always say 'Good Morning' when our paths cross. But this morning he had taken to wearing a flashing red light on his chest. I had seen the light off in the distance, and associated it with a bike on my side of the road. Knew I had plenty of time before I caught up, and then got distracted by a car coming from behind and trying to find the best line to avoid potholes, and give the car plenty of room. Looked up, and I swear he was only 20m in front me. Got around him with no issues, and went back to apologise. But all a bit too close for comfort.

Should runners running into traffic wear a white light, or would that just cause confusion?

Experienced something similar myself only last week. Travelling along an unlit road with no pavement at 6am and around a corner find two red lights coming towards me on my side of the road, rather more quickly than I would have expected for my forward speed. Turned out to be two runners; one with a flashing red light on his chest and one on his arm. Very disconcerting event.

 

[Starchivore]

You only see the bit you see, part of their route is probably unpavemented country lane.

Yeah it could be that. Which would then be a good precaution to take.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Isn't that illegal?

Yes, I'm sure it is. I suspect that they stop and turn around because they've done something illegal.