running on the road

[david k]

anyone else seen this? ive seen it quite a bit in the last few weeks, runners using the road, even walkers, not just popping on but actually running on the road

 

[Accy cyclist]

Not so much well luminated runners or walkers in an organised group but simpletons who seem to enjoy dicing with death or injury, whilst wearing dark clothing looking down at their damn phones!!

 

[snorri]

anyone else seen this?

I've been seeing it all my life.
I hope you don't want to see pedestrians banned from our roads?

 

[MontyVeda]

All the time, both runners and walkers. My road is part of a conservation area and has old yorkstone paving and loads of sycamore trees, which adds up to slimey slippery pavements.

 

[compo]

I see a lot, but usually out around the lanes where there are no paths.

 

[buddha]

I used to run, before I 'found' cycling. Mainly in the woods, but had to use the road where there are not verges/footpaths in country lanes. I didn't like doing it, as you are vulnerable on some bends. Especially from those nutters on bikes with cut the apex too tight

 

[Sandra6]

The road is a "softer" surface to run on, so I'm told by runners, and it does less damage to your shins.

 

[david k]

I see a lot, but usually out around the lanes where there are no paths.

oh yeh ive always seen people use the road when minimal or no footpath. im talking about A roads with perfectly good paths???

 

[david k]

I've been seeing it all my life.
I hope you don't want to see pedestrians banned from our roads?

why would you make such an assumption?

 

[snorri]

why would you make such an assumption?

On reading over, it appears I have misinterpreted the OP, sorry.

 

[david k]

On reading over, it appears I have misinterpreted the OP, sorry.

or maybe i wasnt clear

 

[byegad]

For several years I used to pass one fairly regularly on Thursday nights on an unlit hill dropping towards our village. He was always dressed in black and running with his back to the traffic and I nearly hit him one night when an oncoming car dazzled me and only fast reactions and good brakes saved him. So the next time I saw him I slowed alongside him and mentioned, politely, the near miss and that running on the other side of the road with some reflectives would be a life enhancing option. His reply was F** Off! So I left him to it. I saw him fairly regularly after that but about a year ago was the last time. I often wonder if the reason why is that his luck ran out.

 

[PaulB]

They should wear helmets, and, since they're going to use OUR roads, they should be made to pay road tax and have insurance. There are thousands of innocent pedestrians killed every year by being bashed into by runners. They should be made to wear registration plates as well. Rant over.

 

[mcshroom]

The same reasons that cyclists use the road rather than segregated facilities. The roads tend to be more even, have fewer obstructions, not keep stopping and starting, be gritted in winter and have far less dog sh!t on them. Also has the added benefit of removing interaction with pedestrians.

As it's perfectly legal I don't see a problem with it.

 

[Yellow Fang]

If you're training for a long race, a marathon or something, it's nicer to run out into the sticks rather than do laps around a certain part of town. Country lanes usually don't have pavements, but bridleways, if you can find them, are often muddy. Ideally, you're supposed to run on the right hand side of the lane, facing traffic, but I always tended to be on whatever side had the best view of traffic, and they of me.