Advocacy & Safety - Biking on a quarter mile running track

My local high school allows a bike racer to use their quarter mile running track while there are runners on the track. This strikes me as kind of dangerous. Plus, I don't guess the narrow tires are very good for the rubberized track?

hm... i never tried riding on a running track but it doesn't seem like the rubber would ba a good surface, especially if you're pushing hard through the corners...

but yeah, there is usually enough trouble just getting the slower runners/recovery/walkers to move to the outer lanes and often fast runners pass people on the right b/c it's easier than hesitating while waiting/hoping that someone will move out of your way. so adding cyclists seems like a bad idea - i doubt the fast sprinters will like having to move to the outside - or are the bike supposed to use the outtermost lanes?

is there a major lack of other places to ride? or is the school just too scared of the liability to let cyclists train on the street? running track, even WITHOUT runners doesn't seem like the best cycle-training facility...

Biking on a running track?

BORING!!!

If the school allows this for one particular racer they probably have some type of agreement or understanding in place to address everyone's concerns.

I doubt the school would allow a bike on the track if it was damaging to the surface, it would be too costly. Remember the old "only running shoes on the gymnasium floor"?

The Brits have a whole class of racing based on flat, grass tracks.
I have read references to this for years--can any UK cyclists reading this say whether they are on soccer fields, running tracks, or dedicated cycling tracks. Years ago attending a large university in a Western state and owning a track bike with unusually generous tire clearance I used to ride it on a running track at night--fit the beater wheels with the Clement Elvezias and go for it!

Originally posted by Andy Dreisch
Biking on a running track?

BORING!!!

AMEN Bro!!!:beer: