Joggers in the Bike Lane.
 

Recently I've been having to avoid joggers in the bike lane. And not just in the bike lane, but jogging against traffic :twitchy: in the bike lane -- all while a large and empty sidewalk is right beside. Anyone else seeing anything like this?

Perhaps some Arizona weirdness? No one walks, most bicyclists ride on the sidewalks, and now I've got joggers in the bike lane.

I always run in the bike lane. Sidewalks are to crowded with dogwalkers, and trash cans.

Not to mention tree roots and driveway cutouts. Plus, concrete is much less forgiving than asphalt. I too run on the road rather than the sidewalks. And pedestrians should face traffic. So no, I don't think it's weird.

I also run against traffic, and in the street. Asphalt is softer than concrete. I run as close to the curb as possible when a bike approaches, though. Are they running right into your path?

It happens all the time in my city. This past year, we even got a completely segregated bike lane and there are joggers who think they're entitled to jog in the exclusive bike lane. It's just a matter of time before someone gets trampled by a bike.

Much of my ride is through a country club area and I see this a lot. When I first started commuting people running in the road really bugged me. After a few months I decided it wasn't worth getting my blood pressure up over it so I've just made it a point to nod and ride on past.

Quite often if they see me glance over my shoulder in preparation to leave space they will jump on the sidewalk as we pass.

I don't ride my bike on the pedestrian only path. That's all I'm going to say.

I've encountered joggers running toward me in the bike lane. Specifically, On Guadalupe Rd. near Kiwanis Park in Tempe.
It's fun for me, actually. I act like I don't see them and it's fun to watch them jump out of the way.

LOL :thumb:

Another reason for a high-power light and a bell. Joggers run in the street because asphalt is softer than concrete, and usually streets have less of a slant. I agree that it's annoying, but look at it this way: Cyclists complaining about joggers in the bike lane is sort of like drivers complaining about cyclists on the streets. The reason I say this is that most "bike paths" are really MUTs or multi-use trails.

What annoys me the most is joggers who run in the street, dressed totally in black, in the dark, with no reflective gear, in the direction of the traffic. It's amazing how many joggers dress like this. Do they have a death wish? I put a bell on my commuter bike for that reason soon after I started riding to work.

Not unusual. As a runner, you're supposed to run against the direction of traffic. I used to run in the roads all the time- it's softer and has less obstacles than the sidewalk. We don't have bike lanes here, but I imagine it'd be the same if we did.

Of course runner ettiquette would be to get out of the way if you see a vehicle (car or bike) coming toward you, particularly if they don't have a lot of space to move.

Streets have LESS slant than sidewalks? Where do you LIVE? THAT'S something I'd like to SEE!

As far as your comparison about bikelane joggers & cyclists in the street, apples & oranges. Bikes in the street are legally allowed to be there; joggers in the bike lane, or in the street PERIOD, fall under the heading of "victimless crime", and largely ignored. TECHNICALLY, you can't be a pedestrian in the street when there's a sidewalk present in most areas, but with "no blood, no foul" being the rule of the day anymore, it's just un-enforced.

"Bike path" =/= "bike lane".

Agree with the ninja joggers, though, that's just stupid.

Where I live, I don't see joggers in the FEW bike lanes we have, but they're ALL OVER the MUP.

Bad idea. That's not why these lane were put in for. Should I ride my bike on the sidewalk because bike lanes are too crowded???

It already happened several times in NYC to my knowledge. And the worst are joggers with headphones on and dogs on leash. Idiots.

Yes, but you're not supposed to run in the bike lane. Period. No excuse.

Agree to disagree. I see no difference between running in the bike lane and running in the road- both come with risks and you have to be aware of what's around you and prepared to get out of the way, but they're also both more practical for a lot of runners rather than being in a crowded busted-up sidewalk.

Complaining about runners with iPods and dogs is about on par with complaining about bikers with iPods who don't have proper lights. Both are road hazards (and jerks) but they don't mean that everyone running or biking should stay off the road.

It amazes me that every time one of these threads come up, there are people that treat the joggers in the exact same manner that we complain about cars treating us.

I don't buy the whole "asphalt is softer than concrete" argument, but I have no problem with someone jogging on the road due to the horrible state of most of the sidewalks around here. I'm not going to treat them like an intruder in the bike lane (the few that there are), because I don't like being treated like an intruder on the roadway. The whole "do unto others" thing.

I just wish more pedestrians knew they were supposed to walk facing traffic so I don't wonder if they're going to suddenly step in front of me because they don't' know I'm coming up behind them.

I have no problems with them in the bike lane. It would be nice if they stepped off to the side if they saw a cyclist approaching (that is, after all, why they jog against traffic), but it doesn't bother me if they don't. I'll treat them like any other obstacle. Look to my left, merge with traffic when clear.

Where I live, there is strip of about 13 miles of road where we have dedicated bike lane on street, next to it, some plants and palm trees, than a trail dedicated to walking/running. I still see runners going against in bike lane. I HAVE to get into regular road frequently in the morning which usually is not a problem as that would be 5AM, etc where there isn't much cars. Though one of these days, if I have to choose, I probably will pick the runner over 2 ton thing to run into.

I disagree. I have no problem with joggers. As long as they are not in the bike LANE, which is specifically designed for bicycles. If I hit the jogger in the bike lane and there's a sidewalk right next to us, who is at fault? The jogger. Now if there is NO bike lane and NO sidewalk, then it's a different story.

Joggers dont annoy me too much. I am always seeing skateboarders and motor scooters in the bike lane, and most of the time going the WRONG way. These are full grown adults, how do they not see how dangerous it is?

The BIKE lane is for bikes.

I'm a jogger, and run on the side of the road, on the asphalt. Concrete just destroys my knees, so sidewalks are definitely out.

Was the bike lane built right on the edge of road, thus taking over the shoulder previously occupied by runners? If so, I'd expect to see joggers in the bike lane. There's no where else for them to go.

This. Though if a bike was coming I would get out of the way, onto the sidewalk. I don't know why concrete feels harder to run on than asphalt. It doesn't make sense.

Let's change the wording a little, and see if it sounds familiar. "Bikes in the car lane".

Get used to it folks, or spend your life being angry (like a car driver at a cyclist). Somehow we all need to manage to get along.

If you see a jogger in the distance start making arrangements to move around them.... treat them like they're broken glass in the lane.

Joggers in the bike lane never bother me I just move out around them. Its part of sharing the road.

First I'm a runner and not a jogger. Second I always run on the sidewalk or path when one's there. They are much more pleasant than being in the road next to traffic and all the noise. Third I never would run a in a bike lane because they are for bicycles. Lastly there's no truth to the tale about concrete is softer than asphalt. There might be a slight difference but any good pair of running shoes will eliminate the differences.