Perhaps someone can help me with this. I am a bicyclist, but also a motorist. This is about runners. Often I observe people out running in the street, I assume for excersize or practicing for a marathon or triathlon or something. Many times they are running on the sidewalk. Many times they are running in the street, when a sidewalk is available. Many times they are running in the middle of the traffic lane, AGAINST the direction of the traffic, against the flow of traffic. One time I yelled out the window, that they are on the wrong side of the road. The man just laughed.

Is there something that I don't understand? Bicyclist and motorvehicles have the right to use the traffic lanes, but must follow the rules of the road. Why do some runners run on the wrong side of the road, in the traffic lane, with a smle like a Scientoligist-on-crack.

Against the flow of traffic?

- For safety - to see what's coming.

Road rather than pavement?

- Often better surfaces than footpaths
- Different surface such as asphalt instead of concrete (claimed to be not as hard on the joints)
- Safer! Cars often come out of driveways way too fast and are the cause of many pedestrian injuries
- Better lit so less likely to trip or roll an ankle at night

Run against traffic, bike with traffic. Those are the basic rules. however, you should not be running out in the traffic lane.

You are supposed to run against traffic. As far as running on the road instead of sidewalks, there are a bunch of reasons... like Dalai said, sidewalks are usually concrete and much harder on your joints. They're often not as well maintained so you have cracked sidewalks and debris that you have to hop over, run around, or not notice till after you roll your ankle. Also, dogs usually aren't runners or cyclists best friends and they are usually on the sidewalk when being walked. I probably would have smirked if you yelled that at me too.
And for the running in the middle of the lane bit, if there are no cars coming for a while or intersections coming up, I see no problem with it. A benefit of going against traffic is you can see what's coming so you've got time to move if you have to.

I agree with what others have posted...though I think that many runners are fooling themselves by thinking that running on cambered asphalt is better than running on a level sidewalk...just sayin'.

I also apply the "run against traffic" philosophy to MUPs. I think it makes a lot more sense when you and a cyclist can see each other.

I agree with all that has been posted.

I like running in the street for lots of the reasons mentioned, mostly that it allows me to be more visible to traffic, and I can see more traffic. Bikes, cars, everyone rolls stop signs and being in the cross walk is usually more of a hazard than being in the road. Though when I'm running on the roads I usually run fairly far over and only use the road when running on residential streets.

cj's got a great point about the camber in roads, can wreak havoc on IT Bands.

I'll add two other reasons. Sidewalks dip up and down for every driveway and intersection. In a residential area where every house's driveway cuts through the sidewalk, that gets old real fast and can lead to jarred knees or turned ankles if you're not careful. The second reason is trees. In my town, many of the sidewalks have low hanging trees over them.

unfortunately pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way - even if they are two spaced out stay at home moms standing and chatting in the middle of the road with their strollers

That's why I run in the middle of the road.*

*Talking about quiet suburban roads - I steer clear of major roads and car exhausts

Yelling at a runner for running in the proper direction. the OP proves how little it takes to get a license in this country.

@OP as a person who's new to running, I wondered the same thing. I figured it was about the surface being better for joints, as others have suggested, but I didn't realize running against traffic was considered safer. As long as we're talking quiet neighborhood streets and not main roads, I don't really see what the problem is.

@cjbruin IMO, from the cyclist perspective, running "against traffic" on a MUP is a good way to get clobbered on a blind curve. Probably fine on the straight away, but if you just stayed in your lane, I wouldn't have to do anything about you, as opposed to having to "pass" you if you're in my lane. Then again, my personal pet peeve on the MUP is any object in my lane that's not moving reasonably fast in the same direction as me, so I may just be biased.

I have to disagree on this. On the MUPs I am used to using, if you are walking/running in the same lane and direction that I am riding I can slow down and wait for an opening to pass you. If, however, you are coming towards me in my lane I will have to come to a complete stop and put a foot down or we'll run into each other head on if I don't have room to pass you.

Also, if we are going in the same direction in opposite lanes (me on the right, you on the left), and I am trying to pass someone going in the same direction in front of me, you are now blocking my ability to safely pass. This puts three people in danger of getting hit: you, me, and the other person in front of me.

<Run against traffic, bike with traffic. Those are the basic rules. However, you should not be running out in the traffic lane. >

I would like to respectfully disagree with most of you on this thread. Like most of the bicyclist on bike forums can testify, we have to constantly debate with the motoring public that bicyclist have the right of state law to use the local and state roads. In almost every state that I am aware of, motorist are required to share the road with bicyclist. Bicyclist have the rights AND responsibility to observe all traffic laws.

I am confident that in none of the 50 states are motorists or bicyclists permitted to drive against the flow of traffic. So, according to state laws, runners are not even supposed to be running in the street, let alone running in the opposite direction.

Dali: Run against traffic, bike with traffic. Those are the basic rules" I don't think these rules are written in your state traffic laws. Who wrote those laws, may I ask. Are the rest of us supposed to recognize these rules?

That's why I run in the middle of the road.*


Well, then what do I do when I am driving down the street and you are running down the middle of the street?

#9 rumrunn6
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Join Date:Jul 2008
Location:Just west of Boston
Posts:7,231unfortunately pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way - even if they are two spaced out stay at home moms standing and chatting in the middle of the road with their strollers

Unfortuently, pedestrians have the right away AT A INTERSECTION OR MARKED CROSSWALK, CROSSING THE STREET.

I would argue, that bicyclist use the streets to commute. Runners can use trails, tracks, or designated running trails. Bicycist wear helmets, and lights at night.

BTW. My 16 year old daughter is a runner. She runs cross-country, track, and plays midfield in soccer. So, I respect the activity and sport, but I will never let her run in the street.

I didn't say that but agree with the philosophy. They are not laws, but commonsense rules drummed into me since I was a child.

As for running in the middle of the road - they are quiet roads and as I am running towards only a few oncoming vehicles each run at most, I have plenty of time to move to the edge or off the road till they are past. Easy enough to be sensible and share the road...

Roads are only for commuting on the bike? And running only on trials? Roads are a public infrastructure and owned by all, where does it say that they can only be used by commuter cyclists or motorists? Where do cyclists train if not on the road?

Ok, first of all, given that you are a member since 2004, and have 700 some odd posts, it would behoove you to learn how to use the quote post function, so it is clear exactly who you are quoting. As it is, your post is a mish-mash of quotes, and I am unclear as to what your question exactly is, and what you are quoting from others.

Next, as to your actual question, a quick search yielded this for CA vehicle code:
While I didn't search Montana vehicle code ( your location, based on your profile) I suspect there is something similar in there.

IMHO, running in the street, is just as bad as riding on the sidewalk........

Good thing you're not the boss of me, then.

Also: the OP mentioned big dumb smiles. Endorphins, man. Best drug in the world.

This keeps getting better and better. State laws do state that a pedestrian should be on the left side/in oncoming traffic. Here is Wisconsin's statute:
346.28: Pedestrians to walk on left side of highway; pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders
of electric personal assistive mobility devices on sidewalks.
(1) Any pedestrian traveling along and upon a highway other than upon a sidewalk shall travel on and along the left
side of the highway and upon meeting a vehicle shall, if practicable, move to the extreme outer limit of the traveled
portion of the highway.
(2) Operators of vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders of electric personal assistive
mobility devices on sidewalks as required by s. 346.47.

_______________________________________
Pedestrians do have a responsibility to move over when cars approach.
Note, cars are supposed to yield the right of way in all circustances of use by pedestrians.
Running in the street, when done correctly, is in many cases safer, one thing you are ignoring.
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Finally, on a personal level, I find your posts to be a problem. The same problem that inflicts many a cyclist. "The roads are my roads, you can only do what I say is okay on them."
Get over it, roads are public and to be shared by all for purposes you may not like.

After others looking through their local laws, I thought I'd check too. Here in Victoria, Australia we also have this as law, so not just commonsense.

Dear caelic person,

I guess that I should be flattered that you took such notice to how long I have been a member and how many post I have, but actually it is kinda creepy.

By the way, are you a self appointed editor? Then it would behove you to learn some geography.
I live in Kansas City, MISOURI (MO is the state abreviatiion for Missouri. Montana is MT. Kansas City is a city in Missouri.

Wanderer,are you agreeing with me?