I see this a lot. Here runs a jogger in the road, when four feet to his right is a sidewalk. For the love of god, why? You can’t honestly tell me there is a difference between a concrete road and a concrete sidewalk.
I haven’t seen many concrete roads. Around here, almost all the roads are asphalt and the sidewalks are concrete. Asphalt is quite a bit softer than concrete. (I’ve heard that it’s ten times as soft as concrete, but I don’t have a cite for that and I’m not really sure what “ten times as soft” would mean.) Anyways, it’s much kinder to knees and other joints.
Also, here in Vermont the sidewalk plows have their blades set about four to six inches above the ground so they don’t tear up peoples’ lawns–of course, this leaves a lot of snow on the sidewalk, which becomes either deep pools of numbingly cold blister-inducing water, or treacherous ice. Or it turns into slush and then freezes into ankle-turning pinnacles and divots. (I’m training for a marathon on May 28. I had to do a lot of running in really crappy weather this winter and spring.) Quite often, the roads are much clearer than the sidewalks. And due to frost heaves, the sidewalks are usually, um, lumpy.
When I’m out running through town, where I run is pretty much an ad hoc decision. How clear are the sidewalks? How much traffic is there and how fast is it moving? How visible am I? (Safety black, anybody?) Am I with a group or by myself? Is there a bike lane or wide shoulder? Are there a lot of cars parked on the side of the road?
Basically, it’s a trade-off between a certain small loss (injury from concrete) vs. the risk of being hit by a car.
Ask this question to the police officer who arrives at the “accident” scene when you run one of those stupid jogging f*ckers over. I’m sure someone will post here claiming to have the same right to jog on the road as you do to drive on it. We’ll piss that statement on his tombstone after we run his ass over. In most states the law is specific about who or what can be in the road beyond the curb line. Joggers aren’t mentioned.
As to WHY joggers jog in the road, I don’t know.
Maybe they’re like that puck in the urinal…something to aim at!
Sidewalks also have nasty things like curbs and tree roots growing through them which seem to shout out to me, “I’m going to twist your ankle!”
However, if there is a lot of traffic, I will stick to the sidewalk.
Now if only the bicyclists in downtown LA would stick to the streets, we’d all be happy.
Whoa, pkbites! You’ve been hurt haven’t you? Try to remember we’re in GQ here.
I’ve heard the asphalt is softer theory too. Does it have any merit? Wouldn’t better shoes and/or insoles make up for the difference?
I’d never heard the asphalt vs. concrete theory before, but it certainly makes sense. Myself, I just try to stay off the roads in the first place.
I’m assuming that you’re talking about the Burlington marathon, which I believe is the 27th this year, just so you know. If you’re in burl (do any other towns have sidewalks in VT?), may I humbly suggest hitting up either a park or the country club for some off-road training? Much nicer on the knees. Of course, if you’re doing the whole race, you definitely want proper road work. Good luck to you.
-ellis
Lately I’m out and about in the morning before the sun is up. I’m driving down the street when all of a sudden I’m on top of a jogger and I have to snap over to the left to avoid hitting him. This has been happening about once a week. It startles the beejesus out of me because, contrary to my last post, I don’t really want to spend my day filling out a car v.s. human accident report. Why are these goofs jogging in the dark without reflective clothes? What good is jogging for your health is you get your butt ran over?
To elaborate on BobTs answer, jumping up and down a curb at every cross street would mess up your rhythm and could cause a twisted ankle. Plus roads are generally much smoother. I can’t imagine how anyone could tell the difference in hardness of concrete or pavement.
If the jogger is using common sense, running towards traffic, wearing reflective clothing in the dark, staying close to the curb, ready to jump onto the sidewalk when an inattentive driver comes along, Etc, I don’t see how there is much chance of them getting hit. How many cars normally drive within a foot of the curb anyway?
Plus there’s a lot to dodge on sidewalks: low tree limbs, trash cans, people waiting for a bus, dog crap. In an area with relatively little traffic, I usually opt to run on the road, too.
they feel side"WALKS" are demeaning and are of the errant opinion that their jogging is “important enough” to take place on the road. never mind the cars that have to change lanes and slow down to get around them. Or just hit them.
I think of it as a natural selection thing personally.
Same thing goes for bikers. Stick to the sidewalk if you’re not a car.
I don’t know. I hear a lot about pedestrians getting killed by cars; that it’s more common than you think. I just think it’s dangerous for both parties, and is slightly annoying after just passing the biker riding in the road and thinking “OK, he’s not allowed to ride on the sidewalk, so that’s OK.” I know whenever I jog (which is sporadic) I find jumping over curbs and roots to be slightly LESS dangerous than getting whammed by a car, or causing an accident. It really isn’t that bad. Rythym be damned.
Is jogging on the street a form of jaywalking? Seems to be.
In Carmel, California, a lot of people walk on the street too even though there is a path for them. But only near the sea, not in the business district.
Does it mention pedestrians? Does this mean that if you are on your feet and your crossing a road at a crosswalk, you can’t’, because you’re not “mentioned”?
Actually, if you look at your local statutes it does not state “who or what can be in the road beyond the curb line.” It does state that bicyclists must be on the roadway, not the sidewalk. It will also say that pedestrians must face traffic on the roadway.
Runners use the roads for all the reasons posted previously. I, too, get mad at runners running in the dark w/o reflective clothing and wearing black. I run every day in the streets, and when I start my run the sun has not yet risen. However, I wear a reflective cap and othe reflective clothing, and white.
The roadways can be shared if we all use common sense. Runners pay taxes too. And, you may be surprised to learn, most of them also drive.
I run about 4-5 times a week, and I always stay on the sidewalk if there is one. I’ve never noticed a difference in the hardness of the sidewalk. I just like having that open feeling, without having to worry about people hitting me. I also get peeved at joggers who run on our BUSY roads when there’s an open sidewalk, and the weather is good.
Jman
I was justing bitching in my car yesterday about some joker running on the road instead of the sidewalk. i wasn’t pissed off so much about running on the road but this person was running almost in the middle of the road…freaking unreal.
I run 4-5 days a week. For asphalt lovers there’s usually a bike path or a park to be found. I travel a lot and always find a place to run safely close to where I’m staying. Sometimes I have to run through some busy places or just drive to get there though. People jog and cycle on the main road down to Madrid. It’s a two lane heavily travelled road. Bright clothes and reflectors or not, I think it’s insane.
Anyway, I’ve got my 4th Madrid marathon this Sunday. Hoping like hell to qualify for Boston next year.
Well, okay, if you’re five years old and trying out your new two-wheeler.
But if you’re a big grown up man or woman and you’re using the bicycle to get to the office, or to pick up the groceries, or to run cocaine, why shouldn’t you pilot your vehicle in the public roadways?
Maybe we should keep the CARS outta the street. (…Sorry. Sorry. New Yorker, here. Gets around by subway, bicycle, and two feet. Opinions do not apply to rest of planet, where automobile travel may be a necessity.)
Here’s another strage phenomenon-I see many people 9mostly elederly) who walk in the stree! Even though it is spring, and they have a nice wide sidewalk to walk on. This really puzzles me-do they have some kind of deathwish?
[quote]
Orginally Posted By Kalt
they feel side"WALKS" are demeaning and are of the errant opinion that their jogging is “important enough” to take place on the road
Hahahaha…that’s great man…
I would assume that here in CA that if there is no sidewalk, you can legally run in the road as long as it is in the direction opposing traffic.
I believe bicycles are prohibited from using sidewalks, although I’ve never seen anyone ticketed for it. Working in the land of bicycle messengers, I find it quite harrowing to think that you’ve reached the relative safety of the sidewalk after nearly being hit by cars that seem to believe that they don’t have to yield to pedestrians when making turns only to have some messenger blow past you at 25 mph on the sidewalk.