Runners in bike lanes
I know this has been mentioned here before, but this annoyed me so much I have to add it again.
I was riding west along Anzac Highway between Morphett Road and Tapleys Hill Rd, sunday morning about 8.30. I was riding about 10 metres or so behind another guy, who waved his hand behind him indicating there was a car in the bike lane. But I could see there were no cars, but instead there were about 6 joggers running in the bike lane, they were single file and spread out over a few hundred metres, but they were not at all intersted in moving out of the way. Morons.
What is the law here - if there is a bike lane I am supposed to ride in it if possible, but what if there was heaps of traffic coming behind me. Where am I supposed to go?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on -
I would assume that the runners were guilty of Jay Walking. You should only overtake when safe to do so. But given that it's a Sunday morning with minimal traffic, does it really matter. Enjoy the ride and don't let the little things spoil it.
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Permalink Reply by Matt Sandercock on -
Its Ok it didn't spoil anything, I felt much better after I told them to f*ck off out of the bike lane.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
The runners should not have been using the bike lane. Inform such runners verbally or hand them the following leaflet.
'Bicycle lanes: Share the Road. safer cycling for all road users' published the the Government of South Australia.
Pedestrians
You should --
-- make sure you watch for cyclists as well as cars before stepping off the kerb when crossing a road with bike lanes.
-- remember to move out of the way for cyclists if you stand in a bicycle lane to cross the road.
If there is no provision for a footpath, you may walk in the bicycle lane.
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Permalink Reply by Juz on -
Change 'joggers' with 'cyclists'.
Change 'bike lane' with 'road'.
Revisit?
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Permalink Reply by Matt Sandercock on
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No I dont think so.
One thing I didn't mention was they were heading in the opposite direction (ie east up anzac highway).
So yeah next time I am in the car and I see a bike riding on the wrong side of the road I might give them a spray like I did with the joggers, but I see no reason for anyone to run in a bike lane when there is a perfectly good footpath 3 metres to their right. It's stupid, dangerous and inconsiderate - not only do I have to worry about my own safety but also that of some muppet running towards me when I am not expecting it.
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Permalink Reply by Belinda Hoare on -
Completely agree. Had the same thing happen to me years ago - runner jogging 'upstream' the wrong way in a bike lane on Cross Rd in peak hour...I was heading towards the coast, doing 30km/hr+ and had no time - once I realised he was refusing to break stride and take 1 step up onto the footpath - to look over my shoulder and check that there was actually a space in between peak hour cars to safely and quickly swerve into. Takes some arrogant balls to expect a cyclist to forfeit right of way in that situation...I've often wondered if he would have actually broken stride to stop and render assistance if I'd been hit by a car...I'm assuming he would have kept running.
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Permalink Reply by Steven Ellison on -
I agree Juz ;-) Life is to short, just take a chill pill, no need for abuse, whats wrong with informing people nicely, verbal abuse is worse than the crime if you ask me! Maybe someone needs anger management ?
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Permalink Reply by Matt Sandercock on
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OK I'll just go and stick my head back in the sand and pretend it never happened.
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Permalink Reply by Juz on
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There's nothing like a little bit of 'middle ground' hey? :-)
I made the comment I did because we, as cyclists, can always spout a few dozen reasons for why we ride the way we do (especially when our cycling behaviour is in conflict with the law) and, until the average motorist stops to genuinely ask us about those reasons (instead of letting loose with the all-too-common spray of abuse), they remain ignorant of what's happening. Perhaps the joggers do have a reason for their actions. I'd also suspect they have no concept that their actions are forcing other vulnerable road users out into the flow of traffic. I'm not saying we have to agree with them or like their reasons or that there is no point trying to (appropriately) educate them. I'm not saying their reasons necessarily even fit within the law. My main comment is that we've heard it all before and it's usually directed at us. If we want to be heard, understood etc as cyclists, let's extend that courtesy to others, even when they piss us off.
Yes, I think it's foolish to be running in a bike lane, into oncoming traffic. But I'm not a runner, so I've no idea why they might do that. Also, many people think it's foolish that I ride a bike on a road, especially country roads where the speed limit is 80 or 100kph, or into the hills on the narrow roads with lots of bends and blind corners.
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Permalink Reply by Tim on -
Change 'joggers' with 'cyclists'.
Change 'bike lane' with 'road'.
Revisit?
It is illegal for joggers to run in the bike lane. It is illegal for cyclists to ride on the road?
It is legal for joggers to run in the bike lane. It is legal for cyclists to ride on the road?
I don't get it. I thought absolute adherence to any and every law was one of the corner stones of the position many commentators here take. BTW, swearing at others certainly won't change their behaviour but nor will much else, do what you find works for yourself. Much easier to simply let bygones be bygones and if you don't want to swerve, don't, just keep in the lane and slow down and force them onto the footpath. That way everyone "wins".
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Permalink Reply by Juz on
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I don't mean revisit the merit of Matt's frustration in his original post, just to take a look at the general idea being espoused and ask yourself if it's something we've all heard before but directed at cyclists about our presence on the roads.
If the shoe was on the other foot, how would this thread be playing out?
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