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 Tim B (the running man) on -
I run a fair bit and often encounter the footpath completely blocked by cars in driveways forcing me to run on the road, albeit breifly, which I am not particulary fond of. I always wonder how mobility impaired people would deal with this situation. It also explains why their are a few scooters that drive on the road. I am sure it is illegal the obstruct a footpath but some people don't care.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Yes, it is illegal to park a vehicle in a driveway such that it is obstructing the footpath. I think of person in a wheelchair, a vision impaired person, a parent pushing a stroller, and pedestrians in general. At times I report this to the local council. It is time some drivers learnt the road rules and realised that vehicles do not rule on footpaths and in bicycle lanes.
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on -
i just think of joggers or skateboarders as slow cyclists. hardly worth getting agro, but i'd probably get offended if they barged past me on a crowded footpath.
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Permalink Reply by durian rider on -
I did both a road race and running race last Saturday. I'm always excited to see other people out training. Doesnt bother me personally. The more using the road under human power the merrier I say.
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Permalink Reply by GlenM on -
Where am I supposed to go? - My answer would be nowhere. I would have stopped and made them go around me.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Jenkins (BJ) on -
Don the Ivanhoe armour, mount a sturdy steed and set forth with your lance (no, not that Lance). Keep your arm strong (no, not that Armstrong), and those joggers will verily yield to your right of way.
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Permalink Reply by Emily Gard on -
As someone who both cycles and runs the previous suggestion of substitute runner for rider works pretty well. So yes the councils ensure there are even more cracks, lumps etc and even worse lighting on the footpaths than in the bike lanes (and sometimes there is no footpath) and hence the solution is to run in the bike lane, or even on the road.
In those cases, when running opposing the traffic be ready to jump back onto the footpath (or otherwise off the road). When running with the traffic or on shared use paths keep your line and keep left. Sounds a lot like how one should ride on the roads really. When you are the rider think like you would like a motorist to think, would it kill you to slow down a little. Plus some runners can run faster than I can ride especially on my old steel commuter :)
Oh and I always have bright lights after dark regardless of mode of transport!
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Emily, it is illegal for runners in bike lanes, and a legal requirement for pedestrians to cross the road in a direct manner, and if standing in a bike lane to get out of the way of cyclists. If all runners were considerate and promptly made space, rather than create a safety hazard for cyclists, then most cyclists would accept this bending of the rules.
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Permalink Reply by Doug K on -
I have had 3 sets of cracked ribs running at speed on footpaths due to the pathetic condition most are kept. Running in the bike lane from Glenelg to the city on Anzac Highway I have done for many years on Sunday mornings, but only 3-4 times a year. .There were no bike lanes or paths when I started, so I was pleased when they arrived to push away the cars. As a runner I will face the hazards rather than have them coming from behind. So when the bikes arrive, as they always do, I jump onto the grass and wait for them to pass, easy.
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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I jump onto the grass and wait for them to pass
I did state that most cyclists would accept runners in bike lanes if runners considerate.
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