Militant runners on country lanes
Discussion
QuickQuack said:
jeremyh1 said:
James6112 said:
As a keen runner for 40+ years
Nobody chases Kom/Pbs in a regular basis. It’s not how training works.
You get PB on organised races / parkrun
I could count on 1 hand the number of times i’ve seen a militant runner in the road.
Either a Northamptonshire thing or it’s in the ops head!
Pedestrians do have the right of way at junctions of course so I use that when out. Most cars wave pedestrians across of course. But if they don’t I make them where it is safe!
Yes I agree I live in a rural community I never get any trouble and if anybody wanted any smoke here they would know where to find me Nobody chases Kom/Pbs in a regular basis. It’s not how training works.
You get PB on organised races / parkrun
I could count on 1 hand the number of times i’ve seen a militant runner in the road.
Either a Northamptonshire thing or it’s in the ops head!
Pedestrians do have the right of way at junctions of course so I use that when out. Most cars wave pedestrians across of course. But if they don’t I make them where it is safe!
I think the OPS Mum ran off with a runner and left him alone on his own hence the beef
Insulting my long dead mother is proof that your intellectual capabilities are below that of my daughter's toenail clippings.
Robertb said:
Much of the problem is the state of footpaths, which after all the rain are a boggy mess.
Sticking to footpaths and pavements is quite limiting where we live due to being bordered by a river on one side and private farmland on the other.
I'd not describe myself as militant, just trying to go for a run or cycle and not die.
Also when hedges aren't trimmed back you can be pushed off pavements into the road.Sticking to footpaths and pavements is quite limiting where we live due to being bordered by a river on one side and private farmland on the other.
I'd not describe myself as militant, just trying to go for a run or cycle and not die.
jeremyh1 said:
Lucky I only puddle splash the country lanes because the OP might mad axe man me if I was one of the those cycle riding bike dudes !
Yes, yes, I would, despite being completely unfazed and remaining calm even after the actual "mad axe man" runner punching my car several times whilst screaming and shouting obscenities. Puddenchucker said:
I haven't encountered "militant" runners, but what I have noticed in the last couple of years is a number of them who run in the road even though there is a perfectly good and usually empty pavement right next to them.
I have figured out the logic or thought process that concludes road is better than pavement for runners.
(No jokes about they're avoiding the cyclists please )
Used to be that they were worried about tripping over as the pavements were in poor condition but now it’s all like the surface of the moonI have figured out the logic or thought process that concludes road is better than pavement for runners.
(No jokes about they're avoiding the cyclists please )
OP, before you start labelling runners as 'militant', please consider that they have a right to be there and as a vulnerable road user you need to be taking care to avoid them.
The victim of this incident below, a 32yo mum of an 18 month old daughter, running in Hi Viz in daylight on the lanes of Northamptonshire, just like you describe, was a friend and former colleague of mine. It's a tragedy that she is no longer here. The driver was very lucky not to go to prison.
https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/news/ex-driving-...
Instead of thinking that you own the road, try to think that you are sharing it with others, and give way to those who aren't charging around in 3 tons of metal, or drive at a speed where you can stop safely should you encounter a runner, 'militant' or otherwise.
The victim of this incident below, a 32yo mum of an 18 month old daughter, running in Hi Viz in daylight on the lanes of Northamptonshire, just like you describe, was a friend and former colleague of mine. It's a tragedy that she is no longer here. The driver was very lucky not to go to prison.
https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/news/ex-driving-...
Instead of thinking that you own the road, try to think that you are sharing it with others, and give way to those who aren't charging around in 3 tons of metal, or drive at a speed where you can stop safely should you encounter a runner, 'militant' or otherwise.
Antony Moxey said:
aeropilot said:
QuickQuack said:
Is it me out of touch with the modern world or am I justified in thinking that this behaviour is unacceptable and this new breed of runners are a bunch of bell ends?
They are bell-ends, just as many of the lycra-cycle lot are now the law has been stupidly changed to make them higher priority than cars.......they think they can do what they like, as the car driver will now always be in the wrong.PurpleTurtle said:
OP, before you start labelling runners as 'militant', please consider that they have a right to be there and as a vulnerable road user you need to be taking care to avoid them.
The victim of this incident below, a 32yo mum of an 18 month old daughter, running in Hi Viz in daylight on the lanes of Northamptonshire, just like you describe, was a friend and former colleague of mine. It's a tragedy that she is no longer here. The driver was very lucky not to go to prison.
https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/news/ex-driving-...
Instead of thinking that you own the road, try to think that you are sharing it with others, and give way to those who aren't charging around in 3 tons of metal, or drive at a speed where you can stop safely should you encounter a runner, 'militant' or otherwise.
Lucky? It's a travesty of justice that st driving/st attitudes gets excused.The victim of this incident below, a 32yo mum of an 18 month old daughter, running in Hi Viz in daylight on the lanes of Northamptonshire, just like you describe, was a friend and former colleague of mine. It's a tragedy that she is no longer here. The driver was very lucky not to go to prison.
https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/news/ex-driving-...
Instead of thinking that you own the road, try to think that you are sharing it with others, and give way to those who aren't charging around in 3 tons of metal, or drive at a speed where you can stop safely should you encounter a runner, 'militant' or otherwise.
visitinglondon said:
Antony Moxey said:
aeropilot said:
QuickQuack said:
Is it me out of touch with the modern world or am I justified in thinking that this behaviour is unacceptable and this new breed of runners are a bunch of bell ends?
They are bell-ends, just as many of the lycra-cycle lot are now the law has been stupidly changed to make them higher priority than cars.......they think they can do what they like, as the car driver will now always be in the wrong.Just did a 5k run at lunch. Some thoughts:
-I used to cycle but getting in the way of cars was a small factor in me switching to running, as just less interaction with cars
-I timed my run on strava but not chasing kom. I think that's more of a cycling thing, in my mind at least.
-all cars passed me fine. Gave those who slowed down the most a thumbs up.
-unusually, I had 2 cars meet me in a narrow stretch. I stopped for a second to let them past. On another stretch, there was a wider but about 10 seconds ahead of me, so I kept going.
- on blind bends, I run facing traffic and move out into the lane and stick my arm out so cars see me earlier. I then move back to the side asap once they have seen me. I'm doing them a favour, as well as myself as I see it. I don't think any driver wants me splatter on their windscreen.
I guess you can always come across an idiot, and they run, cycle and drive!!
-I used to cycle but getting in the way of cars was a small factor in me switching to running, as just less interaction with cars
-I timed my run on strava but not chasing kom. I think that's more of a cycling thing, in my mind at least.
-all cars passed me fine. Gave those who slowed down the most a thumbs up.
-unusually, I had 2 cars meet me in a narrow stretch. I stopped for a second to let them past. On another stretch, there was a wider but about 10 seconds ahead of me, so I kept going.
- on blind bends, I run facing traffic and move out into the lane and stick my arm out so cars see me earlier. I then move back to the side asap once they have seen me. I'm doing them a favour, as well as myself as I see it. I don't think any driver wants me splatter on their windscreen.
I guess you can always come across an idiot, and they run, cycle and drive!!
Edited by covmutley on Monday 22 April 15:25
QuickQuack said:
heebeegeetee said:
So what is supposed to happen? That basically, pedestrians, cyclists, and presumably horse riders all stay off the roads they've paid for (and possibly live on), and only motorists be allowed?
They could, you know, follow the Highway Code?Nexus Icon said:
We get a few round our way on the often tiny and blind Cotswolds' lanes. I can only assume that no one has explained to them that being in the right is of zero comfort when you're pasted across the road.
So bring in the 20mph limits then, if that's the attitude.I'm very familiar with tiny and blind single track lanes, Cotswolds and all over the country, and it really doesn't matter much what vulnerable road users do on those lanes as far as I'm concerned, because I have decided I'm not going to run into anyone, and never have. Its very easy, on those roads you just drive at a speed you can see to stop in.
Seems common sense really has gone clean out the window, so it looks like 20mph zones will have to be brought in. It'll kill road and regularity rallying stone dead, but as always, it's of the motorists doing.
(That's got me thinking. I've been involved with historic/road/regularity rallying plus organised scenic tours for 30 years, I've never heard of a competitor or participant colliding with a vulnerable road user or a member of the public. What are the difficulties that are challenging PH or Joe Public?)
Edited by heebeegeetee on Monday 22 April 15:36
covmutley said:
Just did a 5k run at lunch. Some thoughts:
-I used to cycle but getting in the way of cars was a small factor in me switching to running, as just less interaction with cars
-I timed my run on strava but not chasing kom. I think that's more of a cycling thing, in my mind at least.
-all cars passed me fine. Gave those who slowed down the most a thumbs up.
-unusually, I had 2 cars meet me in a narrow stretch. I stopped for a second to let them past. On another stretch, there was a wider but about 10 seconds ahead of me, so I kept going.
- on blind bends, I run facing traffic and move out into the lane and stick my arm out so cars see me earlier. I then move back to the side asap once they have seen me. I'm doing them a favour, as well as myself as I see it. I don't think any driver wants me splatter on their windscreen.
I guess you can always come across an idiot, and they run, cycle and drive!!
Sensible post - it's a shame more folk don't act with similar common sense and courtesy, and less entitlement.-I used to cycle but getting in the way of cars was a small factor in me switching to running, as just less interaction with cars
-I timed my run on strava but not chasing kom. I think that's more of a cycling thing, in my mind at least.
-all cars passed me fine. Gave those who slowed down the most a thumbs up.
-unusually, I had 2 cars meet me in a narrow stretch. I stopped for a second to let them past. On another stretch, there was a wider but about 10 seconds ahead of me, so I kept going.
- on blind bends, I run facing traffic and move out into the lane and stick my arm out so cars see me earlier. I then move back to the side asap once they have seen me. I'm doing them a favour, as well as myself as I see it. I don't think any driver wants me splatter on their windscreen.
I guess you can always come across an idiot, and they run, cycle and drive!!
Edited by covmutley on Monday 22 April 15:25
OP you're going hate me. I live in a small hamlet and have no choice but to use single carriage ways without pathways. I run, walk the dog and cycle my bike as well as use my cars!!
But... I haven't encountered any issues with a runner, cyclist or dog walker whether in my car or as one myself. As a driver I slow down and give them space and as a pedistrian or cyclist I try to give space where I can (but I never stop).
Tbh rather than moan about people exercising perhaps, generally speaking, those that do moan should get out an exercise themselves, burn off some of this rage. This country has too many obese people and whether or not there is a correlation is in my imagination but there is no point getting angry at someone trying to keep fit whilst you sit on your arse piloting your steel box.
But... I haven't encountered any issues with a runner, cyclist or dog walker whether in my car or as one myself. As a driver I slow down and give them space and as a pedistrian or cyclist I try to give space where I can (but I never stop).
Tbh rather than moan about people exercising perhaps, generally speaking, those that do moan should get out an exercise themselves, burn off some of this rage. This country has too many obese people and whether or not there is a correlation is in my imagination but there is no point getting angry at someone trying to keep fit whilst you sit on your arse piloting your steel box.
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