Militant runners on country lanes
Discussion
I sometimes run on lanes but I chose them very carefully as it can be dangerous and running on them is a bad idea. If I am at my parents and I want to run, I drive to a different village and go from there as I don't feel its sensible.
A lot of people deem they can legally do it therefore they should do it.
Most of my running is off the road. It's better to go on a softer surface and why do I want to get in the way or breathe in fumes etc. Runners, cyclists, motorists and swimmers etc can all be a pain in the ass!!! Humans eh...
A lot of people deem they can legally do it therefore they should do it.
Most of my running is off the road. It's better to go on a softer surface and why do I want to get in the way or breathe in fumes etc. Runners, cyclists, motorists and swimmers etc can all be a pain in the ass!!! Humans eh...
covmutley said:
With your confirmation that you came to a gradual stop, you seem to have just been unlucky encountering an absolute nut job. I've never seen a runner or cyclist do anything like that. You are referring to all runners, but from what you describe this guy must be a one off, surely?
Good post. Sounds like you've just been unlucky to come across a lunatic OP, and it sounds a horrible experience for you and the kids in the car. However, this really can't be an "all runners" thing and/or symptomatic of the ills of modern society.
QuickQuack said:
There's a cyclist and a load of cars going in the other direction on the other side of the road. I cannot move any further offside without having a head on crash. Yes, there's loads of room nearside for the runner but he won't move to run there. Please tell me how I'm supposed to position my car other than how I did (slowed down and stopped without crashing and with plenty of space nearside) so that I'm not being seen to be deliberately obstructing the runner. Please explain to me, how this entire situation was the runner not deliberately obstructing me?
You think the runner had loads of room to go to the verge - why dont you go have a look and walk on that verge to see for yourself. It might explain why he was upset. Few months back I was running down a short road, a 100 metres or less, one way and only usually used by the residents, or as a cut through which is rare as it’s not worth the hassle.
Ran down it, no pavement, over to the left and a Range Rover driver couldn’t wait and overtook, brushed me with the left wing mirror, rather than wait.
It’s bizarre,
Ran down it, no pavement, over to the left and a Range Rover driver couldn’t wait and overtook, brushed me with the left wing mirror, rather than wait.
It’s bizarre,
LotusOmega375D said:
I also live in Northamptonshire, but the situation with runners in the road is apparently far worse in London. There was even a BBC1 programme about it on Sunday morning. Madness!
I saw that and in fairness they do at least seem to have some kind of runner registration system in London as they were all displaying numbers on their chests, so at least Sadiq Khan has done something right. J4CKO said:
Few months back I was running down a short road, a 100 metres or less, one way and only usually used by the residents, or as a cut through which is rare as it’s not worth the hassle.
Ran down it, no pavement, over to the left and a Range Rover driver couldn’t wait and overtook, brushed me with the left wing mirror, rather than wait.
It’s bizarre,
They probably post on PH.Ran down it, no pavement, over to the left and a Range Rover driver couldn’t wait and overtook, brushed me with the left wing mirror, rather than wait.
It’s bizarre,
Roger Irrelevant said:
LotusOmega375D said:
I also live in Northamptonshire, but the situation with runners in the road is apparently far worse in London. There was even a BBC1 programme about it on Sunday morning. Madness!
I saw that and in fairness they do at least seem to have some kind of runner registration system in London as they were all displaying numbers on their chests, so at least Sadiq Khan has done something right. MC Bodge said:
J4CKO said:
Few months back I was running down a short road, a 100 metres or less, one way and only usually used by the residents, or as a cut through which is rare as it’s not worth the hassle.
Ran down it, no pavement, over to the left and a Range Rover driver couldn’t wait and overtook, brushed me with the left wing mirror, rather than wait.
It’s bizarre,
They probably post on PH.Ran down it, no pavement, over to the left and a Range Rover driver couldn’t wait and overtook, brushed me with the left wing mirror, rather than wait.
It’s bizarre,
OP, if your runner had kept to the edge as you think he should, how close would you have passed him? Or, as you said earlier, you think he should have stepped off the road altogether, even though he has a much right as you to be there?
Sounds to me that the runner would have a different version of events.
Sounds to me that the runner would have a different version of events.
QuickQuack said:
That was a few weeks ago, and since then, I've noticed this very inflexible and aggressive attitude in runners more and more frequently. The roads they're running on really aren't suitable for running on either; we're talking about narrow country lanes here, mostly NSL, occasionally 40/50mph, narrow, bendy, twisty roads with blind corners, no footpaths, no pavements, frequently double or single solid lines preventing crossing the centre line by the traffic (or making it dangerous even if it is allowed since they're going below 12 mph), sometimes with a grass verge, sometimes not. They're reducing the roads to Victorian times when a man with a red flag was walking in front of a car. WTF is going on? 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?
Those narrow, bendy, twisty roads with blind corners are only dangerous if you drive dangerously; are you driving dangerously? The runner was acting with a sense of entitlement but there's an air of that from what you've written too. You don't have more right to be there than he does, however foolhardy he may be. That only exists on motorways, tunnels, throughways etc. where pedestrians are forbidden.Julian Scott said:
Do you get aroused when you use the four Fiamm AM80S horns? Or just give yourself the finger-gun salute in the mirror when you get home to 'apartment' in your mum's basement?
I don't have a Mum or a basement, but thanks for asking. But I do have four horns...not fitted yet but I'll let you know when I do, It would seem by the tone of your reply that you have horn envy.
braddo said:
QuickQuack said:
There's a cyclist and a load of cars going in the other direction on the other side of the road. I cannot move any further offside without having a head on crash. Yes, there's loads of room nearside for the runner but he won't move to run there. Please tell me how I'm supposed to position my car other than how I did (slowed down and stopped without crashing and with plenty of space nearside) so that I'm not being seen to be deliberately obstructing the runner. Please explain to me, how this entire situation was the runner not deliberately obstructing me?
You think the runner had loads of room to go to the verge - why dont you go have a look and walk on that verge to see for yourself. It might explain why he was upset. Do you think that's a reason to get upset?
A clue. It isn't.
Sounds like unfortunate timing insofar as a variety of different road users all happened to converge on a point in the road where they all had to change their behaviour to avoid colliding with each other. No one's fault. No big deal.
Any individual reacting to that event as though it was a grave crime against their inalienable right to do exactly what they want exactly when they want without having to make any concessions to any other person is a bit of a t
t. To actually get violent and abusive marks them out as a spectacular tt.Whether there are more or fewer runners there days acting like spectacular t
ts on the roads, I don't know. I rather suspect the population's tt quotient is pretty constant. Perhaps more tts have taken up running?ATG said:
The worst case is that runner had to stop running for a few seconds. That's it. Nothing else.
Do you think that's a reason to get upset?
A clue. It isn't.
Sounds like unfortunate timing insofar as a variety of different road users all happened to converge on a point in the road where they all had to change their behaviour to avoid colliding with each other. No one's fault. No big deal.
Any individual reacting to that event as though it was a grave crime against their inalienable right to do exactly what they want exactly when they want without having to make any concessions to any other person is a bit of a tt. To actually get violent and abusive marks them out as a spectacular tt.
Whether there are more or fewer runners there days acting like spectacular tts on the roads, I don't know. I rather suspect the population's tt quotient is pretty constant. Perhaps more tts have taken up running?
Conversely, all the driver is being asked to do is stop for a few seconds, whilst sat comfortably in the warm and dry, in a machine that is doing all the work.Do you think that's a reason to get upset?
A clue. It isn't.
Sounds like unfortunate timing insofar as a variety of different road users all happened to converge on a point in the road where they all had to change their behaviour to avoid colliding with each other. No one's fault. No big deal.
Any individual reacting to that event as though it was a grave crime against their inalienable right to do exactly what they want exactly when they want without having to make any concessions to any other person is a bit of a t
t. To actually get violent and abusive marks them out as a spectacular tt.Whether there are more or fewer runners there days acting like spectacular t
ts on the roads, I don't know. I rather suspect the population's tt quotient is pretty constant. Perhaps more tts have taken up running?There is a chance the runner is encountering many cars whereas it's likely the driver will only encounter one runner.
Agree re the timing, it really is all no big deal. As far as everything else the OP described, I imagine there's two sides to the story.
heebeegeetee said:
ATG said:
The worst case is that runner had to stop running for a few seconds. That's it. Nothing else.
Do you think that's a reason to get upset?
A clue. It isn't.
Sounds like unfortunate timing insofar as a variety of different road users all happened to converge on a point in the road where they all had to change their behaviour to avoid colliding with each other. No one's fault. No big deal.
Any individual reacting to that event as though it was a grave crime against their inalienable right to do exactly what they want exactly when they want without having to make any concessions to any other person is a bit of a tt. To actually get violent and abusive marks them out as a spectacular tt.
Whether there are more or fewer runners there days acting like spectacular tts on the roads, I don't know. I rather suspect the population's tt quotient is pretty constant. Perhaps more tts have taken up running?
Conversely, all the driver is being asked to do is stop for a few seconds, whilst sat comfortably in the warm and dry, in a machine that is doing all the work.Do you think that's a reason to get upset?
A clue. It isn't.
Sounds like unfortunate timing insofar as a variety of different road users all happened to converge on a point in the road where they all had to change their behaviour to avoid colliding with each other. No one's fault. No big deal.
Any individual reacting to that event as though it was a grave crime against their inalienable right to do exactly what they want exactly when they want without having to make any concessions to any other person is a bit of a t
t. To actually get violent and abusive marks them out as a spectacular tt.Whether there are more or fewer runners there days acting like spectacular t
ts on the roads, I don't know. I rather suspect the population's tt quotient is pretty constant. Perhaps more tts have taken up running?There is a chance the runner is encountering many cars whereas it's likely the driver will only encounter one runner.
Agree re the timing, it really is all no big deal. As far as everything else the OP described, I imagine there's two sides to the story.
3GGy said:
We should take all recreational sport to the country roads, why stop at running or cycling?
Sport?It's the bloody kids walking to school or grannies meandering to the supermarket who are the real aggressors here. Ban them and set an example for all to stay out the way of road tax paying cars.
SpydieNut said:
I can’t speak for all runners, but for me - I enjoy the country roads over running pavements, dodging pedestrians in the city centre. I try and choose quiet roads, run facing traffic, cross to the opposite side on blind bends etc. you’re meant to run facing traffic, so you have a chance to dive out of the way if a car doesn’t see you etc. but the idea of just hopping onto the grass verge when every car passes you is lunacy - they are not even ground and are usually overgrown and often strewn with garbage/rocks and muddy. A great way to twist an ankle or slip and fall, into the road, probably under the wheels of the car you’re trying to avoid.
You’re supposed to drive at speeds that allow you to safely stop in the distance visible, if needed. If you replaced a runner/cyclist with a horse rider, or even a large pothole or rock in the road and you came around a blind bend and couldn’t stop or avoid it, due to other oncoming traffic, then what?
Or do you, like a lot of motorists, think that the only things that should allowed on roads are cars, motorbikes etc?
I do think if all road users were a bit less selfish, in a rush etc and just slowed down a bit and were more considerate to others, it would be a far nicer place in general.
Look the speed limit is NSL. That must mean it's safe to drive at 60 mph. Right ? You’re supposed to drive at speeds that allow you to safely stop in the distance visible, if needed. If you replaced a runner/cyclist with a horse rider, or even a large pothole or rock in the road and you came around a blind bend and couldn’t stop or avoid it, due to other oncoming traffic, then what?
Or do you, like a lot of motorists, think that the only things that should allowed on roads are cars, motorbikes etc?
I do think if all road users were a bit less selfish, in a rush etc and just slowed down a bit and were more considerate to others, it would be a far nicer place in general.
I can well believe that the bonnet-banging runner the OP met was just being a bit of a dick. I've been in very similar situations a lot of times as the bloke in the car, the bloke on the bike, and the bloke running, and every time it has been resolved by a bit of give and take, everybody being patient, and nobody getting (too) irate.
Unfortunately the OP uses this interaction with a loon as the basis for 'These bloody people that are different from me using the road at the same time, I've noticed that they're a menace and it's definitely not just me being a grumpy old man, they're ignoring my god-given right to make unhindered progress (in a Range Rover don't you know), at the speed of my choosing at all times. Join me in having a go at these Different People.' Well no I won't, they're just out for a run, good on 'em.
Unfortunately the OP uses this interaction with a loon as the basis for 'These bloody people that are different from me using the road at the same time, I've noticed that they're a menace and it's definitely not just me being a grumpy old man, they're ignoring my god-given right to make unhindered progress (in a Range Rover don't you know), at the speed of my choosing at all times. Join me in having a go at these Different People.' Well no I won't, they're just out for a run, good on 'em.
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