Militant runners on country lanes

[nickfrog]

I agree that by and large people are considerate and sensible irrespective of method of transport and we have an unhealthy habit of focusing on the rare angry weirdo. Although they seem to disproportionately populate PH too

[Colinv6]

Used to boil my blood but I find I’ve just generally mellowed in the last few years.

What makes me laugh though is the ones that get off the road into a layby or something as you approach, and then proceed to jog or tippy-toe round in circles until you’ve passed, because they cannot stop running for 10 seconds, this would be a tragedy. They look an absolute plonker doing that.

[CLK-GTR]

I run on country lanes all the time and can't say I've ever had a problem. Tuck in to the side same as a cyclist should and if there is a flat, dry verge ill jump on that to let a car pass, but I'm not risking rolling my ankle because you don't want to slow down for me.

[fflump]

Colinv6 said:

Used to boil my blood but I find I’ve just generally mellowed in the last few years.

What makes me laugh though is the ones that get off the road into a layby or something as you approach, and then proceed to jog or tippy-toe round in circles until you’ve passed, because they cannot stop running for 10 seconds, this would be a tragedy. They look an absolute plonker doing that.

I’m sure they’d be devastated to hear that Colin in his V6 thinks they look a plonker.

[heebeegeetee]

ATG said:

But the driver isn't complaining about having to stop. The driver is complaining about the runner's reaction.

I rather thought he was, or expressing surprise that he had to stop because there was another road user in front of him who he felt should get out of his way.

[heebeegeetee]

fflump said:

Colinv6 said:

Used to boil my blood but I find I’ve just generally mellowed in the last few years.

What makes me laugh though is the ones that get off the road into a layby or something as you approach, and then proceed to jog or tippy-toe round in circles until you’ve passed, because they cannot stop running for 10 seconds, this would be a tragedy. They look an absolute plonker doing that.

I’m sure they’d be devastated to hear that Colin in his V6 thinks they look a plonker.

Shows how we're all different. I saw a runner doing this at a pedestrian crossing t'other day, my thoughts were along the lines of "fair play, you're obviously taking your health and exercise very seriously, imagine how much better society would be if we all did it" kind of thing.

It wouldn't occur to me to think he looks a plonker.

[nickfrog]

fflump said:

Colinv6 said:

Used to boil my blood but I find I’ve just generally mellowed in the last few years.

What makes me laugh though is the ones that get off the road into a layby or something as you approach, and then proceed to jog or tippy-toe round in circles until you’ve passed, because they cannot stop running for 10 seconds, this would be a tragedy. They look an absolute plonker doing that.

I’m sure they’d be devastated to hear that Colin in his V6 thinks they look a plonker.

[braddo]

ATG said:

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.

Correct, and it would seem that the runner thinks the OP was too late keeping his end of the bargain. You and the OP should go see how you react as a cyclist or pedestrian when you feel that a driver's actions put you in mortal danger. You might be surprised at the strength of your reaction.

That is why drivers get a surprise when more vulnerable road users get angry; the former don't realise how much they have put the latter in danger.

Or, perhaps the runner is just a random angry dude and the OP's actions were perfect...

[braddo]

Klippie said:

My solution to help prevent them from dying is to fit four Fiamm AM80S horns to my van and hopefully the full 220db "toot" penetrates their thick skulls to realise someone is approaching and it might be best to get the fk off the road.

Four horns and a bell(end) in a van. There's material for a good joke in there somewhere.

[Pica-Pica]

nickfrog said:

fflump said:

Colinv6 said:

Used to boil my blood but I find I’ve just generally mellowed in the last few years.

What makes me laugh though is the ones that get off the road into a layby or something as you approach, and then proceed to jog or tippy-toe round in circles until you’ve passed, because they cannot stop running for 10 seconds, this would be a tragedy. They look an absolute plonker doing that.

I’m sure they’d be devastated to hear that Colin in his V6 thinks they look a plonker.

… and meanwhile the V6 is still idling while stationary.

[PlywoodPascal]

aeropilot said:

GiantEnemyCrab 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.

There is being right, and there is being uninjured....

As a cyclist, I would agree, but, I'm often left shaking my head in disbelief at some of the arrogance and seemingly belief that no harm can come to them of both cyclists and runners in country lanes in my area, just as the OP.

Edited by aeropilot on Monday 22 April 12:23

The OPs post itself is filled with arrogance. For example, the idea that it’s inherently unreasonable for him to have to stop to give way to other road users.

[Cryssys]

POIDH said:

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.

That's far too reasonable. I advocate a good thrashing.

[Mr Miata]

To be honest, I feel more in danger from the bad driving of other car drivers, vans, buses and trucks.

For those posts that complain about a cyclist going through a red traffic light, I see cars do that on every journey. The difference is a 1.5 tonnes car doing 40mph through a red traffic light is going to cause a lot more injury to me than a runner or a cyclist would.

Edited by Mr Miata on Tuesday 23 April 09:57

[Alex@POD]

Even for PH this thread is a new low...

To summarise the OP:

2 road users wanted to use the same piece of road, because traffic and unpracticable verges meant they could not deviate. One of them took offence and hit the other, rather than observe the situation and work on a resolution.

I've had this in town with a runner once too, narrow road, could not use the verges for driving on, a runner is coming towards me and he is about to be passed by a car, so I stop. He took offence that I stopped in front of him rather than get in front of oncoming traffic to give him space to run.

Edited by Alex@POD on Tuesday 23 April 10:17

[CABC]

Pica-Pica said:

… and meanwhile the V6 is still idling while stationary.

very good

[MC Bodge]

heebeegeetee said:

fflump said:

Colinv6 said:

Used to boil my blood but I find I’ve just generally mellowed in the last few years.

What makes me laugh though is the ones that get off the road into a layby or something as you approach, and then proceed to jog or tippy-toe round in circles until you’ve passed, because they cannot stop running for 10 seconds, this would be a tragedy. They look an absolute plonker doing that.

I’m sure they’d be devastated to hear that Colin in his V6 thinks they look a plonker.

Shows how we're all different. I saw a runner doing this at a pedestrian crossing t'other day, my thoughts were along the lines of "fair play, you're obviously taking your health and exercise very seriously, imagine how much better society would be if we all did it" kind of thing.

It wouldn't occur to me to think he looks a plonker.

Very similar to my own thoughts.

[Baldchap]

As a former marathon runner, I know from experience that if you've gone a long way, especially early into the long runs part of training before the body has really caught up with doing big miles every week, stopping can result in things not wanting to start again.

[J4CKO]

Klippie said:

Castrol for a knave said:

I have 6 AMS 81's fitted to my Nissan Note, that play a selection of Prussian marching songs and the theme tune to the Flumps.

Well done mate...that's awesome..!!!

Fine for Pootling about but could be a considered a little Posey...

[alfa phil]

Think it's runners 12
Drivers 10
We will play till whoever gets to 15 , that will give most opinions, don't think we need another 6 pages
Conclusion. Runners can be dicks sometimes.
Drivers can be dicks sometimes.

[JQ]

alfa phil said:

Think it's runners 12
Drivers 10
We will play till whoever gets to 15 , that will give most opinions, don't think we need another 6 pages
Conclusion. Runners can be dicks sometimes.
Drivers can be dicks sometimes.

Also worth highlighting that the consequences of motorists being dicks is death and destruction - around 80 deaths and serious injuries per day and £9,900,000,000 of destruction per year. Whilst the consequence of runners being dicks seems to be inconveniencing other road users for a few seconds.