Joggers, Runners & Bikers....please explain?

Bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks. They are considered like vehicles and belong on the road.

this comment is not directed to you but just that particular statement...

if they are vehicles, then how come they dont have to follow the rules of the road?

I have seen them blow through stop signs, seen them blow right through red light interesections making cars that have the green light slam on their brakes, go left of center to get around traffic and other thing that are against the law for other vehicles :confused3
 
this comment is not directed to you but just that particular statement...

if they are vehicles, then how come they dont have to follow the rules of the road?

I have seen them blow through stop signs, seen them blow right through red light interesections making cars that have the green light slam on their brakes, go left of center to get around traffic and other thing that are against the law for other vehicles :confused3

They do have to follow the rules of the road. For various and sundry reasons, it is not enforced as heavily as it is for cars.
 
They do have to follow the rules of the road. For various and sundry reasons, it is not enforced as heavily as it is for cars.

This is one my biggest pet peeves. I am more than happy to share the road with cyclists.....however the "I have a right to be here.....but I don't really have to follow the rules" mentality drives me crazy. (Not you in particular SAHDad :) )
 
To add another voice to the chorus, while roads do have the hazards of auto traffic, I find it much easier to negotiate them than sidewalks. I run against traffic; I always assume the driver can't see me so stick as close to the side as possible; I don't cross intersections in front of vehicles unless I see the driver see me and signal me across; and I wear reflective clothing if it's dusk or dawn. Sidewalks are harder than asphalt; kids on bikes generally tend to use sidewalks; toys litter sidewalks; dogs guard sidewalks; sidewalks are notoriously uneven; and cars in driveways often block sidewalks. It's a simple choice for me. Conversely, I find it rude and dangerous to walk anything other than single file and not do one's best to let vehicles have the right of way. As usual, it's not the act of using roads for running that is the issue but those who do so without regard for the rules. :thumbsup2
 

I prefer to run/jog on asphalt. Where available to do it safely, I will. If a road is a well known jogging/biking route that doesn't have sidewalks, I and the police will expect cars to exercise caution with the presence of pedestrians and cyclists. (Yes, I have had vehicles think they were in the right and attempt to cause danger to make their point. I have also witnessed patrol cars be on the lookout for such shenanigans.)

FWIW, joggers/runners/walkers AGAINST traffic; Cyclist WITH traffic. It annoys me when cyclists think they are being safe by going against the traffic. They aren't.

Share the road and we all can be happy.

(As a rule, I do try to avoid 'highways'. But I haven't been on the road in quite a long time--I have been on treadmills. Blah!)

Cyclists are supposed to obey the rules of traffic. They are not supposed to ignore stop signs and lights. If something happens to them when they do that, they will be the at fault party. They will also be lucky if the ticket is their biggest problem and not a lengthy recovery or a funeral.
 
One more thought as it applied to my marathon training.

When training for an endurance event that requires many single trips of many miles, running a small loop for 4 hours would drive one batty. So often for runners and for cyclists, the reason you see them on "roads" as opposed to sidewalks could be a matter of the distance that they are covering that day. When I would see cyclists on the road in Florida--they were doing 20 miles or more bike rides. There just isn't enough sidewalks to safely travel that distance at the training speed they were riding.
 
I had ankle/foot surgery last October. My surgeon told me to never run on cement again or I would be back to see her. When I am given the green light to run again, I will be on asphalt or dirt. Even when I enter a Tri I have to contact the race director to see if any of the run is on cement. If it is I can't enter.

Cyclists must follow the rules of the road.

Personally, I will not jog or ride on the road unless it has a designated path for bikes and joggers. While I would follow the rules of the road, that doesn't mean that others traveling with wheels will.
 
If the sidewalks aren't level (they often are not) they're very hard to run/jog on. A level road is much easier on your feet, especially afer a 3-4 mile jog.
 
One more thought as it applied to my marathon training.

When training for an endurance event that requires many single trips of many miles, running a small loop for 4 hours would drive one batty. So often for runners and for cyclists, the reason you see them on "roads" as opposed to sidewalks could be a matter of the distance that they are covering that day. When I would see cyclists on the road in Florida--they were doing 20 miles or more bike rides. There just isn't enough sidewalks to safely travel that distance at the training speed they were riding.

Exactly, I do a 200 mile 2 day annual bike ride so it's not uncommon for me to be doing 50-80 mile training rides. I also have to train on hills so that means riding about 20 miles from my house to get to the really steep roads.

I know there are riders that don't obey the laws of the road just like there are drivers that do the same. I have on occasion gone through a red light when there were no cars in my field of vision. A bike isn't going to trip a light to change from red to green.

Trust me that sane riders want to stay as far away from cars as possible.
 
We have designated walking/jogging paths where I live and that's where I always run. alot of it is sidewalk and some of it is asphalt. I rarely see people walking or running in the streets so I can't sympathize with you. However, if you run over a couple of peeps while they are walking down the street maybe the next people won't do that!
 
I jog and use the sidewalk. I'm not going into the street to jog. That's what the sidewalk is for.
 
This is one my biggest pet peeves. I am more than happy to share the road with cyclists.....however the "I have a right to be here.....but I don't really have to follow the rules" mentality drives me crazy. (Not you in particular SAHDad :) )

Yeah, we have a really cocky bunch of cyclists in our area. We have complained about them for various reasons, they scream that they have a right to be there and so on and so forth, well, one day, one of them didn't follow the rules of the road and he was given a ticket. He tried to argue and got all nasty, but the cop said, hey, you want to be on the road, well then you have to obey the laws. He handed him the ticket. We were all very pleased when this happened. All they do is ride in rush out traffic, 3 and 4 across and they go outside their bike lane. They don't stop at the stop signs and they hold everyone up. I can't stand to see them and I think it should be illegal. The first time one of them hits a bump in the road, they are going to fall right into traffic and I guarantee you that they will turn around and sue whoever hit them. I have seen them slow down traffic from the speed limit of 45 mph to 30 mph on a major highway, it is wrong.
 
Runners also use the road because in my area the sidewalks are slimy with mold and if you put your foot down wrong you will slip and break your neck. For some reason, maybe the constant use of tires running over it, asphalt doesn't seem to get moldy here.
 
As for biking, I'd have to dodge kids on bikes and people walking dogs etc if I road on the sidewalk. On my road bike on a flat road I can be going 20+ miles per hour which classifies me as a moving vehicle that is required to be on the road. As for riding close to the line on a road rather than at the edge that is because there is so much debris which is dangerous to ride over on a road bike. I don't ride across with people. I actually don't like doing that at all because I've seen rides crash when they've gotten too close.

Ditto ^^^

In Florida the bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle. Bicyclists have the same rights to the roadways, and must obey the same traffic laws as the operators of other vehicles. These laws include stopping for stop signs and red lights, riding with the flow of traffic, using lights at night, and yielding the right-of-way when entering a roadway.

There is only one road and it is up to bicyclists and motorists to treat each other with care and respect. Strict adherence to the law is the foundation for this respect.

Many sidewalk "joints" are not very smooth...and a road bike with narrow, high pressure tires does not play well with a rough surface...especially traveling 12+ mph.
 
Bicycles are vehicles and should be ridden in the streets.

I don't know why joggers/runners don't use sidewalks.
 
Unless it is an extremely busy street I always run in the street and not on the sidewalk. Most of the streets here are blacktop while the sidewalks are cement or slate. Blacktop is much better on your legs. The sidewalks are also not as even of a surface which makes a huge difference. The sidewalks are full of kids on bikes, walkers, people walking dogs, and a lot of other things that get in your way when you are trying to stay at your pace.

As for riding bikes that is easy, bikes belong on the streets, not sidewalks. It is again most of the city ordinances around here to even ride on the sidewalks once you are above a certain age. I also have a road bike and they are way too fast for the sidewalks. Just like the uneven sidewalks aren't good for running they are not good for 23-27mm tires.

If I am just walking and there is a sidewalk I use it.

It is up to everyone who is using the road to be smart and follow the rules. Rules for cars and cyclists aren't always the same and it is up to everyone who uses the road to know both sets of rules (look up an Idaho stop for example). I always defer to cyclists when I am driving and make sure I pass them safely. If I have to drive slowly behind them a bit before it is safe to pass that is what I do. I also make sure when I'm on the bike or running I am aware of my surroundings.
 
We have miles and miles and miles of BIKE PATHS around our area yet the bikers STILL ride on the road. :confused3. I saw a biker the other day, riding right ON the white line between the curb and the lane of traffic-on a road with a posted 55 mph speed limit. A semi drove by him and he flipped off the semi (assuming for getting to close to the bike). Nevermind that there is a BIKE PATH about 10 feet to his right :sad2: The roads here that don't have bike paths have extra wide shoulders with bike lanes painted in them and the bikers STILL ride in the car lanes :sad2:. I don't feel one bit sorry for them when a truck blows them off their bike.
 
We have miles and miles and miles of BIKE PATHS around our area yet the bikers STILL ride on the road. :confused3. I saw a biker the other day, riding right ON the white line between the curb and the lane of traffic-on a road with a posted 55 mph speed limit. A semi drove by him and he flipped off the semi (assuming for getting to close to the bike). Nevermind that there is a BIKE PATH about 10 feet to his right :sad2: The roads here that don't have bike paths have extra wide shoulders with bike lanes painted in them and the bikers STILL ride in the car lanes :sad2:. I don't feel one bit sorry for them when a truck blows them off their bike.

Minnesota, right?

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/roadrules.html
In Minnesota, roads, bike lanes, shoulders, paths (trails), and bridges are all a part of the bicycle transportation network and provide predictability and safety for all roadway users. Bicyclists need to know how to drive their bike on both non-motorized vehicle routes (trails and paths) and also on the road. Bicyclists also need to mix with other vehicle types, for example, trucks, buses, and cars and also how to bike safely around pedestrians. Check the pedestrian laws to know your responsibilities towards pedestrians.

Copy of laws for how the cyclist should ride his bike if riding on the road:
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/getp...22&keyword_type=any&keyword=bicycle+operation


What is rather unfortunate is that the actual drivers of cars aren't familiar with their own laws and prefer to pass judgment and in some cases applaud the actions of truck/car drivers while admonishing the cyclists actions.

In Minnesota, the road is part of the network. I could not find any law that said if a bike path is 10 feet away, that it was compulsory to use that instead.

My chicken self would have chosen what I felt to be the safer option, but I don't understand why folks believe that a cyclist does not have a choice under the law.
 
Yeah, we have a really cocky bunch of cyclists in our area. We have complained about them for various reasons, they scream that they have a right to be there and so on and so forth, well, one day, one of them didn't follow the rules of the road and he was given a ticket. He tried to argue and got all nasty, but the cop said, hey, you want to be on the road, well then you have to obey the laws. He handed him the ticket. We were all very pleased when this happened. All they do is ride in rush out traffic, 3 and 4 across and they go outside their bike lane. They don't stop at the stop signs and they hold everyone up. I can't stand to see them and I think it should be illegal. The first time one of them hits a bump in the road, they are going to fall right into traffic and I guarantee you that they will turn around and sue whoever hit them. I have seen them slow down traffic from the speed limit of 45 mph to 30 mph on a major highway, it is wrong.

We see the same thing. They ride like the rules don't apply to them and get mad when they get a ticket or a car gets too close to them--even though THEY are in the wrong :confused3.

Minnesota, right?

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/roadrules.html


Copy of laws for how the cyclist should ride his bike if riding on the road:
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/getp...22&keyword_type=any&keyword=bicycle+operation


What is rather unfortunate is that the actual drivers of cars aren't familiar with their own laws and prefer to pass judgment and in some cases applaud the actions of truck/car drivers while admonishing the cyclists actions.

In Minnesota, the road is part of the network. I could not find any law that said if a bike path is 10 feet away, that it was compulsory to use that instead.

My chicken self would have chosen what I felt to be the safer option, but I don't understand why folks believe that a cyclist does not have a choice under the law.

Yep, and if you read the actual LAW, the bicyclists are in violation of that law, not the cars:

Subd. 4. Riding on roadway or shoulder. (a) Every
person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as close as
practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except
under any of the following situations:

(1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding
in the same direction;

(2) when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or
into a private road or driveway;

(3) when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions,
including fixed or moving objects, vehicles, pedestrians,
animals, surface hazards, or narrow width lanes, that make it
unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge.


They ride as close as possible to the LEFT side of the shoulder-illegal. They zoom through stop signs, red lights, etc.-illegal.

Also:

(d) No person shall operate upon a highway any bicycle
which is of such a size as to prevent the operator from stopping
the bicycle, supporting it with at least one foot on the highway
surface and restarting in a safe manner.

Which is where we see these bike riders-on the highways around here-illegal

As well as:

Cities also have ordinances that govern the use of bicycles in their city limits. Check out the city ordinances in the city you will be traveling.

In our city-if there is a BIKE PATH available, bikes are to use the BIKE PATH, not the road.
 


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