Runners in the Bike Lanes

[ARL_wahoo]

I’m a frequent biker in Arlington for groceries, trips to friends, etc. I also bike-commute to DC in the nicer months of the year (April-October..yes, I consider 110deg heat “nice”). Numerous (as in, once a week at minimum, sometimes more) times I’ve seen runners, even walkers, using the bike lanes in the road. They are usually running with the bike traffic, but with ear phones, and can’t hear nor see bicyclists behind them. Then there’s those who run against the bike traffic, with earphones on, and will play chicken with the bike. While obscenities and rudeness comes with both types, I’m not sure which is worse.

Why aren’t local law enforcement trying to do anything about this? Is this even legal for them?

Topic

[lancito brazofuerte]

I see it all the time, and finally stopped worrying about it. It makes me kinda bitter when there’s an empty sidewalk 2 feet away, but I feel like I’d make more of a difference if I just banged my head against the wall.

Personally, #iblamebikelanes

[txgoonie]

This issue surfaces every once in a while.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?2712-The-sidewalk-is-over-there!

[Tim Kelley]

@txgoonie 50613 wrote:

This issue surfaces every once in a while.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?2712-The-sidewalk-is-over-there!

Thank you.

[dasgeh]

And no, it is not legal if there’s a sidewalk. (I know of one spot in Arlington where there’s a bike lane and no sidewalk #fixkirkwoodnow)

[jrenaut]

It drives me crazy when I see it, but I try to let it go. Unlikely that anything you do will help, and a confrontation will just ruin your day.

As I’ve said here before, being an a**hole is multi-modal.

[jabberwocky]

Earphones annoy me much more than pedestrian/runners actual presence on the road. Over the years I’ve noticed a very linear relationship between “has earphones in” and “will be a total idiot” (applies to pretty much all transportation types, for that matter). But I mostly ride on roads that don’t have bike lanes, so its just me and the cars and anyone else who happens to be in the road, all trying not to kill each other (or occasionally trying to kill each other, in the case of many of Great Falls residents).

[83b]

I thought I’d approached Dirt-level zen on this one, but the other day I passed a runner in the bike lane pushing a double stroller. She also shoaled two bikes at a stop light and yet was flustered when we crowded her passing when it turned green.

[Subby]

@txgoonie 50613 wrote:

This issue surfaces every once in a while.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?2712-The-sidewalk-is-over-there!

Just make sure you read all the way to post 45 where I admit what an idiot I am!

[thucydides]

Eh. I can list many reasons why running in the road is preferable to running on a sidewalk (assuming there is a sidewalk). Generally I stay between the lane and the curb but parked cars often make that impossible. My guess it that your typical jogger/runner who uses the bike lane is also part of the support coalition for said lane and other biking infrastructure. Perhaps I’m naive on this point but we need all the support we can get. Now what really gets me are cyclists biking the wrong way in bike lanes (not talking about contra-flow). That’s just wrong, illegal, and dangerous.

[jrenaut]

@thucydides 50633 wrote:

My guess it that your typical jogger/runner who uses the bike lane is also part of the support coalition for said lane and other biking infrastructure.

You’re probably correct that cyclists and runners want more stuff in common than not. That said, you can usually tell pretty quickly who has the awareness to run in a bike lane without endangering anyone, and who doesn’t. It’s when you can’t that it gets really dicey.

[DaveK]

@thucydides 50633 wrote:

Eh. I can list many reasons why running in the road is preferable to running on a sidewalk (assuming there is a sidewalk). Generally I stay between the lane and the curb but parked cars often make that impossible. My guess it that your typical jogger/runner who uses the bike lane is also part of the support coalition for said lane and other biking infrastructure. Perhaps I’m naive on this point but we need all the support we can get. Now what really gets me are cyclists biking the wrong way in bike lanes (not talking about contra-flow). That’s just wrong, illegal, and dangerous.

Running in the bike lane is never okay if there’s a sidewalk available. It just isn’t. You’re forcing the cyclist to merge into and out of traffic, endangering them for your own convenience.

[DaveK]

@83(b) 50630 wrote:

I thought I’d approached Dirt-level zen on this one, but the other day I passed a runner in the bike lane pushing a double stroller. She also shoaled two bikes at a stop light and yet was flustered when we crowded her passing when it turned green.

I had a surprisingly constructive conversation with a runner that shoaled me on East Capitol St a few months ago. I was in full rage mode when I gave myself a Frank Costanza “serenity now” moment and simply explained to her that by running in the bike lane, she’s forcing me into traffic, and by shoaling me at every red light she’s forcing me out there every block, putting me in danger. She appeared to understand. Either that or she was looking for her pepper spray in her back pocket with her other hand. Either way I felt like I accomplished something.

[dasgeh]

I really hate runners in bike lanes. It puts the cyclist in real danger, and for what? So the runner can ease stress on the knees (orthodics, stretching, strength training)? Because the sidewalk is too crowded? There are plenty of lovely places to run in Arlington. Don’t put me in danger when I’m trying to get around.

And don’t get me started on earphones. I had the pleasure of riding behind a runner for most of the TR Bridge today because her earphones were so loud she couldn’t hear me.

[thucydides]

@DaveK 50637 wrote:

Running in the bike lane is never okay if there’s a sidewalk available. It just isn’t. You’re forcing the cyclist to merge into and out of traffic, endangering them for your own convenience.

Riding in the road is never okay if there is a sidewalk or trail available. It just isn’t. You’re forcing drivers to merge into and out of traffic, endangering them for your own convenience.

I’m not trying to be belligerent, but that’s exactly what you sound like to me.

[ShawnoftheDread]

… Time to browse craigslist. Or get some work done.

[Author]

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