Runners in the Bike Lanes

[ARL_wahoo]

@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.

This. And me going 10mph on a metal frame is much harder to control than a runner going 5mph. I know runners hate running on cement, but my knees will look a whole lot worse than yours when I get hit by a car trying to dodge you. This is the #1 reason I have an issue with this. There are plenty of side streets with beautiful tree cover that is just as nice on the knees (I try to bike through neighborhoods in the street when I can, though I’ve found on nice weekends/afternoons, kids playing in yards often don’t see the bikers when they run after their ball…much more attention needed back there :p). Then, there are the types that want to run through populated areas with clogged sidewalks and see the wide open bike lane and hop into those

I guess I should have said in my first post that the reason I brought this up is that I nearly got hit (and by nearly I mean I came within inches) by a car while trying to dodge a runner that jumped out into the bike lane from the sidewalk.

Bikers in the lane going the wrong direction……:mad: I find that those are usually just in-frequent riders who just don’t know any better so it’s not worth the hassle. They usually are going slow enough that I can easily dodge them too and I don’t see them a whole lot anyways.

[dasgeh]

@thucydides 50642 wrote:

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.

Except 1) there’s a big difference in the “worst case scenerio” for drivers merging (they in their metal cage meet another car) and the worst case scenario for the cyclist merging (they, on their bike, meet a car); 2) cars expect other cars to merge in and out of their lanes. A bike lane is intended to allow the cyclist to tool along without merging in and out of the car lane, so the cars driving along are not looking for the bike to merge in; and 3) the road is not designed for the low speeds of runners. Oh, and it’s illegal.

[krazygl00]

@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.

This. A thousand times, this. And if you are a Salmoning runner — which seems to be de rigueur these days — you’re forcing me to do this twice as fast.

@thucydides 50642 wrote:

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.

Regardless of what it sounds like, the rules are different for runners vs. bikes. Cars, trucks, bicycles = vehicles. Runners are NOT vehicles.

[PotomacCyclist]

On Potomac Ave. in the Potomac Yard section of Arlington, the bike lane is a de facto sidewalk. The problem is that the planned development projects on those blocks have been postponed indefinitely. Those buildings would likely have included wide sidewalks for pedestrians. As it is, there is nowhere for people to walk to and from their parked cars along that road, other than in the bike lane (or by cutting over into the closed-off parking lot).

Regardless of anyone’s thoughts on the matter, it’s best not to ride in the bike lane on that road, especially at night. There will always be people walking in the lane, and I can’t really blame them as there is no other alternative on that street.

[DaveK]

@thucydides 50642 wrote:

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.

False Equivalence (noun):

1. this

[Rod Smith]

Get the hell out of my way, jerk. I’m putting it nice so I don’t piss anyone off. Get out of the road! NOW! Your shoes are brighter than you.

[jrenaut]

@ARL_wahoo 50645 wrote:

I guess I should have said in my first post that the reason I brought this up is that I nearly got hit (and by nearly I mean I came within inches) by a car while trying to dodge a runner that jumped out into the bike lane from the sidewalk.

That’s an important distinction – that’s not exactly “running in the bike lane”, it’s more “suddenly entering the bike lane with no regard for anyone who might already be there”. That’s just stupid.

[baiskeli]

Most people wouldn’t accept people walking in the roadway, even in a bike lane, using it just like a sidewalk–walking dogs, pushing strollers, etc. Don’t see why runners should be any different.

[83b]

@baiskeli 50695 wrote:

Most people wouldn’t accept people walking in the roadway, even in a bike lane, using it just like a sidewalk–walking dogs, pushing strollers, etc. Don’t see why runners should be any different.

I think we owe runners in bike lanes the benefit of the doubt. I’ve always appreciated people’s understanding when I have need to drive on the sidewalk, and reciprocity seems only fair.

[thucydides]

Life intervened and I never got back to this thread. I’ll let it drop after this. For the record I’m not advocating for pedestrians in the bike lane. (Context specific I do support running in roadways — not bike lanes — but for reasons having far more to do with safety than convenience, but that’s a different topic.) However, while I think pedestrians should not be in the bike lanes, I also just don’t think it’s that big a deal. I gather that others experiences differ from mine, but I overtake slower traffic in bike lanes every day. Usually it’s other cyclists, sometimes it’s pedestrians. What do I do? I look under my left armpit to check vehicle traffic, pass accordingly, and promptly forget about it. It’s not unlike the dozens of cars that pass me every day in a sharrow circumstance. Virtually all pass me safely and move along. But I’m guessing that at least 500 times in my life I’ve had drivers yell at me some variant of “get off the road.” Sometimes they’ve done worse (e.g., cut me off). I’m just flat not going turn around and display that sort of attitude towards pedestrians just because the county painted a couple of white stripes on the road.

[baiskeli]

@thucydides 50985 wrote:

Life intervened and I never got back to this thread. I’ll let it drop after this. For the record I’m not advocating for pedestrians in the bike lane. (Context specific I do support running in roadways — not bike lanes — but for reasons having far more to do with safety than convenience, but that’s a different topic.) However, while I think pedestrians should not be in the bike lanes, I also just don’t think it’s that big a deal. I gather that others experiences differ from mine, but I overtake slower traffic in bike lanes every day. Usually it’s other cyclists, sometimes it’s pedestrians. What do I do? I look under my left armpit to check vehicle traffic, pass accordingly, and promptly forget about it. It’s not unlike the dozens of cars that pass me every day in a sharrow circumstance. Virtually all pass me safely and move along. But I’m guessing that at least 500 times in my life I’ve had drivers yell at me some variant of “get off the road.” Sometimes they’ve done worse (e.g., cut me off). I’m just flat not going turn around and display that sort of attitude towards pedestrians just because the county painted a couple of white stripes on the road.

You’re right, it’s not a big deal, most of the time. Not much in life that should be a big deal if it doesn’t need to be.

[GoodOmens]

As both a runner and a cyclist I can understand why runners choose to run in the cycling lane.

First its less crowded. Just as annoying it is to ride on a crowded sidewalk it is just as annoying to run in one too
Two – it’s better on the knees to run on asphalt then run on concrete

[JorgeGortex]

@GoodOmens 51173 wrote:

As both a runner and a cyclist I can understand why runners choose to run in the cycling lane.

First its less crowded. Just as annoying it is to ride on a crowded sidewalk it is just as annoying to run in one too
Two – it’s better on the knees to run on asphalt then run on concrete

With respect, the notion that asphalt is easier on the body than concrete is a fallacy… at least until the typical 90 degree temps of DC start melting things. The density of either material is such that neither offers a significant amount of extra cushioning for our poor knees. That is more about proper form and the proper shoes for each individual. Trail running is the only option for a truly softer surface, or one of the local modern tracks.

As for it being less crowded… in that case I’m driving on the sidewalk the next time I’m sitting in traffic and the sidewalk next to me is clear. Maybe a different route would help with the crowded sidewalk issue? Better than forcing cyclists into traffic out of the designated bike lane…

JG

[Tim Kelley]

@JorgeGortex 51319 wrote:

The density of either material is such that neither offers a significant amount of extra cushioning for our poor knees.

Facts aside, many runners would agree that they perceive a difference in the feeling of asphalt vs concrete. Perhaps just a placebo, but I don’t think you are going to change anyone’s mind anytime soon.

[jabberwocky]

@Tim Kelley 51320 wrote:

Facts aside, many runners would agree that they perceive a difference in the feeling of asphalt vs concrete. Perhaps just a placebo, but I don’t think you are going to change anyone’s mind anytime soon.

Can’t comment on running, but back in my skateboarding days I noticed a distinct difference in feel falling on asphalt versus concrete. Asphalt had noticeably more give to it.

[Author]

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