If you’re out alone on rural roads, does it really matter?
A friendly reminder because I was #triggered this morning: Run on the left side of the road, facing traffic. Exceptions are blind hills/curves, or if you're approaching a right turn. If you're in a group, consolidate for oncoming cars/bikes.
I pretty much adhere to this. Always on the left unless I think it's dangerous not to be. Sometimes the right might have way more of a shoulder and the left has about 6" and a barrier.
I’d say if your a women then you absolutely must abide by this rule. A women wearing headphones with their back to traffic is playing with fire. Men not so much. It’s a shame that’s how society is.
There are valid reason to run in the right side. You could be making a right turn, the street may allow parking on the left but not the right, the right may have a large shoulder that allows you to run further away from traffic, etc. If you don't have a good reason, you should be on the left.
I pretty much adhere to this. Always on the left unless I think it's dangerous not to be. Sometimes the right might have way more of a shoulder and the left has about 6" and a barrier.
Im not in favor of ether side necessarily but I always wondered why they say run against traffic (ostensibly so you can "see" the traffic) but bike with traffic? Pick one, why are they opposites?
More an individual view of safety than “etiquette”. Where I run in the east coast is pretty bike friendly, so I usually find bike trails (with no motor traffic) or run-friendly places by the water or roads with wide often green-painted bike shoulders, and if the road doesn’t have a bike shoulder, I just avoid the road and run the concrete walkway instead.
The point is a group of kids got ran into recently and one kid passed away sadly. So yeah this is kinda a big deal if you run. As annoying as Droddy can be hes got great points here for safety.
There are no absolutes to this. When I was running the roads in Oregon, I would generally run with the traffic, on the shoulder, as I did not like running against wind resistance from the many semis out there. I never had any issues except for a few times someone throwing something at me.
I pretty much adhere to this. Always on the left unless I think it's dangerous not to be. Sometimes the right might have way more of a shoulder and the left has about 6" and a barrier.
Im not in favor of ether side necessarily but I always wondered why they say run against traffic (ostensibly so you can "see" the traffic) but bike with traffic? Pick one, why are they opposites?
A bike is considered to be a vehicle. Bikers are still considered to be a-holes.
Can't believe none of the replies have mentioned that sometimes you're required to use a sidewalk if it's there. There are also other laws some some have offered advice for pedestrians/runners:
This seems like a very Boulder thing, with cycling pelotons of all paces and sizes and many cliquey group runs on any nice Saturday or Sunday year round. So multiuser paths and road shoulders and backroads will find these groups overtaking or running into each other throughout the ride or run. And this has all been happening since before Droddy was born, so I have my doubts that his frustrated err “#triggered” tilting at this windmill on twitter will move the needle. But then that’s chiefly why twitter exists, for feckless invective.
Personally, if on a quiet county road or forest road or Jeep track I’ll run out in the middle of a lane and move to the opposite side of incoming traffic with no issues. Running on even slightly busy roads, even just solo let alone in a group, seems like asking for trouble.
If someone is driving erratically and about to hit me, I at least want a shot at jumping out of the way. Running against traffic allows me to better see oncoming cars which are closest to me. It also puts the traffic that is behind me, a bit further out of the way. I'm with Droddy, in that I think it helps your chances a bit.
On the other hand, someone crazy or drunk enough can still get you, no matter what you do.