Running on roads with cars (Read 1905 times)

I have seen many post on here about a guy/gal running/biking being hit by an automobile.  Not to take the side of the automobile or the person being hit I would just say that we as pedestrians need to be alert while sharing the road with the much larger automobile.  Drivers are going to continue to be mindless at times and violate what we and law feel is appropriate for them to adhere to.  I have been running for many many years and have only come close to a bad situation once.  I was struck byt a guy pulling out of a parking lot turning right and looking back to the left to ensure no cars were coming.  I could have sworn he saw me but then when he hit me I realized he hadn't.  I was not injured in this incident but could have been.  I have had several other close calls that had I been wearing earphones or just not paying attention could have led to a bad day for me and some driver.  We as runners must come to terms with the fact that cars will not be watching for us nor will we always be seen.  My wife has questioned me more then once for slowing as I go around a turn or to allow a pedestrian to cross etc.  She often times asks how I saw them and my thought is alwasy the same.  If I were not used to being in the pedestrians shoes then I probably would not have recognized them.

Exactly!  I put all the emphasis on myself to be safe and come home in one peice from a run.

This seems as good a thread as any in which to vent.

 

I love it when a motorist tries to wave me on to my death.  Like when you're stopped to cross a 2 or 4 lane road and someone in one of the lanes (usually the one closest to you) stops and begins waving you out into the road.  And then escalatetes to waving frantically and indignantly when you don't initially budge.  Unfortunately I don't know the hand signals for, "Thank you kind sir but there are three other lanes of traffic as well as yours and those people don't seem as accomodating as you.  And so I think I'll stay right the fuck here until I see a clear path all the way across to the other side because getting struck by an SUV going 45 mph would sting a lot, I think.  Thanks again, but please go ahead," so I usually just wind up putting my hands out to the sides palms up and shaking my head as if to say, "WHAT IS YOUR DAMAGE?"

I never assume that a person sees me. Never.

 

However, I don't think that excuses poor driving, either. I can't tell you how many times I see someone "stop" (slight tap on pedal) or how many times someone doesn't use their turn signal. I recently had a day where I swore I had a sign on me that said hit me - because I had issues at every intersection. And, I know that some of these people weren't paying attention - but also know that others were and didn't care.

 

Ditto:
I believe i actually had a guy purposefully try and put me in a ditch about a month ago.  When he went by he was looking right at me, he just didn't care.

Thanks for the good reminder boomer. People practice defensive driving, we should be practicing defensive running.

 

All that training isn't worth much if you've off your feet for months because of an accident, regardless of whose fault.

My friend/ running partner was actually hit while we were running together - well not "hit" but I'd say "bumped into which caused her to roll up on the hood of the car"

A woman on her cell phone stopped at stop sign, looked at us and nodded. We proceeded to cross the street.

Apparently, her her look was a blank stare and the nod must have had something to do with the conversation she was having because she proceeded to go as we were right in front of her, which landed my friend on the hood of her car.

She apologized - actually following us for several blocks to make sure we were okay.

Luckily, my friend was fine - more P.O.'ed than anything

I nearly ran over a pedestrian this weekend.  Backing out of my driveway, talking to my daughter and my wife.  I looked back over my left shoulder to make sure no cars were coming, As I turned my head to look over my right shoulder (while backing up slowly) I caught a glimpse of white moving through the rearview mirror.  I hit the brakes.  On one side of the car was a guy in a white shirt.  On the other side was his wife.  Whew. 

 

Admittedly, I was backing up in a straight line and moving the whole time.  It's not like he didn't know I was there, and he could have stopped.  But still...I should have seen him and let them both go.

I live between a set of One Way - 2 lane roads.

 

What I have to watch out for is;

 

At times I may be running on the side walk but against traffic on these one ways. Many motorist on the side streets do not look both ways....they only look in the direction the traffic is coming. If I'm running against traffic and come to a car waiting to turn onto the One Way I automatically go around the car.

 

The scarry thing is the amount of pedestrian traffic and childern on bikes that use the sidewalks on these One ways......I would estimate a percentage higher than half of the drivers do not look in both directions. Like a vehicle coming in the wrong direction is the only thing they have to worry about.

 

And....My close call just a few days ago. running against traffic coming up to a protected intersection. Crossing traffic had the stop sign....I'm just arriving at the intersection at the same time a crossing motorcyclist is arriving. He has no turn signal on and is approaching a stop sign...I'm looking right at him, he is looking up the road in the direction of my on coming traffic.....suddenly he is off the brake and into the gas.....turning right.....I am just a yard or two from him as he begins a turn into my lane. I make a huge leap to the left....he see's me and takes evasive action too. Had that been a car it would have been much closer. I know he about crapped his pants.....as did I.

 

We have close calls wether we are running, biking or driving our cars. I actually tracked the close calls I had with vehicles by run vs car, bike vs car and car vs car several years ago. Suprisingly, they were all equal. The chances of tangling with a mtorist didn't change via mode of transportation. I think the ones with the lesser protection are seared a little deeper into our memory.

 

One-ways are where I have the most problems with drivers. I run against traffic, using sidewalks and properly marked crosswalks in a pedestrian area - near a church, a school and the community square. Those are the most dangerous intersections by far because some of these people do the "stop" or don't use turn signals AND don't even look both ways because they don't think they have to. I agree though - have to run defensively as one would drive defensively.