Running in the bike lane: recent death (Read 1170 times)

A local runner was hit by a car and killed this weekend while running in the bike lane: http://www.ocregister.com/news/bake-parkway-1991108 This happened in Southern California, and according to the article: "Authorities urge joggers to use sidewalks if they are there. It is actually illegal to use a bike lane when a sidewalk is an option. But runners prefer to exercise on asphalt roads rather than concrete because the surface is softer. There was a sidewalk where the accident occurred." Personally, I've often run early in the morning (in the dark) in a bike lane facing traffic on a busy street like the one in the article. I'd wear reflective gear and a headlamp, but I don't think that would help when the driver isn't even looking. Anyway, after reading this story, I think I'll stick to the sidewalk now, even though my joints won't appreciate the extra stress.

The sidewalk is not necessarily a safer option, especially where there are a lot of cross streets. Every one of those crossings is a potential conflict with traffic, especially traffic turning left off a side street. I prefer to be on the shoulder or the road itself, traffic permitting, where I can see and be seen. It all boils down to the fact that if you are running near traffic you need to be acutely aware of your surroundings. It can be difficult to determine in the dark if an approaching car is on a collision course with you or not and having your ears plugged with headphones doesn't make it any easier. The fact that this person was running in a bike lane has no relevance. They simply dropped their guard or misjudged their surroundings and paid the ultimate price. If you take a look at the area on gmaps you'll notice that the eastbound side of Bake Parkway is tree lined and curving. That gave both the driver and the runner less time to see each other and react. Be careful out there. Tom

Personally, I've often run early in the morning (in the dark) in a bike lane facing traffic on a busy street like the one in the article. I'd wear reflective gear and a headlamp, but I don't think that would help when the driver isn't even looking.

I spent a lot of time running in your neck of the woods last spring (mostly in Newport Beach and Palos Verdes to the north) and at first I loved all the sidewalks and crosswalks and bike lanes. It never ceased to amaze how well California drivers actually paid attention to the regs. People actually stop for runners standing at crosswalks; they actually yield to pedestrians. A couple times I had people actually squeal their brakes because I put my foot in the crosswalk and they were in such a hurry to stop. Scared the crap outta me. At least once somebody screeched to a stop when I just looked at a crosswalk; I wasn't even planning on crossing the street. If you step into a crosswalk in Tennessee, you're just going to die. Quickly. Nobody yields to pedestrians here. Nobody. They'll run you over and probably blame you. (Here's a challenge for Nashvillians: try to find a car to yield to you when you're crossing Old Hickory between PWP and EWP at that nicely marked crosswalk with the big sign. Maybe if you're cute and female, you'll have better luck.) So I loved running in Southern Cali until I saw a runner in front of me almost get hit for all the same reasons that I loved it - specifically, runners get so used to the bike lanes and the obedient yielding drivers and all that that they assume its safe. I saw a girl almost get hit because she just ran right into the crosswalk without even looking - which would have been safe 99% of the time - but she picked the one time out of 100. A young kid almost ran her down and actually had to swerve up onto the sidewalk (there's some irony for you). I swear it might be safer here, just because every time I go out I realize I'm taking my life in my hands and nobody is going to be yielding. When I cross a street, I know for a fact that any cars present will kill me if I don't yield to them. When I'm running in the road, I assume idiots coming at me will wander across the line and onto the shoulder. That assumption has saved me a few times. And I always take my iPod off at a few specific corners.

So sad to hear about the runner. I live in Los Angeles and the area I'm living in right now has heavy traffic all around and the residential streets tend to be really narrow so I don't feel safe running on the streets there. That's part of the reason why I've been running on the TM so much. I constantly feel like I'm on edge running around the streets. I pass by a lot of little streets feeding into main streets, driveways with high hedges so I can't see cars backing out, alleyways, etc. I'm constantly slowing down or doing a double step to make sure someone is going to stop for me. I sometimes feel like I'm a running back in a football game, trying to anticipate where the defender is coming from. haha It was much better in my old neighborhood, much less traffic, wide residential streets so I could run on the street and not worry about a car passing by too closely.

I used to bike a lot more than I do now but after several crashes and close calls it's not so much fun anymore. Bad stuff happens a LOT faster on cycling than on foot. A cyclist was just killed in a Chicago race trying to occupy the same space as an SUV. I guess the SUV won. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-biker_fatal_26feb26,0,533633.story Tom

I dont think I would ever consider biking in any sort of traffic. A good friend of ours lost her first husband in a biking accident - he was training for a triathalon and got run over.

Be careful out there. Tom

That sums it up about the best. Every running option comes with certain risks. Keep your wits about you, run defensively and hope God is generous enough to fill in the blanks with good luck. Had a guy swerve towards me on Saturday's run while flipping me off and cursing at me. Always a sad story when someone dies in the field.

That's too bad. Yes, do be careful.