Not to be picky, but I always thought that when running or walking on the road, you go against traffic. When ever I see a runners, 50% of the time they are running with traffic and these are not just casual runner, but competing runners. This can be on local streets as well as high traffic roads. Almost all of the walkers I see walk with traffic, and if there is more than one the are always walking side by side, talking and forcing traffic to go far over to the left. As a runner, I run against traffic, trying to make eye contact with drivers so they know I’m there and don’t care what other runners do, but as a driver, it is really annoying to have to stop, if I can’t go around a group of runners or walker, or move to left side of the road to go around them.
I always thought it was just the opposite. Run with the flow of traffic. I almost killed a guy two weeks ago who was running against traffic around a corner.
Though I do not think this is regulated in most/any jurisdictions, running against traffic is considered safer. That way you have the ability to see and avoid a car (read: jump) that does not see you. With your back to the car you just get mowed down. The arboretum in my city has signs stating that peds should face traffic.
I agree. I always thought that you run against traffic. Yes I guess you could get hit when coming around a corner, but at least you can jump out of the way and know it will be coming. If you are running with traffic I think your chance of getting hit becomes greater because you can’t see the cars coming.
From a cycling point of view, there is nothing worse than parked cars, moving cars, and a runner on the “wrong side” of the road because even if we slow down you are still moving toward us.
i feel really unsafe running with traffic - bikes, cars, chaos - i think i spend more time looking back and am waiting for the day when i eat it checking to see if a car’s coming. sometimes, it’s just not easy to cross the street to go against traffic though.
On the road, I always run against traffic, but on a bike path I run with traffic. I will say that sometimes I feel less safe running on the road against traffic, let me explain. Its when I’m running and someone is at a stop sign/light making a right; usually drivers only look to their left because that is where the traffic is coming from so as soon as its clear…pedal-to-the-floor. Now if I’m coming from the other direction then the driver will never see me…VERY HIGH RISK. Of course I just either stop and wait or make eye contact with the driver. This is most prevalent in the suburbs.
run against traffic on all public roads. On private park roads or paths, I have found the opposite to be correct, essentially bikers/runners go the same direction?! On blind curves or where there is no shoulder, I run wherever I am most conspicuous.
From a cycling point of view, there is nothing worse than parked cars, moving cars, and a runner on the “wrong side” of the road because even if we slow down you are still moving toward us.
None of those things are a big deal if you’re paying attention. With runners in the street going against the flow, I usually move a bit over and they move over their left. Then we usually say “hi” or something as we pass. It’s not anymore difficult than avoiding potholes.
Where I live, the question is “Do I want to get hit in the FACE with a beer bottle, or in the back of the head???”
Not that the locals (well, I’m a local now, but …) have anything against runners or cyclists; they’re just not overly careful when or where they throw their empties.
Then again, most of them drink 30-packs of NASCAR beer in cans anyway, so why should I worry???
In Ontario, the Highway Traffic Act requires you to walk facing traffic if you are walking along a road where there are no sidewalks I believe… So it’s pretty much the law to run facing traffic here…
It is generally safer to run against traffic, however with high mileage, you run the risk of injury having the crown of the road make on leg functionally longer than the other. It’s the same logic behind running the opposite direction on the track some times.