I have a general question about etiquette on running in the bike lane.
I went on a long run the other day and was running in the bike lane rather than on the concrete sidewalk. I ran 12 miles like this and had tons of cyclist past me and other runners. However on my last mile I had a bad experience. I was running on the white line as close to the sidewalk as I could be and this cyclist came up behind me and yelled, “you are running in the bike lane!” , my gut response was " Thanks for sharing the road A**hole".
Later I share the story with some friends and got a mix response. Wanted to hear what other people experience or think what is the general etiquette. Was I wrong to run in the bike lane? Or was this guy just being rude?
Generally it’s a no. The bike lane is a dedicated lane for non-motorized vehicles. You are considered a pedestrian, regardless of speed, and belong in a lane dedicated to pedestrians.
Were you running with or against traffic? You said the bike came up behind you, so it sounds like you were running with the traffic. I will run in the bike lane occasionally, but always against traffic and if a bike comes I jump up on the sidewalk, grass, curb, etc to get out of the way.
In general, runners should probably be using the sidewalk, but I treat it as a bit of a judgement call. If it is a busy road with a bike lane, I stay out of it. If it is a small neighborhood with a bunch of dog walkers and strollers on the sidewalk, I will use the bike lane to run.
Were you running with or against traffic? You said the bike came up behind you, so it sounds like you were running with the traffic. I will run in the bike lane occasionally, but always against traffic and if a bike comes I jump up on the sidewalk, grass, curb, etc to get out of the way.
In general, runners should probably be using the sidewalk, but I treat it as a bit of a judgement call. If it is a busy road with a bike lane, I stay out of it. If it is a small neighborhood with a bunch of dog walkers and strollers on the sidewalk, I will use the bike lane to run.
Yes, this is the way to go. I do this on my run commute and it seems to work out for everyone.
Were you running with or against traffic? You said the bike came up behind you, so it sounds like you were running with the traffic. I will run in the bike lane occasionally, but always against traffic and if a bike comes I jump up on the sidewalk, grass, curb, etc to get out of the way.
In general, runners should probably be using the sidewalk, but I treat it as a bit of a judgement call. If it is a busy road with a bike lane, I stay out of it. If it is a small neighborhood with a bunch of dog walkers and strollers on the sidewalk, I will use the bike lane to run.
+1
Run against traffic in the bike lane so you can get out of the way of the vehicles that the lane is designed for. If you stay in the lane when bikes go by, you are forcing them to go into traffic to pass you. That can have some very negative outcomes.
Let common sense rule. At home, there are sidewalks that I can use vs. running in the bike lanes. (It makes me a little cranky when I’m on my bike and a couple of folks are jogging side by side in the bike lanes here. A single runner staying way to the right side of the bike lane isn’t a big deal, though.) But I was visiting in Oakland, CA, and there were places (e.g. Broadway up to Lake Temescal) where the sidewalks were effectively nonexistent. They had a nice bike lane, and I’d run in it, but I’d hop up onto the curb when a cyclist was coming. Everyone seemed pretty chill with that.
When they start holding races on sidewalks then I’ll start training on sidewalks; otherwise, running in bike lane or on street is perfectly legal in California, but commonly misunderstood not to be.
With that being said, people who decide to run in bike lanes (or run on the road) when sidewalks are available shouldn’t complain if they get buzzed, hit, etc
Were you running with or against traffic? You said the bike came up behind you, so it sounds like you were running with the traffic. I will run in the bike lane occasionally, but always against traffic and if a bike comes I jump up on the sidewalk, grass, curb, etc to get out of the way.
In general, runners should probably be using the sidewalk, but I treat it as a bit of a judgement call. If it is a busy road with a bike lane, I stay out of it. If it is a small neighborhood with a bunch of dog walkers and strollers on the sidewalk, I will use the bike lane to run.
X 3 or whatever. I find all it takes is a little courtesy and not forcing cyclists out of the bike lane and into traffic, even if that means pausing the run for the 2 seconds it takes us to pass eachothet
As long as you were running against traffic in the bike lane so you can step up on the curb if bikers are coming towards you, then no, you aren’t wrong. I’ve been running that way for four plus decades now. When sidewalks are constructed of asphalt instead of concrete - very rare - then that’s where I run.
And sidewalks are not a reasonable (or safe) place to run in many, many places.
Say what??
ETA: I’d say they are much safer than running with traffic in bike lane. I thought it was common knowledge to always run against traffic w/ running and bike w/ traffic while biking on the “roads”.
People running in the bike lane when there is an uncontested sidewalk parallel to the road drives me bonkers. I ALWAYS run on the sidewalk if there is one (unless in the city where it’s so crowded that you have to run in the street). I nearly hit one guy running towards me in the bike lane last week at night, because he wasn’t wearing any reflective clothing. Ironically, he yelled something about my headlight being too bright, which thankfully allowed me to quickly glance and ensure it was safe enough to get into the road.
I’ve run thousands of miles on country roads with no sidewalk, so I’m so thankful when there is one. Please stay out of the bike lane when possible.
And sidewalks are not a reasonable (or safe) place to run in many, many places.
Say what??
ETA: I’d say they are much safer than running with traffic in bike lane. I thought it was common knowledge to always run against traffic w/ running and bike w/ traffic while biking on the “roads”.
With regard to always running against traffic, i dont always agree it is the safest option. Specifically on winding roads with no shoulder, i will switch to with traffic if against traffic means running the inside of a blind turn with nowhere to go (after making sure it is clear). I almost got run over by not doing this before.