Why would someone jog in the street?

[Ken]

Is there some situation where this would be a good idea? I saw a bus nearly flatten a female runner along the arterial/bus route of 37th between Manning and Hanford. There are sidewalks along both sides of that narrow street and buses and most cars take up the entire lane. Even 38th and 36th are low traffic streets in that area.

Anyone able to give this runner a clue before we read about it on the front page?

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[westcoastdeb]

Here’s hoping the bus did a good job of giving her a clue.

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[timeslid]

I saw her too but she was on 35th between Manning and Andover! My first question to a serious runner in the family was, ” why would she run in the street and not the sidewalk?” Answer: “The ups and downs and irregularities of the curbs can cause injuries.” Hmmm….. buses, cars and bikes can cause injury too.

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[KBear]

…not to mention it’s illegal to walk or jog in the street when there are sidewalks present…

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[moxilot]

Kbear, you are to the letter of the law as Scoot is to punctuation and grammar.

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[WSB]

I am *no* runner BUT have understood from interviews in the past that asphalt and other road-surfacing materials are easier on the legs than concrete sidewalks. Completely separate from the other issues raised here, but to the question of “why in the world …”

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[Carson]

I used to run, alot. I ran in the street always. But I never ran on a busy street, with buses. Duh.

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[Diane]

“illegal to walk or jog in the street when there are sidewalks present” really? what law/code is that?

~

I live on 37th, at Hinds, see this often, especially at night; mostly it’s walkers, runners, skateboarders, bicyclists, etc going north on the street; the bus only goes one way, south

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[winterhawk]

I run a lot. There times when I’ll run in the street due to the sidewalks being at a sideways angle. That’s really hard on the ankles. There are a few areas in Wsea where the cutouts for wheelchairs extend so far into the sidewalk its easy to turn an ankle too. I avoid busy streets when ever possible, but the lower part of Admiral near alki point is a good example of wide streets and sketchy sidewalks. I’ll often run downhill in the street, uphill on the sidewalk.

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[waterworld]

Diane: The Seattle Municipal Code, 11.40.220, provides that “where there are sidewalks provided, no pedestrian shall move along and upon an adjacent roadway.” The state statute, RCW 46.61.250, has the same language.

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[DP]

Crap! These stupid laws against running in the street are going to put the kibosh on locating a Run with the Buses! event here in Seattle.

Just when we were poised to become the Pamplona of the Pacific Northwest . . .

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[JustSarah]

Hey, moxilot – I resemble that comment! Hehe. I’ll take it as a compliment.

Plus, with regards to both written law and the written word, knowing the rules makes breaking them that much more satisfying. ;-)

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[Diane]

thanks waterworld; really stupid law

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[moxilot]

Oh Scoot and KBear, that was meant to be read with the most endearing tone. :)

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[MB]

Hey Diane, not trying to start anything here (that so often seems to be what happens here when an honest question is asked), but why is that a stupid law? It seems like an important safety issue to me. Weren’t sidewalks built for a reason?

I too have seen people running in the street many times around here…sometimes even with jogging strollers. It just seems dangerous to me. Yes, there are areas where the sidewalks are far from ideal (I understand that), but there are plenty of areas where the sidewalks are perfectly fine, not to mention various tracks and areas like Alki to run if injury is an issue. I agree that the risks you take running in the street seem to outweigh the risks on uneven pavement. I for one just drive down to Lincoln Park when I want to walk. I am no runner though, so it may be harder for me to understand I guess. The jogging in the street with a baby does seems nuts to me though.

I do hope the woman in question is at least a safe and aware runner when she’s in the street…hopefully not listening to an ipod!

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[WorldCitizen]

Yeah, the asphalt is easier on the joints than concrete. Sounds crazy, but is true. Running on busy streets is dangerous, but less traveled ones provide better surfaces for the pounding your body takes on a long run and causes less problems with cars. I had no idea it was actually illegal. Bummer.

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[wsgt]

I was just driving down a slow street by the Admiral Library. The sidewalks there are very wide and very nicely paved. Still, a runner was running nearly opposing traffic nearly at my bumper and I slowed to a 3 mile PH crawl and mouthed “Please use the sidewalk”. The runner signalled with her arms that she had a shared right to the road. She just didn’t “want” to use the wide super-smooth sidewalk. What is going on in West Seattle? She was breaking the law and making stupid, righteous hand signals that made no sense. What are we going to see next, Hula Hoppers in the middle of the street demanding space to perform? There is a Law righteous Joggers! “The Seattle Municipal Code, 11.40.220, provides that “where there are sidewalks provided, no pedestrian shall move along and upon an adjacent roadway.” The state statute, RCW 46.61.250, has the same language.”

• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by wsgt.

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[CarDriver]

This has come up before reasoning given: “streets are softer so less joint damage” “If I’m going to run in a competitive race which would be held on a closed street I have to train on the same surface or else I won’t have a competitive time” and of course have heard “It’s my right”

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