So as I was driving home yesterday I realized a potentially dangerous situation.

[GirlWonder]

It seems to me that a lot of runners feel it safest to run against traffic, while cyclists ride with traffic. (I run and bike but have never run in the road before...sticking to paths/sidewalks).

I was driving home on a fairly wide, but hilly straight road. I passed a cyclist going with traffic, and then a little later I passed a runner on the side of the road, going against traffic. Each were on the same "path" towards each other on the right side of the road--avoiding cars who were driving more to the left of the road. As I continued driving I realized that if cyclist and runner came at each other right at the top of a hill, chances are they wouldn't see each other until it was too late and it could be an ugly situation.

Has any cyclist here had a "near miss" or an actual accident in this situation?

(I hope I've explained it well enough so that you ladies know what I am describing)

[Eden]

Not quite as dangerous - but still potentially disatrous - I was riding along a "bike path" that was a road, but is now closed to motorized traffic, so we are talking fairly wide here so there isn't really much of a good reason to be over on the wrong side. Its really twisty and I was coming around a corner on the correct side. Right around the corner, coming towards me, but just out of sight, was a couple with a baby carriage! Nearly gave me a heart attack, but I know that its a hazard on this particular stretch so I wasn't going too fast. Yeah I'm afraid I did yell at them, but they scared me!

[limewave]

I run and ride a lot and have come across this situation. Whenever I'm coming to a corner or a hill where there may be a blind spot--I, as the runner, jog off road even when I have the baby jogger with me. As a cyclist, there's not much you can do other than to be extra cautious.

[Lise]

This happened to me in a busy neighborhood in Chicago. A runner coming straight at me in the bike path. Scary. Just as I was breaking, she hopped up on the sidewalk.

[Aggie_Ama]

I haven't had a wreck, but this is how I chose to run. The logic from DH is that you can see the cars coming at you and move off the road if there is some irratic driver. Usually this is an area with very little car traffic and even less bike traffic. Mainly boring little neighborhood roads.

When I am running on the hike and bike trail I use the same precautions as Limewave. It is easier to run on the grass than it is for a cyclist to swerve on that packed trail material.

[SouthernBelle]

It isn't merely choice, if there is no sidewalk, it is in most areas the law that pedestrians go against traffic and bikers with it. If there is a sidewalk, it shouldn't be an issue, because the pedestrian should be on the sidewalk. But just yesterday I thought evil thoughts about a pair of walkers before realizing that they were on their side of the road, as was I.

[GLC1968]

I've had many near misses with pedestrians who were out walking pre-dawn while I was commuting. The problem wasn't blind corners or hills...it was that they were wearing all dark clothing and not carrying a light! It's scary when they are RIGHT on top of you before you can see them. Though, I've rarely had this issue with runners who seem to be better dressed. My guess is that these people are new to the early morning exercise thing...and didn't know any better. I'd bet they at least carry a flashlight the next time they go out in the dark!

I have also had issues twice (in the same spot) where pedestrians (walkers and runners both) moved into the street at a crosswalk but didn't bother to look for traffic. It just amazes me that they would walk out into the road without looking!! I mean...getting hit by a bike sucks...but getting hit by a car is deadly. Unreal! I'll have to walk that path myself to see why it would feel ok to behave in such a way. I just don't get it (though I do ride through there extra alert now!).

[Geonz]

When the runner is going against traffic, I can usually see 'em coming, so things go okay. There's generally enough room for both of us.
Yesterday it was a cyclist cruising through campus roads against traffic who I hope felt shriveled by my "COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE AS STUPID AS YOU'RE ACTING" stare (though, I'm afraid, my facial-expression skills are notoriously bad - he might have thought I was madly attracted to him ) .

[caligurl]

i've always understood the "rule" is that walkers/runners DO go against traffic????? so i've never had a problem coming up on runners... they are coming toward me... me toward them... we see each other... they usually get over... and i go into the lane if it's safe....

[Bluetree]

When I go running, I can be all over the place (sidewalk, path, with/against traffic) but there is a method to my madness. I start my runs pre-dawn, in areas ranging from residential and business to almost deserted areas.
I have running routes planned out, and where I run depends on the safety factor. I usually run on sidewalks, with traffic, unless:

If there is along stretch of road with no parked cars between me and the road, I will run on the sidewalk against traffic. Anyone who has had a suspicious looking car follow them will know why!

If the sidewalk runs alongside buildings with blind alleyways in between, I'll run as far as I can from them, sometimes in the bike lane (against traffic, so I can hop out of the way for oncoming cyclists). I want to be as far as possible in case someone is hiding back there.

I do not hesitate to cross the street if I even spot someone vaguely unfamiliar. I always keep an eye out for houses, coffee shops, etc. I can make a sprint to for help, if needed. I'll wear my Shuffle, but won't wear my Nano in public. I also change my routes often, wear reflective clothing, my Road ID and jot down my path every day so if I turn up missing, people know where I've been. Call me paranoid, but a gal's gotta be careful, even in my so-called "safe" neighborhood. Sometimes, when I stop to think about it, it makes me sad that I have to be so cautious.

P.S. Whenever one of my male friends hears of my precautions, this look of incomprehension comes over their faces. Safety? Whaaa?