time to get out of the gene pool!

[OakLeaf]

There's a lot of local variation on whether pedestrians are allowed in roadways or not when there's a sidewalk. And even more variation in practice and enforcement.

Twenty years or so ago, Columbus was notorious. Among the more publicized cases, an elderly person who liked to sweep the street in front of their house got several jaywalking tickets.

Running in the road may be safer as a general rule (fewer irregularities and softer surface), but obviously they ought to be visible to traffic, and to get on the freakin' sidewalk if there's an oncoming car and no room for it to pass them safely in the road. I'm certainly not trying to say those people were being smart.



But I will say ... while runners and cyclists DEFINITELY have a responsibility to be visible and predictable, and you're definitely justified in your annoyance with them, what if it had been a deer, a dog, or a trash can in the road?

[marni]

There's a lot of local variation on whether pedestrians, are allowed in roadways or not when there's a sidewalk. And even more variation in practice and enforcement.

Running in the road may be safer as a general rule (fewer irregularities and softer surface), but obviously they ought to be visible to traffic, and to get on the freakin' sidewalk if there's an oncoming car and no room for it to pass them safely in the road. I'm certainly not trying to say those people were being smart.

But I will say ... while runners and cyclists DEFINITELY have a responsibility to be visible and predictable, and you're definitely justified in your annoyance with them, what if it had been a deer, a dog, or a trash can in the road?

In Texas I believe, although I haven't checked it really recently, that the law states that pedestrians people of foot ,no matter how they are ambulating or what speed the ambulations are occurring at, are not allowed in the roadway unless in a designated crossing or if there is no sidewalk available. I will check.

Had it been a deer, a dog, or a trash can, pedestrian, cat, biker whatever, I would have done my best to slow down, swerve to avoid it which is what I did with the people moving in a brisk fashion, down the roadway towards me, with nary a scrap of reflective clothing or a light to be seen, and why I was a bit miffed at them since there was a perfectly serviceable sidewalk and they gave me a scare and I almost ended up in an accident type situation through no fault of my own.

I didn't want to start a big legal and name calling debate. I was just questioning the common sense and survival instincts of that particular group of people in that particular time and place.

I bow my head in apology to anyone I accidentally offended or legally confused.

marni