Runner vs Cyclist

[Nancy Drew]

I read this in a runners newsletter and thought you guys might find it interesting.

 

Not only do we have cars knocking cyclists down, but apparently we have cyclists knocking runners down too.. we really have to all be more aware of our surroundings when on our bikes.

 

At the best of times South Africa is a dangerous place in which to live and then we road runners make it even more so. Down below is the latest warning from Kim Roberts giving details of her experiences on Thursday the 12^th June 2008.

 

This is just a message to fellow runners to say please, please be careful when you run in the dark.

 

This morning our running group was nearly home after a really nice run. We just had to cross one dark road. A car was coming, far enough away to be safe but near enough to make us jog a little bit. From nowhere a bicycle with no lights, going at over 40 kph, hit our running buddy Sue. Now she's in ICU with a punctured lung and air in her brain.

 

Each one of us was within a split second of it happening to us. We all wear reflectors, we run in a group, and we thought we were careful.

 

[Tumbleweed]

that's horrid, nancy. also saw a dude go through an intersection at 5 this morn with no lights.

[Canaris]

Road users (both one two wheels and four) are as inconsiderate as each other.  Here all the complaints of roadies are negated.  In order to get an inch, you must be willing to give an inch.  And no the runner shouldn't run on the side walk.  As a pedestrian he also has a right to use the road.

[Mark]

Yes we all have a right to use the road but if we are training everyone should have a light. In our area most runners are using small lights which makes them visible.We took a stance of no light no ride on our club rides and it seems to be working.

[jmaccelari]

 

 

 

And no the runner shouldn't run on the side walk.  As a pedestrian he also has a right to use the road.

Actually, according to the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 Reg 316,

pedestrians are not allowed on the road surface. They must stay on the sidewalks

where provided. It is up to the pedestrian to ensure he does not constitute a

danger to traffic.

 

Furthermore, Reg 316 requires that pedestrians only cross at crossings,

if within 50m of the crossing.

 

The actual road surface is for wheeled vehicles (carts, motorcycles, horse drawn

carts, bicycles, ...)

 

So the lady was guilty of an offence - she constituted a danger to traffic and is liable

to a R300 fine.

 

To be reasonable, we do expect runners on the road. They should move into the road

or onto the pavement when being approached by a cyclist as they are usually running

into the traffic and can see what is going on down the road. To expect a cyclist to

swerve into traffic he can't see behind him is unreasonable.

 

Cyclists also need to be sensitive to runners on the road. Riding in the dark without

a light is never a good idea...

jmaccelari2008-07-02 02:37:31

[Tumbleweed]

And no the runner shouldn't run on the side walk.  As a pedestrian he also has a right to use the road.

Actually' date=' according to the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 Reg 198,
pedestrians are not allowed on the road surface. They must stay on the sidewalks.

Furthermore, Reg 199 requires that pedestrians only cross at crossings,
if within 50m of the crossing.

The actual road surface is for wheeled vehicles (carts, motorcycles, horse drawn
carts, ...)

So the lady was guilty of an offence - she constituted a danger to traffic and is liable
to a R300 fine.

To be reasonable, we do expect runners on the road. They should move into the road
or onto the pavement when being approached by a cyclist as they are usually running
into the traffic and can see what is going on down the road. To expect a cyclist to
swerve into traffic he can't see behind him is unreasonable.

Cyclists also need to be sensitive to runners on the road. Riding in the dark without
a light is never a good idea...
[/quote']

 

strange then that authorities tried to get so harsh on motorists who knocked down pedestrians a while back. isn't it also a fact that the majority of pedestrian knocked over are drunk?

[Le Tour]

Everybody out at that time should have a light, even runners' dogs! (especially if they are not on a leash).

Twice I have had a dog, running in front of a group of runners, cross my path while riding in the morning.  Not fun when you only see it when it gets into the beam of your front light. 

[jmaccelari]

 

strange then that authorities tried to get so harsh on motorists who knocked down pedestrians a while back. isn't it also a fact that the majority of pedestrian knocked over are drunk?

Yep - it's insane. But you don't expect the government to actually understand

their own laws, do you? I remember the ads they had on radio: "If you knock down a

pedestrian you will go to jail". Ludicrous.

 

I presume it has more to do with the demographics and the knowledge they

can't stop p*ssed people wandering into cars, so just hit the easiest

target...

 

[Tumbleweed]

strange then that authorities tried to get so harsh on motorists who knocked down pedestrians a while back. isn't it also a fact that the majority of pedestrian knocked over are drunk?

Yep - it's insane. But you don't expect the government to actually understand
their own laws' date=' do you? I remember the ads they had on radio: "If you knock down a
pedestrian you will go to jail". Ludicrous.

I presume it has more to do with the demographics and the knowledge they
can't stop p*ssed people wandering into cars, so just hit the easiest
target...
[/quote']

 

and remember when happy sindane almost got killed cos he was sleeping in the middle of the street?

[Canaris]

And no the runner shouldn't run on the side walk.  As a pedestrian he also has a right to use the road.

Actually' date=' according to the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 Reg 316,
pedestrians are not allowed on the road surface. They must stay on the sidewalks
where provided. It is up to the pedestrian to ensure he does not constitute a
danger to traffic.

Furthermore, Reg 316 requires that pedestrians only cross at crossings,
if within 50m of the crossing.

The actual road surface is for wheeled vehicles (carts, motorcycles, horse drawn
carts, bicycles, ...)

So the lady was guilty of an offence - she constituted a danger to traffic and is liable
to a R300 fine.

To be reasonable, we do expect runners on the road. They should move into the road
or onto the pavement when being approached by a cyclist as they are usually running
into the traffic and can see what is going on down the road. To expect a cyclist to
swerve into traffic he can't see behind him is unreasonable.

Cyclists also need to be sensitive to runners on the road. Riding in the dark without
a light is never a good idea...
[/quote']

 

and SA's sidewalks are in immacculate conditions, especially on Klapperkop.   NOT

[mrmed]

My wishes are with her. Please keep us informed.

I also hit a pedestrain on the Spruit, two weeks ago. Luckily I only clipped his arm with my handle bars and only I got hurt. I felt really bad, even though he stepped in front of me as I should have given him a wider berth (his back was to me). I shuuder to think what would have happened if I'd hit him square on.

[Le Tour]

The way some pedestrian step out into the road, they can be lucky that we are on bikes and not behind the wheel of a car.

 

All parties need to take as much precaution as possible to prevent accidents like these happening.  Best wishes to the runner. Very sad.

[splat]

Thread Hijack on:

 

To be reasonable' date=' we do expect runners on the road. They should move into the road or onto the pavement when being approached by a cyclist as they are usually running into the traffic and can see what is going on down the road. To expect a cyclist to swerve into traffic he can't see behind him is unreasonable.

[/quote']

 

This is another topic that should have some interesting opinions. Only about 50% of the runners I encounter do this.

 

Thread Hijack Off

[Ox_Wagon]

It is funny to hear Cyclist sounding like the motorist that they bitch about. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

We all have heard that ?Bicycles should not be on the road? argument from motorist and now we using the same argument.  The problem was that a cyclist was doing 40km/h plus without having lights in the dark, which is also illegal.

We need to be accommodating to all road users and not decide that there is a certain pecking order.   So next time you see a runner coming up to you and he steps of the road to make it possible to safely pass him, thank him.  If you come op to a walker warn them what side you will be passing him otherwise they will do their best to remove your right to ride you favorite trail.

[jmaccelari]

 

We all have heard that ?Bicycles should not be on the road? argument from motorist and now we using the same argument.  The problem was that a cyclist was doing 40km/h plus without having lights in the dark' date=' which is also illegal.

 

[/quote']

But pedestrians are not supposed to be on the road! Bicycles are! You can get

fined for riding a bicycle on the pavement!

 

The fact is that it is often too dangerous to run on the pavement - I do not. When

I am running in the road, however, I give way to cyclists/cars/.. as I know I am

not supposed to be there.

 

[IanJ]

Except these guys were CROSSING the road not running in it. The Cyclist is at fault here for not having lights.