Silly Question #25: Why is it legal to run on the road but not cycle on the footpath?

Thursday, 4 January 2018

Pounding the pavement is a great way to keep fit. But should joggers run on our roads and streets?

OPINION: Roads are for vehicles and bicycles, and footpaths are for pedestrians. Correct? So why do runners run on tarmac, and why do cyclists want to cycle on footpaths?

Runners first. Every day you see heaps of people jogging on our streets - even when there are perfectly good footpaths right alongside them.

A cyclist in his natural environment - the road. Not on the street alongside him.

Often they are a pain in the proverbial. Just the other day as we were driving up a hill in an urban area, we spotted a man running towards us at speed down the hill. His arms were flailing as he pounded down our side of the street, which meant we had to head towards the centre line to make sure we would miss him.

Then a little further up the hill there was a woman running up the slope, also on our side of the street. She had a dog on a leash beside her, and the animal was on her right-hand side which meant we had even less space as we drove past her.

Running on a footpath is safer for both joggers and motorists.

* Silly Question #23: Windows down, or air conditioning?

* Silly question #22: Debating the merits of sunroofs**

Why weren't these people using the footpath? Surely it must have been easier than jogging around the outside of any parked cars and increasing the risk of being hit by a passing vehicle?

Runners will tell you they prefer to run on tarmac because it is easier on the feet than running on a concrete footpath. That's understandable - even though a quality pair of running shoes should help alleviate that problem - so it seems the best motorists can hope for is for runners to be considerate and watchful as they pound the tarmac.

And remember, it's perfectly legal for runners to run on our public roads. The only time any potential illegalities crop up is in the vicinity of controlled intersections, where the so-called jaywalking becomes an issue.

Now cycling. It's common for pedestrians to encounter a cyclist or two sailing towards them on a footpath. Usually everyone keeps left and pass each other without incident - maybe they even say hello to each other.

In fact statistics suggest that cyclist crashes on footpaths involving pedestrians account for less than 2 per cent of all footpath cycling crashes.

But strictly speaking, it is illegal to ride a bicycle on a footpath, unless you are delivering mail or are a child using a tricycle or a small bicycle with a wheel diameter of less than 355mm.

There are moves to change this, essentially to make it legal for pre-teens, adults over 65 and 'vulnerable' users such as the intellectually impaired to ride on footpaths. Their carers - including parents of youngsters - would be allowed on to the footpaths too.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is all in favour of this happening. If so, we would follow the lead of Australia where children up to the age of 12 are allowed to cycle on footpaths.

But as for the rest of New Zealand's cyclists? How about you continue to ride in your natural environment - which is on our streets and roads.

Runners - how about sticking to our footpaths; and if you don't want to do that, be considerate enough to remain on the side of the road that allows you to face oncoming traffic, and stick as close as possible to the edge of the tarmac.

And please, don't run on the road with a dog on a leash outside you.