Runners in road

[VivienScott]

Since lockdown started, there have been increasing numbers of runners running in the road where I live. They’re running individually, and in the road even when the pavement is empty. The other day one was in the road running towards my very obvious oncoming car, despite the empty pavement. When I beeped at him, because I thought he hadn’t seen me somehow, he stepped straight in front of my car, forcing me to stop, proceeded to lecture me that runners are now allowed to run in the road because of social distancing (there was no one around, it was 6am) and I should move to the other side of the road i.e. the side for oncoming vehicles to allow him to pass.
I’ve not seen any change in the law to this effect, which I did mention to him.
AIBU to think runners and pedestrians in general should be on the pavements (pavements are for people etc) not on the road in the path of oncoming vehicles?

I think runners and pedestrians can be in the road if they want, but they should be being safe and courteous and allowing cars to pass them safely.

They should have probably hugged the kerb, and you could’ve straddled a small part of the next lane and then you would’ve both had room. There was no need for car horns at all, YABU to have used yours at 6am for no reason.

Why couldn't you just overtake him? I've had to run in the road to avoid others. People don't like runners passing too close to them.

You both sound pretty unreasonable in this case. It's always legal to walk or run in a road. Nowt to do with covid.

If noone was around, you could have overtaken and not beeped.

But the runner sounds entitled and misinformed too.

I should add, bendy country road, legal use of horn, overtaking could have been dangerous. But also, he had a pavement to use.

If you could have easily gone round him then you're being precious. But pedestrians on roads is both annoying and dangerous.

I ran today, narrow pavement and several pedestrians walking on it. I ran in the road to give them space and not cover them in my dripping sweat!

Don't worry, was he wearing lycra?

Like cyclists it makes them indestructible.

As a sometime runner with dodgy ankles, I find alot of paths and the edges of roads are often at a camber which isnt great. To me, from what you say, both of ye seem to be at fault of being and entitled here

YABU - the runner had equal right to be in the road and you were massively U to beep someone who had plainly seen you. Slow down and move out slightly if you have an issue, it's quite simple.

Thanks all. I’ve just done what I probably should have done in first place and checked Highway Code. It quite clearly states where they are available, pavements must be used by pedestrians (I assume that include runners, Lycra clad or otherwise )

I don't think you were being unreasonable at all. There was a pavement he could have used safely. He is putting himself and others in danger by running on bendy roads and just expecting cars to swerve around him. Just because technically you can do something it doesn't mean you should. A bit of consideration from and for everybody goes a long way.

He is entitled to run on the road if he wishes. You could have carefully gone around or stopped until he ran past you? Where I live, there are many narrow country lanes, it's not at all uncommon to see runners/walkers/cyclists/horseriders when driving around. Cars have to either go around them or wait until they can safely pull in somewhere.

I run and I do use the pavement if one is available because I don't feel confident running in roads, largely because cars often pass very close. Sometimes though, if there are pedestrians walking, people with prams etc. I have to go in the road. Thankfully, the vast majority of my route is desolate so I can run on the narrow, footpathless lanes without seeing another soul

YANBU. No people do not have 'just as much right' to be running along the road. That's what the pavements are for.

pavements are annoying to run on with the dropped kerbs leaving one leg higher than the other.
the roads often have a much nicer, even surface.

YABU for beeping your horn at a pedestrian
YABU for beeping your horn at 6am
YABU for not just bloody going round him ffs - I doubt there was much traffic at 6am,eh?

Trouble is it will always be the motorist fault if a runner gets run over. There’s a certain kind of entitled person who thinks this means they can do daily run however they like.
They are dicks. Country lanes are dangerous full stop and they are not recreational facilities.

They should be on the pavement if there is one. Last time I went running it was to stay healthy, not to potentially get hit by a car.
but I don't understand cyclists on the road either so I'm not the best to answer.

This actually annoys me too. I could understand it if the pavement was busy with runners, but this wasn’t the case when it annoyed me. There was actually a grass verge and then the pavement, but no she was running in the road and not hugging the kerb either. Runners should be off the road!

I prefer to have a picnic in the road rather than in a field because there aren't as many insects. So people stop and beep at me. Why can't they just go round?

Why was he running in the road? They don’t have a right over drivers to be there. At a blind bend he should have been on the path. And you were right to sound your horn. What an arse running in the road ‘just because’. People like him give all runners a bad reputation.

@FudgeBrownie2019 equally as simple for the runner to move over on to the pavement. A car should not have to swerve around the road for a bloody runner!

YANBU. If the pavement was empty the runner should be using it.

Cars can cause fatal damage and it would be the runner who would come off worse if he was hit by a car. It's easier to move yourself out of the way and just hop onto the pavement when a car approaches than it might be to move a car travelling at 30 mph or more into the path of any incoming traffic. You shouldn't be expected, in a car, to just instinctively swerve all over the road all the time because it isn't safe. That's why driving instructors tell you not to swerve for animals in the road (I am not at all suggesting the runner is the same as a pigeon or that anyone should just drive at them) because it is just not always safe to do that.

@VivienScott

Thanks all. I’ve just done what I probably should have done in first place and checked Highway Code. It quite clearly states where they are available, pavements must be used by pedestrians (I assume that include runners, Lycra clad or otherwise )

No, no it doesn't. It states that pavements should be used. The Highway Code explains quite clearly in the introduction that rules are identified by the words 'must/must not'. Where the Highway Code says 'should' it is advisory. So, yes, ideally he should have been using the pavement - but maybe he's had walkers complain to him about runners (it seems to have been a frequent complaint on local FB pages in Covid) and he's trying to be considerate of another pedestrian who appears round the corner of this 'bendy country road'.

YABU, how much would it have impacted your journey to slow momentarily and pass him when safe to do so?

This drives me fucking mental. They do it where I live too - totally empty pavement and they run down the narrow fucking road. I am often tempted to run them over then there would be one less the next day. YADNBU.