Joggers should be banned from paths and pavements

[BalancedIndividual]

As a car driver I find that the occasional cyclist breaks highway codes, cycles dangerously, or cycles without care and consideration. Key word being occasional, so no biggie. Just like how the occasional car diver is a .

But as a pedestrian going for a stroll in the park, the number of rude, selfish, careless and aggressive joggers i've seen is ridiculous high.

I see a jogger coming towards me, I walk to the side/edge of the path, but joggers always decide to keep running straight down the middle....

Similar to the above, joggers not keep a safe distance, and actually brushing past me.

And lastly, the worst offenders, joggers running side by side taking up the whole path, coming towards me, and giving me looks as if im supposed to jump out the way and off the path. ***

I honestly think legislation should be brought in to ban jogging on paths and pavements. Restricting joggers to grassland/cross country, outdoor tracks, private land, and the gym. The same way that cycling isnt permitted on pavements.

AIBU?

Why does someone walking have more right to the pavement than someone walking🤷🏼‍♀️

It also depends hugely where you are - in London in lockdown on the river path a jogger has to swerve every 5 seconds to avoid somebody, I don’t think it’s their responsibility any more than anyone else’s to move. In an empty country lane then I agree, the person moving faster should probably avoid the other. But in my opinion as long as they don’t touch you (and you both make an effort to keep 2m when safe and possible to do so) the responsibility sits with both parties.

@BalancedIndividual Hmmm maybe I’m a 2.5 as my tattoos aren’t tribal, I’m 185cm and I’m very fit (semi professional sportsman).

I shall continue terrifying all those slow pedestrians.

@redswinger

OP I think you need to just stay at home...outside is too much for you. Stay at home and no one will bother you.

Yeah let the joggers run in peace .

@LucieStar

So I'm walking down the street and realise I'm late for my appointment, does that mean I'm not allowed to run?

😂

I guess the test would be, is the person going for a recreational/exercise jog (opposed to unexpected event / in a rush). Can be judged by looking at what the person is wearing, questioned where they are going and why the need to jog there.

E.g 1. Guy in a shirt and trouser running for a bus = probably okay

E.g 2. Person in running shorts, sports bra, water bottle in hand, sunglasses and wearing a sweatband, running laps on the path in a park = probably not okay.

What does an "in shape Stella drinker" look like?

Sweet Jesus

Imagine if Britain did become known as the country which was so anti-human rights that it actually banned people from moving at their own chosen speed using their own bodies in public places.

We would obviously have to leave the ECHR, as it would be incompatible. So it might also lead to the erosion of other protected freedoms.

Britain would also become a pariah state, where a few people had made a virtue out of moving slowly. Lack of fitness would be encouraged. MH problems would soar, as many use the running as their escape, and driving miles to a permitted place simply isn't possible for many.

Why is it any different to anyone walking past you on the pavement? Or do you want to ban all other walkers too whilst you're out on your walk?

What about if you are heading for a personal training appointment in your running gear?

You need to run for some reason, what about then?

I walk the dog ( and sometimes run with the dog ) in Hyde Park and other green areas and pavements - an inconsiderate runner is rare in my experience

Oh dear. Another thread to complain about joggers while ignoring that everyone has to share the paths and that no one group should be singled out for being inconsiderate when every group has their inconsiderate people.

Shall we also ban walkers who walk in the middle of the path and don't leave enough space for anyone (walkers, runners, cyclists) to pass with any distance (yet, complain that people pass them too closely)? Shall we also ban groups because many of those do not allow enough space for anyone (walkers, runners, cyclists) to pass with any distance? Shall we ban family groups with small children who insist on letting their children walk and so create blocks on the path?

The list goes on and I have barely even started listing the types of pedestrians that are inconsiderate. So, yes, you are being very unreasonable. I had one dog owner who had 7 dogs blocking the path, 'who do you think you are, the queen?'.

Incidentally, she then looked down at her dogs and quickly apologised when she realised they really did block the entire path for a good few metres.

I guess the test would be, is the person going for a recreational/exercise jog (opposed to unexpected event / in a rush). Can be judged by looking at what the person is wearing, questioned where they are going and why the need to jog there.

Lord above. I can't cope...

You never see so many posts about hating drivers that kill, or burglars or similar, but there are constant, aggressive, hatred filled posts about people exercising
I've concluded that there probably a correlation between venom to those who exercise and low levels of physical activity.

I especially love the cyclist threads where bikes shouldn't be on the road because they are so slow and big important mumsnetters have big important appointments (that are so important they apparently leave no time in their schedule in case there's traffic, an accident, a diversion, slow moving vehicle), but equally they shouldn't be on cycle paths or shared use paths because they're obviously far too speedy and think they're in the Tour de France.

After that there's the obligatory nastiness to anyone who wears appropriate clothing for cycling and there needs to be a dozen posters cackling about how awful and flabby anyone in lycra is, how unforgiving it is, how stupid men look, but I bet they wouldn't say the same about your average reasonably overweight woman wearing too tight leggings and clingy tops walking round town on a Saturday.

It seems the scathing attacks are saved for people who want to keep fit and healthy.

@BlackberrySky Alas not, she did have a very determined look on her face though so I wouldn’t have put it past her should someone cross her path

I have extensive experience as both a walker and a runner on London paths and pavements and a good 90% of the time the ones not abiding by pavement etiquette are walkers.

With the paths as rammed as they are now, as a runner I am in a near-constant state of having to swerve and zigzag dozy walkers ambling down the middle of narrow paths with zero awareness of what's behind or in front of them.

Other runners are not a problem and almost always making a visible effort to give others room. But some walkers seem to think the answer is that runners stop and make way for them, which defeats the entire bloody point of running. Not to mention that when you're running, physical momentum means you CAN'T stop or swerve as easily as a walker can.

When I'm a walker I find it pretty easy to be mindful of other people, to pick a side and stick to it rather than hogging the path, to always ensure people can get past me, to walk in single file with DP if the path is narrow and people are coming in the opposite direction. Sadly none of those behaviours are especially common.

[quote SimonJT]@BalancedIndividual Hmmm maybe I’m a 2.5 as my tattoos aren’t tribal, I’m 185cm and I’m very fit (semi professional sportsman).

I shall continue terrifying all those slow pedestrians.[/quote]
Haha, indeed. Xd

Just in case its not clear, that particular post and description was intended in jest.

(My prior posts were mostly genuinely meant though)

posters cackling about how awful and flabby anyone in lycra is, how unforgiving it is

I personally think I look better in Lycra than normal clothes

I guess the test would be, is the person going for a recreational/exercise jog (opposed to unexpected event / in a rush). Can be judged by looking at what the person is wearing, questioned where they are going and why the need to jog there.

Interrogate them! Ask them to corroborate their evidence as to the purpose of their run! Take witness statements if in doubt!

I can imagine all those hated Olympic hopefuls sneaking out for runs in jeans, changing their fluent, athletic strides into suitably steady shuffling movements.

What is it about people not understanding that public spaces need to be shared with other members if the public? I'm a runner. I move when approaching people. I'm struck that those walking four abreast blocking the whole pavement feel no such need. I'm not suggesting we ban them from using the pavements though...

Op I think the real issue you are jealous of said runners . It’s never too late to start , off you go hopefully no pedestrians about and no giving funny looks .

@LucieStar

What does an "in shape Stella drinker" look like?

Similar to this

@BalancedIndividual

As a car driver I find that the occasional cyclist breaks highway codes, cycles dangerously, or cycles without care and consideration. Key word being occasional, so no biggie. Just like how the occasional car diver is a **.

But as a pedestrian going for a stroll in the park, the number of rude, selfish, careless and aggressive joggers i've seen is ridiculous high.

I see a jogger coming towards me, I walk to the side/edge of the path, but joggers always decide to keep running straight down the middle....

Similar to the above, joggers not keep a safe distance, and actually brushing past me.

And lastly, the worst offenders, joggers running side by side taking up the whole path, coming towards me, and giving me looks as if im supposed to jump out the way and off the path. ***

I honestly think legislation should be brought in to ban jogging on paths and pavements. Restricting joggers to grassland/cross country, outdoor tracks, private land, and the gym. The same way that cycling isnt permitted on pavements.

AIBU?

Do you honestly hand on heart think this is a reasonable point of view ?. I'm genuinely curious as to whether entitled asshats know that they are being entitled and just don't care or whether they genuinely believe the complete rubbish that they spout ?

Ten to one you are the person ambling along with no self awareness of anyone around you.

By all means ban joggers , what else do you not do so you don't {insert faux head tilt wide eyes bit here } underrrrrstttaaannnddd ? And therefore require it to be banned so that every human being must live to your exact lifestyle ? Eating chips ? Oooh I know having a toilet brush? Absolutely the buggers should be made illegal this instant.

Just to clarify I don't care whether you have a toilet brush or not but thats exactly the level of ridiculousness that you think should be put into law.

I am really beginning to despair of the lack of any level of reasonable self awareness in some people these days.

@BalancedIndividual

Yikes... in that case I wish there were more of them around where I run

I guess the test would be, is the person going for a recreational/exercise jog (opposed to unexpected event / in a rush). Can be judged by looking at what the person is wearing, questioned where they are going and why the need to jog there. E.g 1. Guy in a shirt and trouser running for a bus = probably okay E.g 2. Person in running shorts, sports bra, water bottle in hand, sunglasses and wearing a sweatband, running laps on the path in a park = probably not okay.

Except, of course, that the only relevant thing is whether they are using the space considerately. The purpose of their running is irrelevant.

Banning people running for particular purposes or based on what clothes they are wearing is even more of an idiotic idea thqn banning runners from pavement at all.