Just because you can legally walk the road does not mean you should.

[walkthisway0]

Firstly I am in Ireland, but google makes me think it is the same in the UK.

Around where I live there are plenty of very busy, narrow, country roads that are 80km (50mph). Filled with many cars, tractors, lorries etc.

Some people walk these roads or run on them. I know legally they are allowed to but I think it is pure madness. There is one person who is often out walking with a baby in a pram. I have had to stop and wait to pass as there is a stream of traffic coming the other way. But I have also nearly been hit by a lorry who coming around a bend met her and over took as he would never have stopped in time.

I don't go around corners at 80km but I proceed as 'expecting something to be there' but it's still a shock to find a lorry on your side!

There is also a person who regularly runs towards the traffic (as recommended) in roughly the middle of the lane and does not move closer to the side.

I pass other people who are aware of the traffic around themselves and adjust. When my car was broken I walked into town a few times and would step in when a car came.

AIBU to think that while yes you are legally allowed to do this, no it is not a good idea?

Maybe but where else are they supposed to run if there’s no pavement? The road was probably built before cars existed, for people. Car drivers don’t have a right to exclude pedestrians from a road originally built for pedestrians.

I doubt anyone's walking that route for fun with a baby, I would assume she has no car or funds for taxis and has to walk it to get somewhere?

yes those roads were built a long time before cars, or well the tracks that lead to those roads were.

I know it is not ideal not being able to leave your front door to talk a walk and not everyone has a car but it's just so dangerous.

I take my children to the local GAA pitch which is great for walking - and free.

I absolutely could be wrong but there are few that walk the road I am thinking of and other similar ones. It certainly looks like out for exercise/ leisure.

There is the local link bus around here, it only comes once a week though. And all the major shops deliver here too. My friend recently moved temporarily to one of the roads I am thinking of. She said not in a million years would she walk the road. She doesn't drive but get her DH to drop her into town or I collect her.

If there are no pavements, cars need to drive accordingly. Roads are for everyone

It sounds as if anyone out there who doesn’t drive or have a reliable lift source is pretty much fucked.

And you can say that people need to learn to drive if they live somewhere like that, but there will always be people who can’t afford it or can’t manage to learn for whatever reason.

You'll get lots of people telling you that roads are for everyone and that they have more right to be there than you do as people were around before cars.

But I'm totally with you - it's so dangerous, especially this time of year with the sun in your eyes and the evenings getting dark so early. I drive country lanes every day for work and am constantly coming across cyclists, people dressed in black and worse, people with small children or dogs on flexi leads (or even off lead).

There are plenty of footpaths around so it's not a necessity to walk on an NSL road without pavements or lighting.

I used to live in rural Ireland and I was shocked by how many pedestrians refused to use the pavements and just walked or jogged on the roads with their back to traffic and especially wearing dark colours at night. It was a wonder some people made it home of a night tbh. It’s definitely not on the same scale at all in the UK, OP. YANBU.

The sense of entitlement from car drivers is appalling. The updated Highway Code rules are mandatory https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022#:~:text=The%20changes%20follow%20a%20public,other%20traffic%20should%20give%20way

They were introduced to improve safety for vulnerable road users of all kinds. If you drive a large, powerful vehicle capable of injuring and killing, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to take care. Maybe you should go even more slowly around those corners and bends.
Ever been skiing? Those hurtling down the slopes are responsible for the safety of those below and so on. Pleading that you care about pedestrian safety is an attempt to get them out of your way so you can roar off. I'm sick of car drivers, they break the rules all the time and pretend otherwise.

It’s 60mph in England and sometimes it’s the only way to get anywhere, especially since rurally the public transport is often very poor or nonexistent.

Exactly and you are being SO AWFUL in trying to push pedestrians off the road.

No, you've misunderstood. OP is talking about roads where there ARE NO pavements. What the hell are pedestrians supposed to be then???

Footpaths?

My nearest pavement is 4 miles away. I drive (to get anywhere) but to walk my dog I walk on the road. I do get in the hedge when I hear a car, wear a high vis and am careful if visibility is poor (fog, dark, sun) but have as much right to be there as the cars.

Having to wait to pass takes a couple minutes out of your day.

We're supposed to be doing 60kmph on rural roads now, aren't we? I'm so confused by the new speed limits.

There's a sharp bend close to where I live in rural Ireland and I'll never forget one dark evening nearly running someone over on that bend. They were dressed in black with no reflective clothing and I just managed to swerve in time to avoid them. My heart was in my mouth.

It's just as bad in town with pedestrians crossing the roads away from pedestrian crossings🙄

You mean like public footpaths going through fields? They don't normally go the same route as the roads and are also not safe at night as won't be lit.

Nobody is saying car drivers shouldn't wait to pass and shouldn't drive sensibly, but that doesn't change the fact that being on NSL roads as a pedestrian is dangerous.

No, they don't go the exact route but around here (at least) you can still get from A to B using them, it will just take a bit longer.

I don't see how they're more dangerous than roads (which also aren't lit around here) - just take a headtorch, which you should be doing anyway if you're walking around as a pedestrian on unlit roads.

Then it's the problem of the roads and whoever is in charge of them, not the fault of pedestrians who have a right to move about!

So your public footpaths going through fields full of cows and the like are parallel to the roads and go to exactly the same places?

Where I live, the fastest way between two places is usually a road without pavements, and many pedestrians use them. I drive, but I don't think it's worth getting the car out for 4 miles or under. I do go over fields often - but there are times I know I'll end up covered in mud or when cows have calves and I'm not going to do that.

I do have reflective gear on, but alas it doesn't stop idiot drivers from driving way too fast for the conditions.

OP, you know these roads are used by pedestrians of all types. And cyclists. So adapt your driving to take that into account.

Well yes, of course

But that's the point of the OP - it may not be your fault that roads are dangerous and yes, you may be allowed to be there, but that doesn't change the fact that it's not a very sensible thing to do/place to be.

No, if you actually read my post before rushing in to argue like you usually do, you'd know that I'd said they're not exactly the same and may take longer

Also, these types of roads were designed for pedestrians and horses, so maybe the cars shouldn't use them and should stick to bigger roads. Yeah, it may take longer, but it's safer.

People near me run on the bike lane, when there’s a pavement, so bikes are swerving out into the road.