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?

People do need to be responsible for themselves.

I think some people get too caught up in enforcing their entitlement. But I normally go with 'if it will kill me, I get out of it's way' e.g. in a car at a roundabout Yes I can use in the inside lane with an artic lorry on the outside. But do I want to be squished because the lorry driver took his corner too tight..... no so I stay back

Yes this is what I was going to say: the issue which needs to be addressed is the inconsiderate and dangerous driving.

So long as the pedestrians are observing the rules about facing the oncoming traffic, wearing easily visible clothing they have every right to use the roads with no pavement.

One of the things that has absolutely infuriated me over the past few years are the number of reported instances where pedestrians have been walking along the pavement and cars have mounted the pavement for one reason or another and the pedestrians have been killed or injured. I think there was an incident very recently either in Northern Ireland or Ireland where small school children were run over by a car mounting the pavement where they were sitting. So actually pedestrians can't even regard being on a pavement as safe.

The whol issue of bad driving and drivers attitudes to pedestrians and other road users needs to be addressed.

I saw a lovely lot of entitlement the other day while out walking. It was almost a terminal case.

No pavement, but I do go in as far as possible when there are cars. To the point that in order to be impeded by me, they'd be scraping their paint at the very least.

However, that's not enough for some people.

Car comes flying round the corner, downhill.

Car goes flying round the corner, UPhill.

Car going uphill had swung out wide.

Now, me being on foot, I can hear both of them, so I stand well clear. Them NOT being able to hear, it is incredibly fortunate (for them) that they manage to brake (tyres smoking), and edge out to their respective sides of the road, and not collide.

Cue them both winding down their windows, swearing and cussing at each other for being the dangerous arsehole.

I walked through them at this point and told them they were both fucking idiots.

This country is not built for cars, nor cyclists, nor pedestrians. So we all have to suck it up and make the most of it, doing our best not to kill ourselves or each other.

Agree @Saltpepperetal just yesterday whilst out cycling with DS, my husband was repeatedly beeped at as we were approaching a junction, he’d moved out beside DS to wait in the bike box. There’s a painted on cycle lane and he pulled out slowly (I was behind him) and a car speed up behind him, beeped a few times and then stopped at the lights which were red the whole time on approach. Unnecessarily aggressive. When I pulled up to the bike box, she was just sitting there vaping. Only one hand on the steering wheel. My DH did nothing wrong. We are allowed position ourselves in the bike box. He moved to ensure DS could be seen as cars do try to jump those lights. And we moved over to single file again on clearing the junction. But yeah, we delayed her one second to pull up at a red traffic light. Reckon she was going to run the light and was annoyed she couldn’t.

I wasn’t talking about Ireland - OP’s post also mentioned the UK 🙄

Exactly, it's a speed limit not a speed target, most of the time you probably need to go a lot slower along those roads.

I agree with you OP. It’s very dangerous.

You said it better than me.

No matter how carefully you drive, you can’t see round blind bends and you can’t make out a pedestrian or cyclist all in black. You also can’t hear people walking or cycling whereas a pedestrian or cyclist can hear a car.

That doesn’t mean people shouldn’t walk or cycle on country roads but it does mean that they need to be aware of how vulnerable they are, even if everyone’s driving is impeccable.

I have horses and occasionally ride on roads to get to a safe bridleway.

I've never encountered a bad driver, and I've had horses for over 30 years. I'm courteous, responsible and I can genuinely say that everybody has been as considerate back. Is it because I do take responsibility? Is it because I'm as bright as Blackpool Tower? Use my manners? Pull in at the earliest opportunity? Let drivers know what I'm intending to do?

I could argue that horses have been on roads for centuries and everyone should be responsible for me! I won't though because I'm not an entitled arsehole and would rather use common sense.

Treat others how you wish to be treated!

I don’t think it’s a problem while the road is straight. Lots of them aren’t and you go around a bend to find 2 or 3 people walking abreast with a dog or baby in tow or, as OP said, a car overtaking them on your side. You don’t have to be going too fast to find that scary.
I’m in Ireland too. It’s not safe what people do, it really isn’t. You sound very sensible and aware of the dangers but some really aren’t as careful as that. It is concerning.

There are country roads I walk on regularly that have no pavement - and I'll step in if someone comes along - but I know those roads, they are quiet, have little traffic and what there is generally going quite slowly. When I drive them I keep an eye out for pedestrians and cyclists and horses. The pedestrians with dark clothing and headphones in particularly annoy me as do the cyclists in dark clothing with no lights. When I walk in the winter I wear a reflective coat or a light coloured coat.

There are other roads near me - more like the one the OP pictured - where I wouldn't walk unless I had no option at all. It is dangerous, they are designed for pedestrians.

Many country roads form part of well known trails. If there is no footpath and the farmers field is a private one there is no choice. You're clearly not a walker or hiker, it's very commonplace in country areas for walkers to be on the road, just slow down as you pass.
Better to walk than drive.

We're all using the roads. Make everyones life easier and safer.

Don't wait until the car is on you around a bend before stepping in, do it when you hear the car and wait for the car to pass.
Like car drivers have to do when waiting to pass cyclists, horses etc.

We can expect a person to be walking around the blind bend, we can slow down to a crawl but until we visibly see that person, we can't react.
It's scary to be going round a blind bend to suddenly come across husband and wife walking hand in hand with their 3 dogs taking up half of the road with no intention of even moving to single file and getting their dogs closer to them. They heard my car 5/10 seconds ago. At least give the car driver a bloody chance.

Infuriating.

Narrow country lanes that are NSL are the absolute worst. I hate driving them. Round my way, you generally have arseholes in Range Rovers or white vans driving up your backside because you're not doing 60, or virtually running you off the road because they're being entitled pricks.

Can't imagine walking on a road like that, must be terrifying. Would be better if those roads were 30, and drivers weren't arseholes.

How do you get to the public footpath? Teleport?

The straight road is a simplified example to make the point. Responsible drivers drive as if there is a pedestrian, with a buggy, around every single bend. It's not that hard. I do it and you can too and then you'll find driving less "scary". If you meet a car overtaking a pedestrian in a bend, your issue is with that driver, not the pedestrian.
Can't be bothered looking up which poster considered it "entitlement" for pedestrians to walk on the road. Pedestrians have priority over vehicles on the road, they are actually more entitled to be there than cars. Really stupid comment.

Where I live there is an excellent, well-connected network of footpaths that means you very rarely need to walk on the roads unless you’re crossing over.

I appreciate it’s not the same everywhere but my post was mainly referring to the people who choose to walk in the middle of an NSL road when they do have other options. I should have explained what I meant properly.

Isn't it about time people campaigned for pavements? I remember having to walk three miles along a road like that in the dark and it was terrifying

The picture where I have blacked out the road name is particularly bad for that sort of thing. IMO there is only 1 safe place to over take between two towns -about 10km apart. That doesn't stop cars from driving inches from my bumper then flooring is past me when they get a slight opportunity. In general no roads in Ireland outside towns have street lighting. When it is lashing rain and dark I go to the speed I feel is safe which might be 20km under the limit. That annoys some people more I do pull in if I can to let them by

Daily I see cars so tight behind lorries/ tractors nosing in and out to see if they can over take. If they stayed back a bit more they would see. I have had near missed coming against traffic and I am always looking out for idiots doing it. I have also had to slow down to let cars back in when they have attempted to overtake several cars only to then need to move back in quickly because something is on the other side.

A problem around here is a lot of the straight parts of the road a bumpy and you think you can see the whole way but there is a car hidden in the dip.

But the OP specifically wrote about the situation in the particular place where she lives, where there are no footpaths. So how is your 'contribution' to this thread helpful for her, or anyone else who lives in a similar place?

This is a discussion forum, where conversations flow and move on from the original post 🙄

Most of the roads aren’t wide enough for them, that’s the issue. You can barely fit two cars in some spots, let alone two cars plus pavements.

Nobody said anyone was more entitled to use the road more than others. Most drivers will be careful and anticipate a hazard around bends. Still doesn't mean that a pedestrian can't make a step sideways to stop themselves being a hazard. I live remote and always have done. I use country lanes every single day of my life. Does it still make me wince everytime I come (slowly, I might add) to a blind bend to find a family of 6 with tiny kids on bikes, unlit and barely visible? Yes it does, because I'd never ever want to hurt myself or anyone else. The right to use it doesn't mean you shouldn't have to be responsible.

Every vehicle on a motorway has a right to be there. Does that mean when we break down, we sit in a live lane instead of trying to get into the side? Because it's our right to use it? No. We would be a hazard so, to make it easier for others to navigate and to ensure everyones safety, we try to get over to the hard shoulder.

Entitlement comes to letting two cars potentially crash on a narrow road instead of stepping on the grass verge because as a pedestrian, you're more entitled.

I quite often run or ride my horse on the 50mph road by our house, we wear hi-viz and can move onto the verge if needed.

You can’t do that with a pushchair.