Do you stop your garmin at traffic lights?

HardyEustace

Just wondering - when you're out running and have to stop to wait for traffic lights/cars to pass/pedestrian crossings, do you stop your garmin? or count it as a rest or not?

robinph

I arrange my routes such that I don't have to deal with traffic lights, run along the road and cross when there is a gap rather than wait at the end of the road for the cars to make way for me. There are rare occasions when I'd be briefly stopped, but I'd either change my route at that point if the traffic didn't suit me or just hop up and down impatiently on the spot looking annoyed at the car drivers until I could get across.

I'd not stop the timer, but the Garmin will calculate out stationary time at the end and show that in connect.garmin.com I think.

Burgman

Funny you should ask this because yesterday I spotted the Auto Pause option. (Menu - Training - Options - Auto Pause - When Stopped). I set it up because when running to and from work, I have regularly forgotten to restart after stopping the watch at traffic lights. I don't know yet whether it stops if you are moving a little bit or if it has to be completely stationary.
(And robinph's comment is possibly useful too - but I think it messes up the laps times if you have it set to give you time per mile etc.)

RayCun

+1 on AutoPause

Must remember to switch it off before the weekend, in case I have to stop and tie shoelaces or something.

tunguska

robinph wrote: »

I arrange my routes such that I don't have to deal with traffic lights, run along the road and cross when there is a gap rather than wait at the end of the road for the cars to make way for me. There are rare occasions when I'd be briefly stopped, but I'd either change my route at that point if the traffic didn't suit me or just hop up and down impatiently on the spot looking annoyed at the car drivers until I could get across.

I'd not stop the timer, but the Garmin will calculate out stationary time at the end and show that in connect.garmin.com I think.

+1. Youre better off arranging a route that avoids lights altogether. If you absolutley have to meet lights on your run, do what robin suggested and run alongside the cars until theres a break in traffic.

Krusty_Clown

I always stop the Garmin, and nearly always forget to turn it back on again. I would use the auto-pause option, but I always turn it off for races, and then forget to turn it back on again.. There's a theme emerging here (early-onset Alzheimers?).

I also run in the breaks in the traffic too. If I'm doing pmp miles (8+) I invariably end up crossing a national road somewhere (busy roundabouts usually). I find that most drivers are incredibly supportive when they see a runner at a good clip (even though technically they have the right of way) and will wave me past. I make sure to return the favour any time I'm driving.

robinph

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

even though technically they have the right of way

Do they? I always thought that pedestrians had right of way, anywhere, on any road...except motorways. The likes of zebra crossings are just to suggest that it's better for people on foot to cross at that point, but the person on foot actually has right of way.

At least that's the way I understood it.

tunguska

robinph wrote: »

Do they? I always thought that pedestrians had right of way, anywhere, on any road...except motorways. The likes of zebra crossings are just to suggest that it's better for people on foot to cross at that point, but the person on foot actually has right of way.

At least that's the way I understood it.

Is there a way to find out for sure if this is true? Be good to know for future reference

RayCun

I don't think so ...

Rules of the Road - 2007
Revision No. 1: February 2008

As a driver, you must not put a pedestrian at risk. In particular, you must give way to pedestrians:

• on or at a zebra crossing (even if they are only waiting to cross),
• on or at a pelican crossing, when the amber light is flashing,
• crossing the road, if you are moving off from a stationary position (for example at a traffic light or a parking space), and
• at a junction, if they have started crossing the road.

http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/respect.html#1

robinph

My thinking quite possibly comes from this line I guess:

...you must not put a pedestrian at risk.

On a motorway though all bets are off of course.

I'm now remembering that there is actually some daft "jay walking" laws in Ireland that are never actually used.

average_runner

Usually wait for a gap in the traffic, but if at lights i stop the watch.

Most times drivers let you cross the road, and always say thanks, jsut put the hand in the air.

Always return the favour to other runners too

RacoonQueen

Usually although I also often forget to start it up again then get pissed off because I could run half a mile before realising.

shels4ever

never stop it at lights, but there are no lights in the park where I run or roads actually.

TFBubendorfer

Do we even have traffic lights here in Kerry?

Krusty_Clown

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Do we even have traffic lights here in Kerry?

Do you stop your Garmin at cattle crossings?

Seres

come to leitrim and you'll only have one set of Traffic lights to contend with in the whole county , which were installed for pedestrians .

colblimp

+1 on Autopause - it rocks!

Dr.Sanchez

Autopause is good alright, but I usually try to avoid running through built up or residential areas thus avoiding traffic lights.

Dunno if its just me but once I start running I HATE to stop and let my heart rate drop before the workout is finished! Once is guy pulled up beside me in the car and tried to ask for directions but before he even finished I gasped out "Sorry cant stop!" while pointing at the watch. Probably seemed rude from his point of view though!

racheljev

Most of the time I pause the Garmin at lights. I'm bang in the middle of the suburbs so there's traffic lights all over and nowhere to run that I don't meet at least one light. Normally though, it's so early when I run I can leg it straight across the road.

plodder

If only, race clocks had an auto-pause feature ...