Howth Road to Raheny - Ninja Runners in Cycle Lane

chakattack

I'm sure there's some half-baked and semi-valid reason for running in the cycle lane at night (I see who I'm guessing are Raheny running club do it all the time....) but I nearly creamed myself and some guy who was running against me in the cycle lane with no lights/reflective gear last night.

I was doing about 45kph and only saw him at the last second. Luckily I was on the road to the right of the cycle lane for a short section with rough surface, I only saw him as I was passing and don't think I would have avoided him otherwise.

Just get some lights and at least run in the direction of cyclists to give us both some chance.

ecoli

chakattack wrote: »

I'm sure there's some half-baked and semi-valid reason for running in the cycle lane at night (I see who I'm guessing are Raheny running club do it all the time....) but I nearly creamed myself and some guy who was running against me in the cycle lane with no lights/reflective gear last night.

I was doing about 45kph and only saw him at the last second. Luckily I was on the road to the right of the cycle lane for a short section with rough surface, I only saw him as I was passing and don't think I would have avoided him otherwise.

Just get some lights and at least run in the direction of cyclists to give us both some chance.

Surely running against the direction is right? I mean that way the runner and the cyclist can see each other on coming. Also how do you manage to cream yourself if you didnt even have to move because you only saw him in "passing".

A Driver could say the exact same thing to you for being on the road when there is a cycle lane available?

Ideally yes the athletes should have been wearing reflective gear. And there is more than "half baked" reasons for substituting concrete footpaths compared to the tarmac of cycle lanes which is probably why the athlete was running on it at night which is usually low cycle traffic time.

chakattack

ecoli wrote: »

Surely running against the direction is right? I mean that way the runner and the cyclist can see each other on coming. Also how do you manage to cream yourself if you didnt even have to move because you only saw him in "passing".

A Driver could say the exact same thing to you for being on the road when there is a cycle lane available?

I take your point about which side to run on - you're right - but the cycle lane is not the place for running and certainly not contraflow with no lights in the dark.

I didn't cream myself but if I was further along and back in the lane we both would have been on the ground. Let's call it a "near miss"......

I cycle on the road or in the lane depending on what's safe. The key difference is I'm lit up like a christmas tree and I don't inconvenience drivers where possible.

chakattack

ecoli wrote: »

Ideally yes the athletes should have been wearing reflective gear. And there is more than "half baked" reasons for substituting concrete footpaths compared to the tarmac of cycle lanes which is probably why the athlete was running on it at night which is usually low cycle traffic time.

Low but not zero

RacoonQueen

Runners shouldn't be in cycle lanes at any time. Cycling on roads here is tough enough without people running in them.

We'd be bitching if there were bikes on the paths...

kennyb3

Same issue myself tonight, guy running toward me in the cycling lane on the road at clontarf. I didnt budge but what annoyed me and what i thought was dangerous rather than jump onto the path he decided to go around me on the outside (strange).

As both a runner and a cyclist i find it annoying as if i move anyway across onto the walking area (even just for a quick over take) on somewhere like the cycling track at clontarf im usually told off.

But you cant legislate for the odd idiot and its a rare occurance. Same way there are idiot cyclists, idiot drivers and so on

gerard65

Maybe he felt safer in the bike lane due to the amount of cyclists on the footpath:D
Seriously, sounds like a stupid thing to do if theres a footpath available.

ecoli

gerard65 wrote: »

Maybe he felt safer in the bike lane due to the amount of cyclists on the footpath:D
Seriously, sounds like a stupid thing to do if theres a footpath available.

Like cycling on road when there is a cycle lane available?

I can understand the point the OP is making but the hypocrisy of it

Luckily I was on the road to the right of the cycle lane for a short section with rough surface

For all we know the runner was trying to save their ankles from damage because there was badly uneven surfaces on the footpath etc.

sideswipe

We'd be bitching if there were bikes on the paths...

There are.... Loads of them all the time, I was running on the outside of a foot path this evening as there were thorn bushes coming over the wall on the inside when some clown started cycling very close to my heels and ringing a bell at me:mad: I wouldn't mind but there was a bike lane on the bloody road. Some people are just gob****es!!!

And I include runners dressed all in black running on a bike lane at night in that
*Rant over*

RacoonQueen

ecoli wrote: »

Like cycling on road when there is a cycle lane available?

Road is for all vehicles and cars often drive/park in cycle lanes.

Cycle lanes can be a very dangerous place for bikes. Better to have a cyclist outside the cycle lane than have them bumping up and down on potholes/gravel and risk them ending up under your car or risk them swerving suddenly...

RayCun

Runners vs triathletes fight!

tunney

RayCun wrote: »

Runners vs triathletes fight!

Never understood this argument. Especially on boards. The triathletes on art typically run more miles and race faster than the "runners".

RayCun

tunney wrote: »

Never understood this argument. Especially on boards. The triathletes on art typically run more miles and race faster than the "runners".

Yeah, more modest too.

ecoli

tunney wrote: »

Never understood this argument. Especially on boards. The triathletes on art typically run more miles and race faster than the "runners".

Challenge accepted . Teams of 8. Race until our lungs give out and you taste blood:p:p:p

Runners:
TFBubendorfer
ecoli
bazman
menoscemo
Tunguska
TheRoadRunner
theboyblunder
Krusty_Clown

VS

Triathletes
shotgunmcos
cunavalos
Jackyback
Tunney
Mucky13
Mloc123
Interested
Bambaata

RacoonQueen

ecoli wrote: »

Challenge accepted . Teams of 8. Race until our lungs give out and you taste blood:p:p:p

Runners:
TFBubendorfer
ecoli
bazman
menoscemo
Tunguska
TheRoadRunner
theboyblunder
Krusty_Clown

VS

Triathletes
shotgunmcos
cunavalos
Jackyback
Tunney
Mucky13
Mloc123
Interested
Bambaata

If one runner has to run twice you'd wanna pick someone faster than menopause. :pac:

menoscemo

Yeah!! I'm so good I'm on the runner's team twice :cool:

ecoli

menoscemo wrote: »

Yeah!! I'm so good I'm on the runner's team twice :cool:

Ill stick to the running as my list making skills are obviously lacking:o

chakattack

ecoli wrote: »

Like cycling on road when there is a cycle lane available?

I can understand the point the OP is making but the hypocrisy of it



For all we know the runner was trying to save their ankles from damage because there was badly uneven surfaces on the footpath etc.

Save his ankles and break my collar bone

There's no hypocrisy...and your analogy doesn't make sense....I don't go out on my bike with no lights at night and play chicken with cars.

Road bikes are designed for the road. Ask any cyclist, some cycle lanes are safe to use and others are not.

I don't advocate cycling on footpaths in any way. I don't break lights.....I just want to ride my bike :cool:

ecoli

chakattack wrote: »

Save his ankles and break my collar bone

There's no hypocrisy...and your analogy doesn't make sense....I don't go out on my bike with no lights at night and play chicken with cars.

Road bikes are designed for the road. Ask any cyclist, some cycle lanes are safe to use and others are not.

I don't advocate cycling on footpaths in any way. I don't break lights.....I just want to ride my bike :cool:

So you wanted him to run on the path instead of the cycle lane even though you wouldnt use cycle lane yourself. Effectively the guy didnt impede you in any shape or form.

Regarding safety aspect like you avoiding the cycle lane similarly a runner will naturally try to avoid concrete because it is a harder surface and as a result can increase the risk of impact injuries according to some.

It reeks of hipocrisy that someone is having a rant about following general rules of road (such as no runners on cycle lanes and reflective gear) when they are in direct violation of the rules themselves

A cycle track can also be a reserved part of a footpath or other area off the road. A cyclist must use a cycle track if it is provided.

http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/pedal-cyclist.html#5

TheRoadRunner

Heard an interview on the radio (lastword) a couple of months back with some guy who represented cyclists and he was totally against cycle lanes. Said all bikes should be on the road! thought that was odd.

I've been known to drift into cycle lanes but never on the busier ones. Would defo move if I seen a bike coming towards me or heard bike from behind.

Regards tunney comment, he's a gas man but may have a point. Maybe we need to take a representative sample from here!

chakattack

ecoli wrote: »

So you wanted him to run on the path instead of the cycle lane even though you wouldnt use cycle lane yourself. Effectively the guy didnt impede you in any shape or form.

Regarding safety aspect like you avoiding the cycle lane similarly a runner will naturally try to avoid concrete because it is a harder surface and as a result can increase the risk of impact injuries according to some.

It reeks of hipocrisy that someone is having a rant about following general rules of road (such as no runners on cycle lanes and reflective gear) when they are in direct violation of the rules themselves



http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/pedal-cyclist.html#5

The law is an ass and I couldn't care less about the legal right or wrong in this case. I do care about not having skidmarks on my face.

Your argument is daft! Put it this way, had I not been on the road at the time we'd both have some nasty injuries.

I'm just appealing to runners to make themselves visible especially if you're running against traffic. I don't care where you run so long as I can see you.

I don't want a cyclelane debate and you're just going around in circles .....but for the record that particular law is supposed to be repealed as it's not practical and the flaws are well documented but the government have bigger fish to fry.

So runners/triathletes BE SAFE BE SEEN

chakattack

kennyb3 wrote: »

Same issue myself tonight, guy running toward me in the cycling lane on the road at clontarf. I didnt budge but what annoyed me and what i thought was dangerous rather than jump onto the path he decided to go around me on the outside (strange).

As both a runner and a cyclist i find it annoying as if i move anyway across onto the walking area (even just for a quick over take) on somewhere like the cycling track at clontarf im usually told off.

But you cant legislate for the odd idiot and its a rare occurance. Same way there are idiot cyclists, idiot drivers and so on

At least you can expect that on the Clontarf track and take the speed down in case a dog is unleashed.

Zuppy

Or we could all gang up on the motorist..... :-)

The Cycle lobbyist on the last word was objecting to €800,000 being spent on a cycle lane on one of the N?? Roads which had a very large hard shoulder. He reckoned the money could benefit cyclists better than making jobs for builders.

As a lapsed cyclist, I remember that the rules of the road also allow me to take up my position on the road and motorised vehicles needed to give me due care. ie I can cycle in the middle of my lane not on the side being smacked by wing mirrors. Not that you would survive for very long.

My take on the OP is that a high vis jacket or singlet would have prevented this all being a rant. :-) Let's campaign for a change to the rules of the road.

"All runners, upon leaving the footpath, after dark, shall sing loudly, in or out of tune, so as to warn other road users of the impending collision"

@ Ecoli - you better hope Tunney doesn't pick Hunnymonster for the triathletes team. LOL

TFBubendorfer

chakattack wrote: »

Road bikes are designed for the road. Ask any cyclist, some cycle lanes are safe to use and others are not.

And footpaths are designed for walkers. Ask any runner, some footpaths are safe to run on and others are not.

So there.

tunney

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Heard an interview on the radio (lastword) a couple of months back with some guy who represented cyclists and he was totally against cycle lanes. Said all bikes should be on the road! thought that was odd.

I've been known to drift into cycle lanes but never on the busier ones. Would defo move if I seen a bike coming towards me or heard bike from behind.

I would be completely against cycle lanes as well. Education of road users and stiffer penalties to endangering others. When cycling, running or driving I go by the approach of "the more vulnerable road user has right of way, and be nice to them".

I do think non-cyclists lack an awareness of their surroundings that I think is beneficial in all walks of life - while driving, running, or just walking down grafton street. I have gotten into the habit of always looking around and trying not to step out in front of anyone ever.

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Regards tunney comment, he's a gas man but may have a point. Maybe we need to take a representative sample from here!

The main thrust of my point was triathletes are runners roo...

Zuppy wrote: »

Or we could all gang up on the motorist..... :-)
@ Ecoli - you better hope Tunney doesn't pick Hunnymonster for the triathletes team. LOL

Can I pick the wee one?

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

And footpaths are designed for walkers. Ask any runner, some footpaths are safe to run on and others are not.

So there.

Shared cyclepaths/footpaths are an accident waiting to happen. I point blank refuse to use them and will argue my point with guards if stopped. I refuse to endanger children who cannot be expected to be aware of their surroundings as much as adults and could step out and be hit at 40-50kph.

the problem is not the concept of cyclepaths but the irish implementation.