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Topic: right of way running, cycling in UK  (Read 2015 times)

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right of way running, cycling in UK
« on: October 18, 2007, 01:53:02 AM »
I'm not sure this is the right place to post this query, but it seemed like a good place to start.  My husband and I are quite active, and we go out running almost every day, and we are having a hard time figuring out what's expected when encountering people coming in the opposite direction or when passing a slower person going in the same direction.  Where we live in the US, people coming from opposite directions on walking, running, cycling paths pretty much move to the right to pass one another, just like cars on the roads.  But here, we can't tell what the custom is or what we are expected to do.  People on bikes coming up behind don't usually call out which way they wish to pass (where we live in US, the custom was for cyclists to call out:  "passing on the left" and then pass on the left.  Of course, many people didn't conform to the rule, but almost everyone seems to know what the rule is.)  and, once we are aware of a bike behind, we don't know which way to move to get out of the way.  So, in UK, when approaching people coming from the opposite direction, which way does one move to avoid confusion and possible collision?  When going in the same direction with someone moving more slowly, which side do you move to in order to get by?  And is there some standard greeting or warning to use when dealing with this extremely common situation?  We just want to do the right thing here and continue to enjoy exploring the wonderful paths.  So any advice would be appreciated. 


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Re: right of way running, cycling in UK
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2007, 06:37:49 AM »
I can only speak to running and this is based on my own experience.  When running on the road, we always ran against traffic, so right side of the road.  However, we ran an organized half-marathon last fall and the road wasn't closed during and there were portions we ran with traffic.  After the race I asked about it and was told it was a special circumstance due to turns on the course.

When we ran on trails or paths and approached slower runners or walkers going in the same direction, we passed on the right and I always called out passing right.  It's the person approaching, whether it's a runner or a biker, responsibility to yield to the person they are passing.  So if there is a biker behind you, they should give direction to you where they are passing...yes in a perfect world and it did rarely happen!  I seemed to have the most trouble in intersections or on narrow paths with cyclists.  Oh, and I was hit by a car last Christmas. Just a little tap.  I am still convinced if she had been sitting on the RIGHT side of the car, meaning the left ;), she would have seen me before she hit me!

I loved running in the UK - so many beautiful places to explore!


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Re: right of way running, cycling in UK
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2007, 07:39:55 AM »
I wish I knew the answer to this question, too.  I walk from my home into town centre (where I work) along a path that is meant for both pedestrians/runners. There is room for two people to walk next to each other, but only if they know each other well (you have to squeeze together that close). The runners usually run together in groups of at least two; sometimes they run in large packs.  Since they are going at a faster speed than someone who is walking at a normal or slightly brisk pace, and they often don't seem to have any intention of moving over to one side, I feel that they are charging me and generally step out of the way as much as possible to avoid being slammed into and injured.


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Re: right of way running, cycling in UK
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2007, 08:37:47 AM »
my bike was fitted with a little bell on it when I bought it, it was already there. I used to live on the Leeds/Liverpool canal. It seemed that the runners yielded more than the walkers and the cyclists use the bell to notify others of their presence and the walkers/runners would yield. I like the bell, it's a little more polite than yelling
Sometimes I feel like an alien in my own country


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