Share The Road
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
I am writing in response to Jeff Harding's "Right of Way" letter that was in your paper this past Thursday.
To Mr. Harding: I suspect that the folks that you spoke about in your letter weren't cursing you because they wanted to confront you, but rather because they just wanted you to slow down and move over as far as possible. I know because I, as well as my fellow training partners, have been in similar situations almost every time we go out for a run or bike ride, though it is we who are usually the ones being cursed. I commend you for your apology and realization that you could have slowed down and I suspect the next time you are faced with similar circumstances, you will react appropriately.
All we are asking is that motorists take the few seconds it takes to slow down and, when possible, move over and give us some space; in essence, share the road.
I know as runners and cyclists, we will appreciate the effort.
The problem, as I see it, lies with drivers who try to intentionally run us down. It is very scary to be running down the edge of the road and to see a vehicle bearing down on you at excessive speeds with no intentions of slowing down or attempting to move over. You must understand that the reason we run on the roads is because we have no where else to go for the distances we need to train for. And the reason we stay on the roads as vehicles approach is because we have discovered over the years that the more room we give, the closer they get and the faster they go. Plus you have to consider that country roads don't have a lot of even ground along the edge for us to retreat to.
With winter coming on and the addition of snow and icy roads to the mix, it makes for an even more hazardous situation.
I personally take the approach that if I see a vehicle making an attempt to slow down and/or move to the opposite lane or over as far as possible (by the way, the majority do), I will wave my hand in acknowledgement of thanks.
If a vehicle is coming from behind me and the vehicle approaching me makes the extra effort to slow way down or even stop, I will step off the road, wave my thanks and let them go on by. Again, we are just asking everyone to slow down when they see a runner or cyclist and give us as much space as possible and realize the we all should try to share the roads.
Don Ransome
Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
I am writing in response to Jeff Harding's "Right of Way" letter that was in your paper this past Thursday.
To Mr. Harding: I suspect that the folks that you spoke about in your letter weren't cursing you because they wanted to confront you, but rather because they just wanted you to slow down and move over as far as possible. I know because I, as well as my fellow training partners, have been in similar situations almost every time we go out for a run or bike ride, though it is we who are usually the ones being cursed. I commend you for your apology and realization that you could have slowed down and I suspect the next time you are faced with similar circumstances, you will react appropriately.
All we are asking is that motorists take the few seconds it takes to slow down and, when possible, move over and give us some space; in essence, share the road.
I know as runners and cyclists, we will appreciate the effort.
The problem, as I see it, lies with drivers who try to intentionally run us down. It is very scary to be running down the edge of the road and to see a vehicle bearing down on you at excessive speeds with no intentions of slowing down or attempting to move over. You must understand that the reason we run on the roads is because we have no where else to go for the distances we need to train for. And the reason we stay on the roads as vehicles approach is because we have discovered over the years that the more room we give, the closer they get and the faster they go. Plus you have to consider that country roads don't have a lot of even ground along the edge for us to retreat to.
With winter coming on and the addition of snow and icy roads to the mix, it makes for an even more hazardous situation.
I personally take the approach that if I see a vehicle making an attempt to slow down and/or move to the opposite lane or over as far as possible (by the way, the majority do), I will wave my hand in acknowledgement of thanks.
If a vehicle is coming from behind me and the vehicle approaching me makes the extra effort to slow way down or even stop, I will step off the road, wave my thanks and let them go on by. Again, we are just asking everyone to slow down when they see a runner or cyclist and give us as much space as possible and realize the we all should try to share the roads.
Don Ransome
Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
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