Running Centers Blog : Runners and Freeways

Monday, October 12, 2009

Runners and Freeways

Note to Self: When it comes to freeway entrances or exits, never assume that just because you're legally crossing in a crosswalk with a green hand signal beeping for you to cross that you are safe to do so. Even if you've made eye contact with the driver of the oncoming vehicle, don't automatically assume that you're safe to cross. You should still use the utmost caution. It also wouldn't hurt to avoid freeway entrances and exits when possible.

Extra Note to Self: Be careful while driving!! People do the darndest things...like try to cross freeway entrances and exits.

As a runner, I feel pretty fortunate to have had only two near-miss collisions with cars, and zero actual collisions. Both near-misses were while trying to cross a freeway exit, which is by nature dangerous because drivers are already accustomed to going at high rates of speed and they come off the freeway flying, not expecting to see a person running across their path. In fact, I can bet some of these people are thinking, "What an idiot! Hundreds of miles of sidewalk in this city, and this gal chooses to run across a freeway?" I have seen drivers taken aback to see me, like, "Where did she come from?" Well, yes, sometimes this runner has to cross a freeway entry/exit to get to the other side. And it's not just me. Most of the kids from the local high school also have to cross at this exact freeway entrance/exit location. I don't know how they have managed so far without incident. Kids are unpredictable and drivers must contend with skateboards, bikes, walkers, runners, headphone wearers, stragglers, etc. It's a miracle that no one has gotten hurt. I hope we continue with that record, too. (As for me, I avoid this entire area at school start and dismissal time!)

For now, I will continue to wait for the light to turn green, signal to beep, while watching carefully, and trying to make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see me, hoping all the while that they actually DO!

Posted By Natalie At 9:50 AM • Comments (3) Trackbacks (0)

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Be careful! When I ran with the Loma Linda Lopers they had us wear a tag with name & emergency contact attached to our shoes because unfortunately the worst does happen sometimes. There was a Loper runner who was hit by a car out on a very busy stretch of San Timoteo Canyon and nobody knew who she was (other than that she was wearing a Lopers shirt.)

Whether I'm walking, running, biking etc (or even driving) I assume everyone else on the road are blind idiots.

Comment By Juliet At 10/12/2009 5:13 PM

You just always have to be aware, no matter where you are. My dad was almost run over tonight in the parking lot of the a grocery store by a very old man trying to find a handicap parking spot!!! It was ONLY funny because he wasn't hit!

Comment By Trudi Shafer At 10/12/2009 7:46 PM

Thanks for your comments, Ladies! You are both soo right!

Comment By Natalie At 10/19/2009 11:09 AM

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