What Side of The Road Do You Walk or Run on?

2esc on 23/02/2022 - 10:09

Hi I travel a lot in regional Victoria and when I see people out exercising there are a lot who walk or run on the left hand side of the road (no path available).

I was taught to walk or run on the right hand side as you can see the traffic coming towards you and if a driver is distracted and veering towards you might have a chance of getting out of their way. I have seen people running on the left hand side stumble and step a step or 2 onto the road with their back to traffic.

Decades ago when people use to be booked for hitch hiking I was told they were booked on a old federal law that pedestrians couldn't travel on the left hand side. Does anyone know if there is any truth behind that or is it just a bit of bu#$&€_%.

Poll Options

  • 21
    Left hand side of road.
  • 30
    Right hand side of road.
  • 19
    No preference which side.
Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • kaleidoscope on 23/02/2022 - 10:13
    +5

    If there is a path available, either side or if there is no clear path available, opposite to motor traffic direction (i.e. right side).

  • KaTst3R on 23/02/2022 - 10:14
    +1

    Run on the left side you can benefit from tail wind and move faster.

    • bobbified on 23/02/2022 - 10:29
      +1

      ..you can benefit from tail wind and move faster.

      Move faster? Might even get a free ride if you get scooped up onto someone's bonnet. 🤣

      • JayM on 23/02/2022 - 10:56

        Free hitch-hiking bull-bar on the front of trucks to hang on to

      • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2022 - 10:57

        A bit like this guy from a few years ago?

  • AustriaBargain on 23/02/2022 - 10:28

    I'm from Adelaide and I don't think I've ever seen anyone run on the road in my life. People from Melbourne are seriously weird. I went to Melbourne once and some local let their dog take a huge shit on the footpath right in front of a busy café and just walked off. People in Melbourne are totally oblivious.

    • Nugs on 23/02/2022 - 10:39

      I'm from Adelaide and I run on the road if no footpath, and yes facing oncoming traffic
      .

      • AustriaBargain on 23/02/2022 - 10:40

        Well if there's no footpath then you would need to run on the road, but that's more the exception that proves the rule.

    • Haydos90 on 23/02/2022 - 10:42
      +2

      What does any of that have to do with regional Victoria and people exercising along roads with no footpaths?

    • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2022 - 18:19

      People from Adelaide generally don't like people from Melbourne because they took the formula 1 off them

  • singlemalt72 on 23/02/2022 - 10:39

    If there is no path available, always on the right, I prefer to have the closer traffic coming towards me than from behind -more chance of taking an evasive manoeuvre if needed.

  • sss333 on 23/02/2022 - 10:50
    +5

    If there isn't a path you're meant to walk on the right hand side of the road.

    From the ACTRoad Rules handbook

    If you are a pedestrian walking along a road that does not have a footpath or nature strip, you should walk on the right hand edge of the road facing oncoming traffic.
    https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2…

    Can find similar on other state gov websites as well

    If there is no footpath or nature strip, walk so you’re facing oncoming traffic.
    https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/pedestrians/fact…

    If you need to walk along a road and there is no footpath or nature strip, or if there is but you can't then, you may need to walk on the road. If so, you must walk on the other side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
    https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-r…

    Pedestrians must use a footpath or nature strip if there’s one. If there’s not one, or it’s not practical to use, they can walk on the road as long as they:
    walk in the direction of oncoming traffic, if practical
    https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/roads-safety-and-rules/overtak…

    I just hate when people walk on the road when there is a footpath

    • 2esc on 23/02/2022 - 10:54
      +1

      Thankyou for finding that information.

  • brendanm on 23/02/2022 - 11:06

    I was always told "the right side's the right side".

    • MS Paint on 23/02/2022 - 11:18

      I was always told "the left side's the correct side".

      • dust on 23/02/2022 - 18:04

        Less catchy though.

  • GordonD on 23/02/2022 - 11:19

    Walk on the right side? At night you'd be blinded by the cars headlights as each car passed. That'd be dangerous.

    I walk on the left and wear a hi-vis vest.

  • Euphemistic on 23/02/2022 - 15:35
    +1

    When there is no room to be off the road, walk on the right. If there is room off the road, use that.

  • dtc on 23/02/2022 - 17:04

    As a runner, the thought of running with cars coming up behind me is terrifying!

    Another question: which side of the bike path do you walk on? The left (bikes coming up behind you) or the right (facing). I think almost everyone walks on the right, but the logic is the same as for the road - walk on the left. But please dont see a bike approaching and jump to the left to avoid it. Go right and off the path, or keep walking straight and let the cyclist go around you

    • sharkyoz on 24/02/2022 - 00:16

      you shouldnt be walking on the bike path.
      In my area we have footpaths and bike paths that run parallel only a few feet apart, but we get more idiots sprawling across the bike path. And it's signposted as bike path every 50/60 metres. Go figure

      • dtc on 24/02/2022 - 14:49

        in my area (Canberra) we only have bike paths most of the time. Certainly never have footpaths and bike paths running parallel. So its either walking on the cycle path or walking through the grass or on the road

        • Euphemistic on 24/02/2022 - 16:25

          They are probably ore accurately called ‘share paths’, and are in many areas. The are built for pedestrians and cyclists and other legal active transport users.

          Typically a cyclist must give way to a pedestrian on a share path and they want everyone to keep left, pedestrians and cyclists, walkers and joggers. Walkers should maintain their line and cyclists go around.

          From my experience commuting on a sharepath for several years, having pedestrians on the left works well. Otherwise you’d have to keep passing then on the other side of the path and it’s a lot harder to slow down and wait for a gap when someone is coming toward you. At least if it are following, you can slow down and keep riding behind for a while.

  • jakka on 23/02/2022 - 17:16
    +3

    What no option for the middle of the road? or am I the only one?

  • gimli on 24/02/2022 - 16:52

    Right.
    So I can see on coming cars

  • payless69 on 27/02/2022 - 12:43

    My dog makes the choice for me!

  • Hugh G Rection on 02/03/2022 - 18:17

    in the day time i run towards the cars so they can see me.
    at night i run with the traffic because headlights blind me.

  • AlienC on 06/01/2024 - 10:57

    Whichever side has food on it

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