Pay attention on public sidewalks!

[Anonymous]

I am a runner and multiple times in the past few months I have nearly run into people and dogs/leashes because they have headphones on and aren't paying attention to what is happening around them. I yell (if I'm not too out of breath) "ON YOUR LEFT!" and they don't move. I nearly tripped over a dog last week because it was on the left side of the sidewalk (over a bridge, no grass to step around) and the owner was on the right side of the sidewalk. Do I jump over the leash? What if a bike comes and only has a few seconds to warn you of their passing?

Please pay attention and keep the leash tight!

[Anonymous]

Maybe you should do your recreational activities in a designated space rather than complain about other people using the sidewalk for it’s intended purpose? Why do runners and bikers think that public roads and walkways are their personal gym?

[Anonymous]

Why are you running up on people anyway? You can see them before you get that close, no? Go around.

[Anonymous]

Dogs should be on a short leash. Period.

[Anonymous]

You stop until they see you and/or you have enough space to go around them. You don’t just keep running wtf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a runner and multiple times in the past few months I have nearly run into people and dogs/leashes because they have headphones on and aren't paying attention to what is happening around them. I yell (if I'm not too out of breath) "ON YOUR LEFT!" and they don't move. I nearly tripped over a dog last week because it was on the left side of the sidewalk (over a bridge, no grass to step around) and the owner was on the right side of the sidewalk. Do I jump over the leash? What if a bike comes and only has a few seconds to warn you of their passing?

Please pay attention and keep the leash tight!

You should not be running on sidewalks. That is dangerous. You sound like a huge hazzard. Sidewalks are for walking.

[Anonymous]

Just stop and say excuse me.

[Anonymous]

You are going faster so it is on you to go around them. Or slow down. Running up and startling a dog is a good way to get bitten.

[Anonymous]

So now dog walkers want to ban running on sidewalks so they can tune out their environment and not pay attention to the dog they are walking?

I was driving yesterday and noticed someone on the sidewalk wearing earbuds and walking a dog on a long leash. As I approached - in my car, on the street - the person stopped to give attention to their phone and the dog just walked into the street. Thank goodness one of us cared about that dog.

Dog walkers, you don’t own the sidewalk. Get your head out of your phone and pay attention to your dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are going faster so it is on you to go around them. Or slow down. Running up and startling a dog is a good way to get bitten.

There was no place to go around them. It was a bridge. It's on me to yell out that I'm approaching, which I did, multiple times. It's on the walker to pay attention and not take up the whole sidewalk.

This was on a trail used by walkers, runners and bikers. Think Capital Crescent Trail or GW Trail. - OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you should do your recreational activities in a designated space rather than complain about other people using the sidewalk for it’s intended purpose? Why do runners and bikers think that public roads and walkways are their personal gym?

What is the intended purpose of a public trail? Exercise - walking, running, bikes, non-motorized scooters.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you on paying attention with your dogs but you're losing me with bikes on the sidewalk. Those people are a scourge. Unless it's a toddler on a tricycle they all deserve to fly over their handlebars.

[Anonymous]

Sorry man, this is a you thing. You do not get right of way because you're faster. If you are running on a trail or sidewalk or something, and you come up on someone moving slowly, walking a dog, taking up the whole sidewalk, and you can't get around them, then YOU need to slow down or fully stop and wait for them to proceed. They have just as much of a right to the sidewalk as you do and the solution is right there in front of you: Stop or slow down. It's not like they're blocking the whole trail taking a nap for 30 mins. Stop, say excuse me, and get around them as you're able. Then you can keep running. If your workout is too precious for that, then go run on a track somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you should do your recreational activities in a designated space rather than complain about other people using the sidewalk for it’s intended purpose? Why do runners and bikers think that public roads and walkways are their personal gym?

Nah to this mess. I don't run, and I love walking my dog, and I'm 100% behind OP's point. Some of y'all let your dogs walk you at the very end of their leash, and you have zero control.

Shared space is for everyone. Leash your dog, control it correctly, and stay alert so that others don't encounter your animal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry man, this is a you thing. You do not get right of way because you're faster. If you are running on a trail or sidewalk or something, and you come up on someone moving slowly, walking a dog, taking up the whole sidewalk, and you can't get around them, then YOU need to slow down or fully stop and wait for them to proceed. They have just as much of a right to the sidewalk as you do and the solution is right there in front of you: Stop or slow down. It's not like they're blocking the whole trail taking a nap for 30 mins. Stop, say excuse me, and get around them as you're able. Then you can keep running. If your workout is too precious for that, then go run on a track somewhere.

If you're allowing your beast to "take up the whole sidewalk" you are the problem. Nobody else wants to have to tell you to share in order to pass.

Stop trying to make dogspreading a thing. Reel in your pet and make a hole, jerk.