Walkers who won't move over!

Find a new route or challenge the cars for space on the roads, there are too many ignorant people to provide consistent or long lived results especially slow moving pedestrians.

I would speculate that this problem is primarily due to low awareness on the part of walkers--either lack of awareness that you are coming at all, or lack of awareness that their body position affects your trajectory (and safety) in any way. I agree, it is annoying as f**k.

In the past if I were on a tempo run or in a bad mood, and saw oncoming walker(s) who were taking up the entire path I'd move to the right third of the path and act like I was equally oblivious, focusing intently on the ground with my head down and picking up the pace while pretending to huff and puff for air. As long as they're paying attention they'll move out of the way as no one wants to get tackled by a sweaty guy in a half sprint.

When I come up to a walker I say: "on your left". As a result:

* 60% move to the right,

* 25% move to the left,

* 10% are confused and move randomly,

* 5% have a hissy fit and say something like: "this is a public sidewalk and I can do what I want".

For those who do not get out of the way I run in the road.

drivel wrote:

When I come up to a walker I say: "on your left". As a result:

* 10% are confused and move randomly,

In my experience, 80% move randomly, which is why I typically risk not saying anything. The last thing I need is an unpredictable obstacle in my way.

drivel wrote:

When I come up to a walker I say: "on your left". As a result:

* 60% move to the right,

* 25% move to the left,

* 10% are confused and move randomly,

* 5% have a hissy fit and say something like: "this is a public sidewalk and I can do what I want".

For those who do not get out of the way I run in the road.

That's a much higher success rate than I get when I yell out.

run up to within a few inches of them and stop. If you are facing them, don't move until they yield. If you are behind them, move at their pace while practically touching them.

I've noticed that it's usually women who don't move over to create space for other people. I see it all the time in the aisles of grocery stores and especially in the park (Nisene) where I run.

They'll run 5-6 across and not make an effort to move as we (usually 4 of us) approach.

One of the guys I run with thinks that they feel entitled. Another just maintains his line and forces them to move over and sometimes jump. He's not really a jerk...after years of encountering their lack of courtesy he finally just got fed up.

I think that women, in general, don't have the same sense of spatial awareness as men. Also, they seem to be so absorbed in their conversations that they're barely aware of other people approaching. I've noticed that they are quick to apologize when they realize they've blown it so I don't think it's intentional.

If two groups of men are running towards each other, both groups make an effort to make space.

This might be true:

old guy 68 wrote:

I think that women, in general, don't have the same sense of spatial awareness as men.

This is probably more true:

old guy 68 wrote:

Also, they seem to be so absorbed in their conversations that they're barely aware of other people approaching.

frank food wrote:

I've had two women walking side by side taking up the whole sidewalk and they don't move over (or go single file) when I'm running. Forcing me off the sidewalk into the narrow grass next to the road/cars.

It is unforgivable for two people to take up the whole sidewalk except when they are both female and you are male. Then you're supposed to be a gentleman and go around them. They are so small and weak after all.

It is also a general courtesy to yield right of way to slower traffic in a lane designed for slow traffic, such as a sidewalk. Except when they take up the whole lane and are either not both female or you're not male. Then who the hell do they think they are? One of them should move. In Japan it would be legal to yell at them or slap them.

Agree with this post. It is very rare for a group of women (runners actually are worse than walkers) to make any accommodation for approaching men.

Yell "skid mark-encrusted shorts comin' through" as you advance- I'm sure that will do the trick.

Maybe run around them in the narrow grass next to the road/cars (or the other side). Is that so hard?

This is a regular topic on the joggersworld forums. People spend a thousand times more energy ranting about it than they do just going around people.

Larry Bernandez wrote:

This might be true:

old guy 68 wrote:

I think that women, in general, don't have the same sense of spatial awareness as men.

This is probably more true:

old guy 68 wrote:

Also, they seem to be so absorbed in their conversations that they're barely aware of other people approaching.

I think both of these are true. My wife is a human blockade in public places. Wandering, oblivious to people walking around her.

My trick if you are approaching from behind is to hock a lugie at the appropriate distance behind them. They will jump, look back at me disgustedly and then move out of the way. Works every time.

I experience this a lot running in DC on the towpath in Georgetown or in West Potomac Park. Usually tourists with kids who have no idea where they are. Mostly obese people with fanny packs. I do my best to stay to the right and say "on your right" and that usually works. However, there are a tons of people who are oblivious or do not care. It's not the cyclists runners hate, but the walkers/joggers who go three wide and don't care. Those are the ones causing runner/cyclist collisions.

"Why don't >theytheyyou

Interesting that all of my text disappeared ...

This is super annoying.

In my experience, it's better to take action and run around them yourself, rather than try and get them to move. In the past I would yell "on your right" or something like that. 40% were aware enough to move over and let me through. 50% freaked out when they realized I was running towards them and panicked while trying to get out of my way. They would move erratically, or too late. I never new which way they were going to go and usually had to slow down anyways. 10% were completely oblivious.

Now, I don't say anything. I just move over a little to one side or the other and blow by them. That way I'm in total control, and don't have to worry about predicting the reactions of others. As a small bonus, I have scared the living death out of at least 10 people in the last month.

When you run past at sub-6min pace, some people will act like you just discharged a rifle next to their ear. It's the little things in life that make it all worthwhile:)

While you're correct, it would be polite to move over, I feel like this is such an insignificant issue i'm almost straining to understand why it bothers you so much.

Run on the strip of grass to pass, who cares..