I got pulled over by a state trooper

M

Marathon James

0
FOR RUNNING IN THE TURN LANE! Every day for the last 7 weeks I run 3- xx miles on the road by my college campus. Since then, I have been passed by numerous troopers, sheriffs, and normal police. None of them have ever stopped me, and most of them even wave at me or nod. Well yesterday as I was running as usual, I hear a woman's voice yelling at me. I figured it was just some college girl so I turned around smiling and... IT WAS A STATE TROOPER. She asked me what I was doing... DUH, RUNNING. She then told me that I was doing the MOST DANGEROUS THING SHE HAS EVER SEEN. I mean cmon. If that's the most dangerous thing she's ever seen I think she needs to be taken off the force. For one, there wasn't a shoulder for me to even run on so the turn lane seemed like the most sensible thing to do. Anyways, she told me to pick a side and if she catches me in the turn lane again she will ticket me for reckless running... or reckless something or other. :yelrotflmao:

Just figured I would share a funny story with yall. Cya!
 
Without knowing her intent, I'm gonna give her a pass and assume that she was concerned about your safety.
 
I'm with the officer on this one. All it takes is one kid testing while driving and trying to make a left hand turn and you're road kill. I understand that the lack of shoulder leaves little room on the left side of the road but at least over there you have an escape route and are less likely to be hit by someone traveling the same direction.
 
Yeah, If you're talking about a middle turnn lane, I'd have to agree that's not a good idea

On a little different note...am I the only one who went to Safety Town as a little kid? No one else seems to know you're supposed to face oncoming traffic when walking or running on the shoulder. Most people I see stay on the same side as the traffic so cars overtake them from behind. One time a guy in a passing car was even gesturing that I was on the wrong side of the road. I responded with my own gesture.
 
I went to saftey town. Best field trip all year when I was in elementary school.

Some places even have signs around here that remind you to walk on the left side.
 
theGOOCH said:
On a little different note...am I the only one who went to Safety Town as a little kid? No one else seems to know you're supposed to face oncoming traffic when walking or running on the shoulder. Most people I see stay on the same side as the traffic so cars overtake them from behind.
Click to expand...

What is odd is that many people ride bicycles facing traffic, which is more dangerous than riding bicycles with traffic.

When no sidewalk is available, walking or running facing traffic is safer because walking or running is not that fast (so the additive vs. subtractive speed difference is not great) and a walker or runner can easily change speed and direction if necessary (for example, jumping off the road over a barrier if an oncoming vehicle is about to hit).

Riding a bicycle with traffic is safer because a bicycle behaves more like a slow vehicle in that its speed is significantly faster than walking or running speed, and cannot change speed and direction easily, or escape over barriers as easily as a walker or runner can.
 
theGOOCH said:
Yeah, If you're talking about a middle turnn lane, I'd have to agree that's not a good idea

On a little different note...am I the only one who went to Safety Town as a little kid? No one else seems to know you're supposed to face oncoming traffic when walking or running on the shoulder. Most people I see stay on the same side as the traffic so cars overtake them from behind. One time a guy in a passing car was even gesturing that I was on the wrong side of the road. I responded with my own gesture.
Click to expand...
I always run facing oncoming traffic when there is a shoulder to run on. The part I was running on doesn't have a shoulder so I'd rather run in the turn lane (completely out of either lane), then run IN the lane.
 
tjl said:
What is odd is that many people ride bicycles facing traffic, which is more dangerous than riding bicycles with traffic.

When no sidewalk is available, walking or running facing traffic is safer because walking or running is not that fast (so the additive vs. subtractive speed difference is not great) and a walker or runner can easily change speed and direction if necessary (for example, jumping off the road over a barrier if an oncoming vehicle is about to hit).

Riding a bicycle with traffic is safer because a bicycle behaves more like a slow vehicle in that its speed is significantly faster than walking or running speed, and cannot change speed and direction easily, or escape over barriers as easily as a walker or runner can.
Click to expand...

I am fairly sure it is illegal in all 50 US states for a bike to face traffic. I don't think there are specific laws about running, at least in Florida.
 
I think the trooper was just hitting on you. My advice is to do it again and when she stops you refer to her as "Babe" and maybe pat her on the butt for emphasis.
 
Marathon James

I think your story is very funny! What an ignorant moron for saying that is the scariest thing she has seen. That sucks you will have to find a new route or simply ignore her and pat her on the butt next time like Gooch said.
 
i used to ride my bike alot in the forested areas, sometimes when he says there is no shoulder there really is like 6inches between the white line and a ledge, so with that in mind ive done the same and YES run in the oncomming lane, law or not do not travel in the lane where cars approch from behind, if you can see it comming you can get outa the way if not you'll get hit, cause ive almost been hit that way
 
phaledax said:
i used to ride my bike alot in the forested areas, sometimes when he says there is no shoulder there really is like 6inches between the white line and a ledge, so with that in mind ive done the same and YES run in the oncomming lane, law or not do not travel in the lane where cars approch from behind, if you can see it comming you can get outa the way if not you'll get hit, cause ive almost been hit that way
Click to expand...

This is terrible advice and illegal. See avoiding collision #3 and #4 on . Riding in the wrong lane (left lane in the US) increases the risk of collision by 4X.
 
Not bad advice if you're RUNNING. You have quicker response and reflexes when running than you do on a bike (well, most people anyways).
 
phaledax said:
i used to ride my bike alot in the forested areas, sometimes when he says there is no shoulder there really is like 6inches between the white line and a ledge, so with that in mind ive done the same and YES run in the oncomming lane, law or not do not travel in the lane where cars approch from behind, if you can see it comming you can get outa the way if not you'll get hit, cause ive almost been hit that way
Click to expand...

After re-reading this and re-re-reading it, now I see that you are not condoning riding in the oncoming lane but are recommending running in the oncoming lane. I totally agree with this.

My regards for misreading your post.
 
g8r80 said:
This is terrible advice and illegal. See avoiding collision #3 and #4 on . Riding in the wrong lane (left lane in the US) increases the risk of collision by 4X.
Click to expand...

yah that looks great on paper, go ahead and try that out on my roads :) make sure you got your "will" all figured out.
edit: ah just saw your second post
a 2nd note: here is a better phrase would you rather A: depend on yourself to not get hit by cars or B: depend on all the drivers that will pass you that day to not hit you?
remember if you get hit from a car behind you going 40MPH and your going 20MPH same direction your going to die, if you get hit oncomming at 40MPH and your doing 20MPH your definatly going to die, but your body will be in several pices. lol
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top