Not using Sidewalks at Night

I am a jogger. I do not jog at night because of the safety issues. But during my daytime jogs I will admit that given the choice of a sidewalk or the asphalt pavement I always choose pavement. It is easier on my knees and there is less potential for tripping. I understand that there are safety risks in running on the road (and I always run into the traffic, which is safer than those who run with the traffic direction) but it's a choice I make.

Honesly, I much prefer when there is an asphalt path, and I use our asphalt path system in Broadlands/Farm/Village as much as I can. But they don't go everywhere.

 

I also try to use the sidewalks as much as possible. However when we've had snow/ice I find it safer to be on the roads - at least they're cleared. Not all our neighbors bother - or are physically able to - clear their portions of the sidewalks. Then of course are those people with the oversized Hummers that don't even bother to clear their own driveways - just tears up the grass between his unit and his neighbors I noticed. Glad he's not my immediate neighbor.....

 

Car bumpers are pretty hard in the knees too!
Do these people let their children run in the street? I don't think so.
Nothing personal longtimer. It's just that there is a lot of truth in what flynnibus is saying and it's not just in Broadlands. I see it everywhere. People, for some reason, think it's perfectly apporopiate to walk in the street.

 

As a dog walker, I try to walk in the street as to try to prevent my dogs from using neighbors grass and try to get them to the common areas to "releive" themselves, one of my dogs is female which burns grass. And Yes I do pickup after them, even though a lot others do not.

 

If you do decide to jog/walk in the street at night, PLEASE do yourself a favor and wear light colors or better yet, something reflective. I can see Claiborne from my kitchen window and I've seen several joggers in the evening hours wearing dark colors - not smart - especially with the way some people speed!!

Grrrrr...the not picking up after the dogs is something that GREATLY bothers me. I took my toddler to the playground last week when it wasn't quite so cold and there were several "piles" that we had to avoid that were only feet away from the swings and slide!!! Don't want to hijack this thread but I just had to vent.

 

I appreciate that! My lawn is adjacent to common grounds so I get alot of dog skat that does not belong to me. I wouldn't care if it actually was a usefull fertilizer.

 

Another alternative for those walking dogs would be to carry a flashlight. This is especially helpful when it's raining or foggy.

 

Yet another alternative would be for those driving on the roads to yield to those walking in the street, who are performing a completely legal activity. Cars driving on these streets, and adhering to the posted speed limits, should not have a problem avoiding the pedestrians. Who among us actually drives 35 MPH on Claiborne PKWY? I try to keep my speed at around 40-42 MPH, and I am routinely passed by every other car on the road. If you're not driving the speed limit, you shouldn't complain when pedestrians are lawfully in the street.

That being said, of course it would be a good idea for those walking in the woefully unlit streets to wear light colored clothing or reflectors at night.

And although it has been a while since I jogged, I can completely understand why a jogger would prefer the road. Dark sidewalks are pretty dangerous; you are a lot less likely to encounter trip hazards and sudden elevation changes in the road.

 

Claiborne is a parkway not some back country road. The road is there for cars not people. We do have sidewalks, use them! If everyone walked in the streets we would have even more of a traffic nightmare. It's bad enough commuting as it w/o worring about hitting someone.

The speed limit isn't the issue. It's a problem at 35/45 too.

 

Just because something is legal doesn't mean it's a smart thing to do.
If a jogger is hit and killed is he going to be any less dead because he had the right of way? Do you think his family will say "I will never see my daddy again but it's ok, he had every right to be jogging in the street"?
People don't think of the consequences of their actions. ...Hmmmm, I could jog on the path and possibly pop my ankle or jog in the street and possibly die...tough choice huh? . It's just like the people I see passing me at 75+ mph on the Greenway. Is it worth risking your life to get to work 2 minutes early?

 

Don't forget, this can be an issue with pedestrians walking legally in a crosswalk. Even those pedestrians have to cross the street -- and not every intersection has crosswalks.

On election day 2 years ago, it was drizzly and very foggy. I barely avoided hitting some man crossing the street while walking his dog. He was dressed completely in black, and even the dog was black. I was turning, and I was going less than 10mph (I'd had to stop prior to making the left turn). I wouldn't have seen him at all if it wasn't for the dog's collar catching the headlights of my car. To be honest, I think he was as surprised as I was.

 

Well said!

 

Pats_Fan

Are you absolutely certain that is legal to walk on roads in Loudoun county? Personally, I haven't reviewed the rules and would be curious to see what they say.

After all, many jurisdictions do not allow people to walk in the streets UNLESS they do so on a painted crosswalk (e.g., downtown D.C.). If you don't walk on the crosswalk, you are guilty of committing j-walking (which is not legal). I realize that Loudoun does not have crosswalks, but they may nonetheless have rules against walking on certain streets.

 

Of course I'm not "absolutely certain," but that shouldn't stop me from saying it. Now, I realize I'm not a "Senior Member" like you & Homer, but I have been reading these boards long enough to know that..just maybe...on occasion...people write things that they are not "absolutely certain" about. If "absolute certainty" were the rule, then these boards would be pretty empty (and boring!) places.

I'm not talking about jaywalking where there is a crosswalk present; I'm talking about walking against the traffic on a public street.

And furthermore, I didn't say that walking/jogging in the streets was a smart thing to do. I, for one, would be very defensive if I were to do so. Finally, for the record, I do use the sidewalks where they exist - I'm just trying to "stir the pot" (and procrastinate getting back to to work) with an alternate viewpoint.

 

It is pretty dull right now - stiring appreciated! I think it is legal in Virginia. Loudoun used to rural 10 years ago so that would fit.

I don't have a problem with jogging on streets like Demott, or Vestal's Gap. Claiborne is a major road. It's almost like jogging on 28. I also have a problem with bicycles on 15 holding up traffic when there is a perfectly good W&OD trail. I probably wouldn't care if was retired though but commuting stinks!!!

 

These forums need a good pot stirrin' every now and then - lol


ARRGGHH!!! route 15 - what a mess that is even without the bike riders.
If I may stray a bit off topic. Does anyone know if there are plans to widen 15?

 

...well then let me add my two cents.

Stay out of the roads or don't cry when someone is made into a hood ornament by the 'outrageous speeders' on Claiborne. For one, when kids see adults in the streets all willy-nilly they assume it's ok too, despite what they're told...then one of them gets ran over and everyone is all in an uproar about the traffic situation.

And about the pavement v. concrete argument. What if I like driving my car on concrete rather than pavement? I can't get up on the sidewalk and go tear-assing down through there can I?

Roads are for cars, sidewalks are for people.