Why do some joggers just jog in the street when there's a perfectly good sidewalk?

Question

It is so dangerous - I don't get it?

Answer 1

Roads have less impact on the legs, therefore in reality it is not "so dangerous" compared to sidewalks. I would say the long-term effects of running on hard concrete sidewalks outweigh the risk of getting in a car accident.

Answer 2

The ones that jog on the street - IF there really are good sidewalks, are just idiots. Plain and simple. And in my town, if you jog on the street when there are sidewalks, you will get a TICKET! I wish it was that way everywhere.

Answer 3

they are just idiots .. stupid heads... it makes no sense whatso ever to jog in the road when there is a perfectly good sidewalk :)

Answer 4

blacktop is softer than concrete, and the sidewalk has all those up and downs from curb to curb

Answer 5

I heard somewhere that asphalt is softer than concrete...so it's better for your joints.

Answer 6

They are stupid fools looking to get hit by cars. Or sometimes when it is snowing, they go on the street because the sidewalk is coated with snow. Otherwise, when it isn't snowing, they may be trying to show off to the world what 'athletes' they are. More likely, however, they are just idiots, plain and simple.

Answer 7

It's the same theory as why bike riders ride on the street when there is sidewalk.  They make room for those who want to lesurely walk.  No one wants to feel hurried or pushed if they don't want to.  Bikers and runners are being courteous and not making those walking feel as though they are in the way.

When I was a kid, I was taught to run on the sidewalk if no one is around, if someone would be on the sidewalk, I move to the street or grass till I pass them, giving them enough room, so they feel comfortable.

It might be dangerous, but if you notice, we also run on the side of oncoming traffic.  This way we see the cars coming at us and we can move, instead of being hit from behind.  If people driving can see runners faces, they can see that they are paying attention, cause it is easy to drift off while running.  

Those who run are a breed of their own.  But they do have reasons for the things that they do.

Answer 8

As a runner, not a jogger (there is a distinct difference!), I run in the street because asphalt is less jarring than concrete.  And as someone else mentioned, we run against traffic, so that we can see drivers and they can see us.  True, it's not as safe as running on the sidewalk, but there are less people to dodge and many streets (at least in my area) have bike lanes.

Contrary to what someone posted, bicycling is usually NOT allowed on sidewalks.  There's just too great a risk of hitting pedestrians.  Bicyclists ride WITH traffic, as opposed to runners.  

And just because someone is on the sidewalk doesn't mean he/she is safe; it's all about being aware of one's surroundings.