Yahoo News Pedestrians in Bristol have created a ‘running lane’ to ensure runners follow social distancing rules
The current rules for runners who are choosing to exercise during the coronavirus pandemic, are that you must:
stay local and use open spaces near to your home where possible – do not travel unnecessarily
you should only go outside alone or with members of your own household
keep at least 2 metres apart from anyone outside your household at all times
Yet as more runners take to the street, with gyms and pools closed, there is a recurring complaint is that runners are failing to maintain a distance of at least two metres from others when they are outside, thereby invading the space of non-runners (and other runners) as they weave through the parks.
Pedestrians in Bristol have come up with a suggestion to guide runners by spray painting a ‘running lane’ into the road, guiding them away from the pavements. The words ‘runners please’ have been spray painted onto a one way road on Avon Crescent.
Fellow runners: listen up! It’s our responsibility to move out of the way of walking pedestrians, not theirs. We are sweaty and panting and moving at speed, & I’d really rather we all sacrificed a ‘time’ than everyone else’s ability to go outside. Please think about this. Thanks!
— Bryony Gordon (@bryony_gordon) March 25, 2020
Went for a walk tonight on my own kept moving over, often into the empty roads to avoid people, only for two people run past (on separate occasions) panting within an inch of me, they passed me from behind otherwise I would have moved. Really no need for it (I also run)
— Gary Lawrenson (@gs_lawrenson) March 25, 2020
Thank you for pointing this out to selfish joggers everywhere. Hope they read this and think. Tooting Common has been a nightmare with this issue in the last few days. Walking the dog has been incredibly stressful thanks to multiple joggers completely ignoring the 2m rule
— Toby 🏳️🌈 (@balhamyte) March 25, 2020
While this might not catch on in all areas of the country, it seems runners everywhere are having to run in the road and be more creative with their routes to avoid large crowds. Last week, Victoria Park in east London was closed because, said Tower Hamlets council, of a ‘failure of some visitors to follow social-distancing guidance’. No specifics were given but now appeals are being made to encourage all runners to follow the government’s advice when they are in parks.
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