So did someone make it against the law to walk on sidewalks?

[Liberal Veteran]

I've noticed that quite a lot lately, I am having to swerve around people walking IN THE FUCKING ROAD!!!! in areas where there are perfectly good (and in good repair) sidewalks.

Anybody understand this particularly odd trend?

[Pithlet]

1. I don't know if this holds true for walking

But it's supposed to be better for you to run on the street because it's usually asphalt which is softer than the concrete sidewalks are typically made of. I take my chances with the concrete, personally. All I need is someone yakking on a cellphone taking me out. I try to do most of my running at the park or on my treadmill.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. Truth to tell, I see joggers jogging down the road all the time...but,

For the most part it's just people walking like they are out to enjoy the weather and chit chatting with one another, most of the time not even remotely curious about those two bright lights coming at them at 35 miles an hour.

[Blue Diadem]

3. We've had it for a few years now and it's getting worse.

We also have good sidewalks in the town but people insist on walking in the street. It's annoying to have to come to complete stops because there's an oncoming car and a person/people walking in the middle of the road or talking to each other standing there giving nasty looks to the drivers.

That combined with some newer Ohio law that allows golf carts in areas 25mph(maybe 35) and under and it can take a friggin' lot of time to get a couple blocks.

[Liberal Veteran]

4. I see you get the nasty looks from them too.

That's the other pet peeve as well. As if I am in the wrong for wanting the people to get the hell out of my way when the road was obviously made for automobile traffic and there is a sidewalk not 5 feet to the left or right of the pedestrians.

It doesn't bother me in the least in areas that don't have sidewalks, so I am not at all certain what the deal is.

[Blue Diadem]

10. They act like we shouldn't be on the road with a car.

My blood pressure tends to go up if there are more than 2 or 3 walking side-by-side across the road. Some of the town streets aren't wide enough to drive around them due to parked vehicles. Around here it's always the same group of people..they just don't always walk together.

[Xipe Totec]

5. Sidewalks are for piling snow in the winter

so people got used to walking on the road.

[China_cat]

6. We don't get enough snow here in Charleston to make that a factor

And people do the same here all the time...refuse to walk on the sidewalk and go blithely down the middle of the street.

[Xipe Totec]

7. Snow Birds...

Geezer New Englanders migrate south for the winter.

And old habits die hard.

[China_cat]

8. Not in this area of Charleston.

Not a tourist area. Strictly out of the way residential. It's the people who live here.

[Xipe Totec]

9. Hmmm, this may require drastic action then...

:shrug: