Letter to the Editor: Drivers Need to Share the Road with Runners

In light of the proposed state bill that would require vehicles to stay three feet from bike lanes, a Belmont resident shares her opinion about bike lane protocol. Tell us your thoughts on the issue in the comments below. 

Dear Editor,

I am a runner who prefers to run outside rather than on a treadmill and in some instances I am faced with the decision to run on the sidewalk or in the bike lane. About half the time I run on the sidewalk and the other half  the sidewalks are in too bad of shape to run on safely, or there are no available sidewalks and so I run in the bike lane. I wear reflective gear so I am visible to drivers but on more than one occasion I have been nearly struck by oblivious drivers. It is quite scary. I would also like to include drivers pulling out of parking lots or driveways. People exiting the Carlmont Shopping Center in Belmont are the worst offenders. This is where most of my nearly being struck incidents occur. All I ask is that people please look both ways before going over the sidewalk. On every run I usually have to jump off the sidewalk or slap someone's hood to have them pay attention and not hit me.

With the evening light hours diminishing and darkness coming earlier each night running after I get off work becomes more dangerous. I love running and living here has been a wonderful experience and I have never enjoyed running more than I do when I am running down the streets of Belmont. I just want drivers to share the road when we runners have no other option but to run in the street alongside your moving cars. 

Olivia De Mars

Belmont

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