I have had a couple of emails with regards to pedestrian safety on our roads. Since the pandemic, it appears that we have more people walking / running on and along the sides of the roads. Here are some excerpts from an article titled 'Which Side of the Road Should You Walk on for Safety' by Wendy Bumgardner from verywellfit.com - to read the whole thing, please click here. This is important, especially on roads where there are no sidewalks (most of our community).
"Walk Facing Oncoming Traffic—Against the Traffic Flow
Why is it safer to walk on the same side of the road as oncoming traffic, while cyclists are advised to go with the flow of traffic? If traffic approaches you from behind while you are walking, you have only your ears to rely on to know it is coming. If it is coming from in front of you, you have both your eyes and your ears to help you know to move off to the side (or even jump into the ditch). If you are walking in the early morning or late afternoon, it is even more concerning, because drivers have the low-lying sun in their eyes as they approach you. You need to be vigilant. Avoid the dangers of distracted walking and keep your eyes ahead and looking for vehicles, not on your mobile phone. You should always ensure you can hear ambient noise and you aren't screening it all out with noise-canceling earphones or earbuds.
If you are walking at dawn, dusk, or after dark, it is even more important to walk facing traffic. You should also wear reflective clothing. Consider wearing a flashing light, too."
Let's all do our part to keep our community safe!
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