I was contacted by Runner's World a couple of weeks to comment on legal and safety issues for runners who run on the road. What began as a small story turned into a major feature article in this month's issue - "Collision Course". You can click on the link below to go directly to the story. Lots of great tips and discussion on road running, safety, and the dangers of running in traffic. Watch for my "quote" on the Safe Passing bill here in Texas where I discuss the lack of advocacy on behalf of runners.
As I noted in the article, most running organizations are solely focused on training and lack representation on capital hill which is troubling because pedestrians account for the largest number of fatalities in collisions other than auto/auto. Pedestrian fatalities in pedestrian/car accidents far outnumber cyclist fatalities in auto/bicycle collisions yet there are many cycling organizations that advocate for legislation that protects cyclists and/or "vulnerable road users" on the road. I'm very happy that Runner's World picked up the need for runner advocacy and highlighted it in the story. I only hope that running groups and/or runners will begin demanding rights on the road or at the very least joining the efforts of other organizations who are working toward making the road safer for all users. If you're a runner, get involved - lead the effort - join forces - go to www.biketexas.org and find out how this organization is trying to get a Safe Passing ordinance passed in cities across Texas.
How to avoid collisions with cars from RunnersWorld.com
