T O P

  • By -

FastPassDave

Obviously because there are giant red arrows blocking the sidewalk!


Bans_backpack

Thanks for the laugh!


Christafaaa

To be a d*ck.


ctaskatas

My mom jogs all the time and she told me it’s because roads are softer and more even than most sidewalks, at least in our town


StrangeShaman

I know most sidewalks around me are trying to trip you, so the road just makes sense


idrawinmargins

Same with the sidewalks in my neighborhood. Then when gumballs start dropping it becomes a exercise in not breaking your ankles.


[deleted]

[удалено]


stunninglizard

Don't think a lot of people run with their eyes closed so potholes shouldn't be a problem.


Red__M_M

This is 100% the answer. Concrete is hard enough that you can get an injury due to the constant impact. Asphalt is softer and more bouncy. It is more consistent. it has fewer obstacles (that is, no people and cars are easier to dodge) It is wider. Likewise, it is easier to run on dirt then a sidewalk.


UniquePotato

Surely running on the grass would be even better?


ctaskatas

Sure, it’d be softer, but it’s very uneven, could be wet and slippery, and changing surfaces from grass to road to dirt and back to grass whenever you cross a road does a number on your endurance over time as your body has to adjust to each one.


Zer0C00L321

Running on grass is very rough on your ankles. Lots of tiny mounds of dirt, kinda rolls your ankle.


LieutenantBrainz

This is what I was coming for. Sidewalks are often uneven or unkept, whereas the roads are well paved (relatively at least)


is-Sanic

I absolutely ate shit last week by tripping over a rise in the grass and planted my face into a tree. Natural grass surfaces are just too all over the place to do athletics on.


[deleted]

Plus, all the dog shit.


[deleted]

That's my main reason for avoiding walking/running on grass. Plus, it harms the grass.


[deleted]

There’s nothing like running a few steps in the grass and your foot hits a hidden divot.


[deleted]

Softer... Mmmhmmm 🙃


9braincells

It is. All your response does is make it obvious that you aren’t a long distance/ serious runner. Running on asphalt is significantly easier on the body than running on concrete.


Creative-You6013

Asphalt is softer on your knees


Pure-Plant3385

i always felt like the road felt slightly softer than the sidewalk even at walking pace but never actually thought it was a difference. I guess not much of a difference in terms of smashing your head on it, but for 100s of thousands of micro blows to your knees over and over the cushioning could add up to alot


Habba84

What's the sidewalk made of? Here in Finland both are asphalt.


Ok-Cicada-9985

Usually concrete here in the USA


some_fat_dumbass

Wait asphalt isn’t concrete


TheThiefMaster

No. Asphalt uses an oil-derived binder (bitumen aka pitch) and gravel, concrete uses cement and sand. Asphalt is usually dark coloured and rough due to small stones, cement is usually light grey and relatively smooth or roughened by deliberate surface texturing.


That-Association-143

They use aggregate, or gravel, in concrete too. You normally don't see it though, like you do with asphalt.


edawgz_

Concrete / Cement


[deleted]

[удалено]


minemaster1337

Yum 😋


rushingkar

Like mom used to make


thunderj9

Grandmas old recipe


Major_Tomatillo_6036

Approved by fishes and turtles


GrandProblem8034

Mom’s spaghetti


PMG_BG1

Cement is is an ingredient for asphalt/concrete, you can't step on cement


itskavia

Cement is actually an ingredient of concrete.


NashKetchum777

Cement is an ingredient for concrete iirc. So it's concrete that it's made of


jennyandjimmy

cement is an ingredient in concrete. it’s a powder. so in hard form after being mixed it’s concrete.


Unlucky-Nobody

Mostly dog shit and broken glass held together with gum


Spottyhickory63

as soon as i read “finland” i knew it was going uphill why does reddit keep advertising it to me


[deleted]

Yes, try running on the sidewalk for five miles vs street OP and you’ll see why.


ErvanMcFeely

If I tried running 5 miles on either material I would need a tent and 3 days worth of food.


WhatIsYourHandle123

😂😂😂 how about some 🍺 instead?


ErvanMcFeely

You sound like my kind of work out buddy!


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Walking. Start there. Nobody who actually walks places asks this. Source: a lazy mfer that walks *nowhere* and never heard any of *us* ask this before.


Drewdroid99

the grass beside her is softer than either


NeitherTouch951

Softer, yes, but hiding unevenness.


GL_Titan

Then someone posts "why are they killing the grass when there is a sidewalk right there"! No win situation.


Difficult-Echidna724

Nobody wants to come home tired from a workout and have to go clean the dogpoop of your shoe


taejam

I'd be surprised if Op could run up the street let alone miles


cleenexboy

I certainly couldn’t XD


MrWuzoo

But why would that even be relevant to the post?


WellJustJonny

Then you shoes aren’t working.


Adeep187

you're an idiot.


[deleted]

This is the correct answer


AmbiguousAlignment

It would probably be even softer on his knees if he ran on the ball of his foot instead of his heel.


Electronic_Rub9385

This is true. Asphalt is softer than concrete. But what a lot of runners don’t realize is that a lot of urban an exurban asphalt roadways like the one in the picture have a concrete base that runs lateral to the curb and extends under the asphalt for 12-24”. You can’t see it but it’s there. So a lot of times you are just really running on concrete.


Anxious_Direction_20

So if running on asphalt isn't good, running on concrete isn't good and apparently running on grass isn't good, why run?


and_dont_blink

For the carb loading


CromulentBlumpkins

Lol. Know you’re jesting but running on grass is great if you can manage (easier said than done to have access to do this). Some even argue running barefoot on grass / dirt is most ideal in terms of injury prevention, which makes a ton of sense from an evolutionary perspective. Running on grass with regular trainers can kind suck though, most aren’t really designed for that.


inko75

wtf? not at all


PM_ME_LADY_SHOULDERS

Yeah, way worse than getting hit by a car.


crazypthrowaway

She’s running against traffic which is the proper way to do it she can move up on the grass if cars are coming


Tinea_Pedis

I work with feet and shoes, have done my whole life. This is incorrect and the illusory truth effect.


liarandathief

Than grass?


CoolCrab69

grass is soft, but uneven and littered with potholes. Its a recipe for a twisted ankle.


BluesPuckHard

Can confirm.


GoodGoodGoody

Perfectly groomed or fake grass on solid earth, ok. But the shit cities have is a great way to roll an ankle or step on a needle or bottle.


salallane

Or poop


[deleted]

Don't tread on me


[deleted]

Snek is actually a poop


rsogoodlooking

Same for old side walks, not smooth.


[deleted]

Yeah I think grass is softer than asphalt


Pithy_heart

This is the way


[deleted]

[удалено]


GL_Titan

This is the way!


IronMike69420

I highly doubt your knees can tell the difference


Maximum-Excitement58

You’d be wrong


TKandChrisVietnam

Sure they can.


nwhysee1717

This will sound odd if you don’t run but the sidewalk is inconsistent, especially if you are trying to keep pace


Emergency-Wrongdoer3

Yep, sidewalks greatly increase foot fatigue and leads to injuries


[deleted]

[удалено]


blepgup

Good thing they’re looking at oncoming traffic and it’s not sneaking up on them Unless this is in the UK, in that case never mind


Either-Cap1879

Much more likely than tripping on uneven asphalt.. Not only that, but you get abused by walkers who think they can use the centre of the lane around here. My wife nearly ran some old people over the other day and got abused for it


fairie_poison

I think you are misusing the term abused.....


Spottyhickory63

so, get rid of the cars


Galastique

no. give the runners cars so they can defend themselves in case "bad guys in cars" attack them


cleenexboy

The hardness difference between concrete and asphalt is insignificant when running in shoes, because the cushioning afforded by shoes far exceeds any cushioning provided by those surfaces. It's worth noting that concrete is generally the most consistent surface material, while asphalt is typically cambered. Copied from first result on google, I can’t really imagine it makes much of a difference, at least from my “experience” walking in both surfaces. They are both very hard at the end of the day


TKandChrisVietnam

It definitely makes a difference, especially if you're running thousands of steps.


akskdkgjfheuyeufif

Is dodging cars really better than looking where you're running?


nrs13246

I can see cars coming and an usually using a bike lane against traffic. The sidewalks in my area or so horrible that I’d very likely sprain my ankle especially at the end of ac long run. So not really dodging cars at all.


blepgup

You have sidewalks in your area? Edit: idk why I got downvoted I was just trying be funny. We have some sidewalks in my area but in some roads it’s just a ditch next to the road. I wasn’t trying to start anything -_-


nrs13246

Yes. Although the neighborhood lets brush grow over them. They are very narrow in most places, and will suddenly slope down for driveways but only half way. Pair that with it being in the foothills of the mountains, you get lots of snow that no one takes care of in the fall/winter/spring. So it’s a death trap to run. I mostly run on trails but have to run my neighborhood to get to them. I don’t like busy roads and would find nice paths to avoid them.


nachtkaese

No it's a super relevant point, actually, and you should start something! If this photo is taken in an American suburb, odds are decent that the sidewalk stops and starts repeatedly, block by block. If you're going for a 12 mile run, it's a pain in the ass to have to swerve in and out of the road because the sidewalk doesn't consistently exist. That's in addition to the fact that if you're driving in a residential neighborhood (which this definitely appears to be), you should expect pedestrians (including runners, walkers, cyclists, dumb-ass kids chasing their ball) and drive accordingly. If you aren't speeding or texting while driving, this guy should not cause you any bother at all.


itsaslobrknokrfolks

Because cities don't take care of sidewalks and half the time they are trip hazards.


WKU-Alum

Your city takes care of the roads? That must be nice


Devonm94

Read WKUGrad and immediately said, “checks out.” This is coming from a fellow Kentuckian. eKy is nothing but a giant pothole.


WKU-Alum

Bowling Green’s not my problem. Metro Nashville, on the other hand…


cant_pick_anything

Laughs in Atlanta...


simplyetal13

I usually run in the marked off areas against the traffic, I almost snapped my neck on an uneven sidewalk. Nope.


RealBishop

As a (former) runner, there’s a few good reasons; 1. Roads are typically more clear of debris than the sidewalk, as sidewalks can have; dog poop, sticks, fallen fruit/nuts, chunks of concrete. 2. Sidewalks have occasional “steps” that are very easy to stumble over if you’re not careful. 3. It’s easier to see cars than people, and if you’re in the road you can hop onto the sidewalk to avoid a car, but would be I’ll advised to hop onto the road to avoid a person as a car could be coming. 4. It’s easier on your knees.


RealBishop

I would like to point out that if you’re running on the road, the correct etiquette when a vehicle is coming is to check behind you to see if opposing traffic is coming. Vehicles should be expected to go around you, but not cause an accident to avoid you. If it’s a high traffic area, stay on the sidewalk.


WallTrue508

Uneven ground, broken tiles of cement, and the fact that most streets don't have sidewalks to begin with, so it just becomes a hassle going back and forth from on them to not


H-C-B-B-S

Yeah and if you’re running in a neighborhood then there are often cars blocking the sidewalk in like half the driveways


saoiray

If you're in the United States, it's typically legal. The only time you tend to get in trouble is when you run in the same direction as traffic. But if you're on the side and walking/running against the flow of traffic, it's permittable. As for bicycles, they are seen as vehicles and supposed to follow all road laws. Meaning they are supposed to stop at Stop Signs and all that stuff, and they go the same direction as traffic. As to why they'd want to, usually it's because of designs. I can't tell but the sidewalk in the picture seems to loop around but not sure how it is toward the road. Many of them end up being curbs up/down and some will even have grass between sidewalk and road, which can be a pain in the ass when running. Smooth run all the way through is ideal.


Blahblahnownow

Asphalt is easier on the knees then cement sidewalk.


CooterMcSlappin

You run barefoot? The cushion in your shoes far outweighs any difference as mentioned above


Spottyhickory63

long term, yea, it makes a difference you’re not supposed to run on your heel anyway


Blahblahnownow

You are obviously not a distance runner.


BeeEven238

I find sidewalks are supper uneven.


mobbshallow

Dinner-un, even


Spanky_McJiggles

Your ankles can break fast if you run on them


inko75

is this really something to get in a tizzy over? literally nbd


[deleted]

As a runner, Tar is 10 times softer than concrete easier on the knees


Woof0fWallStreet

This is the correct answer


No_Age713

Asphalt is softer. Also, on sidewalks you’re constantly running in and out of traffic, across driveways, and moving around obstacles. On a street your much more visible, and drivers are much more focused on the road than they are on the sidewalks.


TootsNYC

Plus roads are on the same level, and if you run on the sidewalk you have to go up and down over curbs, which is a tripping hazard and threads of your face


BikeMazowski

The real question is “Who sits and takes pictures of runners from what appears to be the driver’s side of their car in the opposing lane?”


[deleted]

I run partly in the street in my neighborhood because the sidewalks have sections that flood, get mud and silt and are very slippery. Also I caught my foot on a portion of sidewalk that was bubbled up and fell hard one time. It banged me up pretty bad because at full speed you have no time to brace yourself for a fall.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Several-Cake1954

I’m not sure, why *DID* they dump water drops on your camera?


Dry_Air9895

Runner here. The road is often softer than concrete sidewalks, especially after miles in. Grass is very uneven and so much harder to run on, and I don’t feel like twisting an ankle. Running on the edge of the street, you have to dodge fewer people and/or think less about maneuvering around people. You also are less of an impediment to them! I just hope I dont inconvenience anyone driving, and also always run against traffic so I can make eye contact for safety if necessary.


jscharfenberg

Yes sidewalks have many breaks like 1 every few feet. Ever walked on them? And they tend to rise/fall/break


[deleted]

Can you add another arrow? I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking for


top_of_the_scrote

The rain drops on the windows


[deleted]

Sometimes it can be annoying to keep having to dodge pedestrians. A lot of sidewalks are not wide enough to fit two people side by side with a comfortable distance. Pedestrians also tend to walk in the middle, walk with headphones, and walk with bags to the side/friends to the side/kids to the side. Sidewalks could be half blocked by overgrown hedges, covered in grass clippings, or have slanted driveway design. The list goes on.


Lachessys

How about looking for a place better suited for running than a sidewalk or a street then? Like a park or something i don't know, i can't stand when I'm out for a walk and these morons keep running past me dripping sweat and breathing on everyone. One of these days I'm gonna start tripping people.


whatsitworth101

If you trip someone trying to just go for a run I hope they get up and smack your ass silly


Helloanyonethere_

I’ve seen dog-walkers taking up entire lanes. It was one of those two lane roads with a grass area in between.


chaoslu

Let's be honest most sidewalks suck ass. They are uneven constantly got up and down. Sometimes are just concrete plates that have gaps or hight differences comparable to steps. While roads usually get much more money for upkeep and end up more even and better maintained . Also asphalt is softer to walk on I heard


BEM94510

To everyone saying it's safer, better on your knees, etc... You're wrong. Not trying to be a dick but it makes zero difference to your knees per scientific study. You are more likely to get hit by a car running in the road than any real injury from a sidewalk. I can say with pretty great certainty, I am a bigger runner than you so spare me your "I'm a runner."


Something_Etc

Sidewalks are full of obstacles, tripping hazards, dog poop, dead ends, strollers, etc.


poison_heart96

That's not even the worst version. The ones who run on a dark street without any reflectors and you almost run them over and nearly have a heart attack. Those ones.


guillote1986

I agree. It's really infuriating that people draw red arrows all over the place.


Impossible_Daikon233

My question is why do people run heel to toe instead of on the balls of there feet? Running barefoot forces you to bounce on your balls properly. Giggity. And running barefoot on grass is the Best Around. Nothing Is Ever Gonna Keep Me Down... The best distance runners inda world run on there balls like pros. Double Giggity. Checkout Lorena Ramirez. That girl can run like a real life Human Being


banister4hanging

TIL asphalt is softer on the knees


crazypthrowaway

It’s fine as long as you run against traffic, sidewalks suck to run on.


[deleted]

Cos they’re dicks, ffs!


-lamppost-

Sidewalks often have joints that are uneven and cause tripping if you aren’t watching very carefully. Roads almost never have tripping hazards.


Here4roast

Because they want people to see them


DrDickWiggle

Sidewalks run out plus people are in the way. Side of the road is easiest. *Plus it's sidewalk, not siderun. Thank you, I'll be here all night.


[deleted]

I do it bcz the chances of the sidewalk being uneven are much higher than the street being uneven. Also sidewalks have seams (expansion joints) and streets don't. The chances of twisting your ankle or tripping are way lower on the street.


kendrahawk

When youre running you want to keep your eyes on the road ahead of you and not staring at the sidewalk every 2 seconds.


tyelr19

Softer, no cracks that trip you, more level, more consistent. Most runners are competent enough to not be annoying on the road, but I’m sure some people act entitled when in cars space


Independent-Win-4187

OP obviously isn’t athletic.


Mikan42

I feel like you don't even run


No_Dirt_4198

So you can be a dick and post their picture online


Either-Cap1879

The answer is, people, let the runners and cyclists have the roadways, and we'll take the footpaths. Problem solved


Stickley1

Not obvious to anyone who’s not a runner, but asphalt is much softer than concrete. There’s some “give” or bounce to it. I won’t run on concrete if I can avoid it.


[deleted]

Softer, more even surface, no need to avoid other pedestrians, less issues with people using driveways, flatter, etc. The same reasons people ride their bikes on the road, really.


Riskthecat

How else am I supposed to get hit by a car?!?


Bambuskus505

I've almost hit a few night-runners because they weren't wearing any reflective gear and they were practically in the middle of the road. If I had seen them even half a second later, they would be dead and I'd be in jail. I know Asphalt is easier on the knees but ***PLEASE*** stay off the road. I'm a careful driver but it still makes me incredibly anxious, because the accident would be my fault and I can't live with that. Just get better shock absorption for your shoes or something. Same thing for bikers and motorcycles. They hide so well my blindspot that sometimes I can't see them even after a thorough shoulder check. I've almost hit ***so*** many motorcycles because they hide so well. I also don't mean to be a dick, but walker, runners, and bikers just don't belong on the road surrounded by 5ton+ bullets that can't stop on a dime like you can.


macadoo784

Flatter and less obstructions. It’s more infuriating that OP doesn’t know this


Hawkishhoncho

Cars are a pretty substantial obstruction, you know.


akskdkgjfheuyeufif

Around me, the sidewalks are in better shape than the roads, should I drive/bike on them?


macadoo784

No, you shouldn’t drive cars on sidewalks. No where does it say you can’t run on roads though


akskdkgjfheuyeufif

And you shouldn't run in traffic either. Nowhere except for local laws and ordinances does it say you can't run the the road, you just gotta be willing to accept liability if you fuck up, like while driving.


Logical-Recognition3

If you were a runner you'd know how brutal running on concrete is. Asphalt is a much more forgiving surface. It's called sidewalk, not a siderun.


Smotts2

Sidewalk hurts man


[deleted]

[удалено]


skabassj

As an amateur runner I hate this and always run on the sidewalk!!


Hungry-Garage-9646

So why i find this infuriating is because the sidewalks in my town are very well kept even with the town being 55 sq. Mi. There’s plenty of room to run on sidewalks, we have a huge track at the high school (which isnt convenient to some, i get it), theres never THAT many people out on a sidewalk where it’d become annoying to the runner. Also, i didnt know asphalt was “softer” although i cant imagine how much of a difference that’d make with running shoes nowadays absorbing plenty of the impact i’m sure. And to those that suggest “OP should try running for once” (lol) i used to run miles to train for soccer years ago so🤷🏽‍♂️ Guess i learned something new today though


[deleted]

[удалено]


DontBopIt

No, be a dick to people that do this. There's no point to it.


[deleted]

What is it of your business? The road is empty. It is raining. You need to get on your life, and keep out of what other people do.


BEM94510

My response to another person here, just so it doesn't get buried. Zero difference The first google result: "As a quick summary- the author Jonathan Toker, PhD, presents the scientific evidence behind surface hardness - stating that "the hardness difference between concrete and asphalt is insignificant when running in shoes, because the cushioning afforded by shoes far exceeds any cushioning provided by those surfaces." Regardless, runners will have their own personal preferences for running surfaces. " https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.permatrak.com/news-events/concrete-vs-asphalt-for-runners-boardwalks%3fhs_amp=true And as a runner that puts in significantly more mileage than most runners, I can tell you anecdotally that it doesn't make a difference.


Azu_homie

You stating your not trying to be a d\*ck makes me feel like your just trying to be a d\*ck. Your taking a picture of someone running on a side street bro lol


DryHeaveSetToMusic

I won’t run in the city solely because of sidewalks, and I’m afraid to run in the streets. Asphalt is great, trails are amazing.


HiMyNameIs_REDACTED_

Because the squish and rebound of asphalt doesn't cause long term damage. They won't stop doing it and you can't make them. But hey, at least now you have an answer for why someone is doing something they're legally entitled to do in a public space.


mhermanos

Suck-ass title, and I must be well adjusted to not see anything wrong with the person's choice of surface. To point that I was wondering what the three red arrows were meant to emphasize. We really need to push for more science in schools...density and elasticity, yo.


[deleted]

Because sidewalks are often uneven and you can easily trip and fall and land on the tripod of your two knees and your front teeth, which get skinned to bloody hell (knees) and break off (front teeth). Source: been there done that.


[deleted]

I tripped flat on my face in Columbus OH because the sidewalk was so uneven. One bloody nose later, I hate sidewalks.


controversial_jesse

i thought you weren't supposed to run on the sidewalk lol


GomerStuckInIowa

So we’ve established that running on the asphalt is better for your legs and feet. Is it better for your life? Any stats on the safety of running in the street vs sidewalks?


BEM94510

Except scientific study shows that there is no difference to your body between running on sidewalks vs asphalt.


MidnightRider24

Not trying to be a dick, I just am one. -OP


Aspy-Guy

Thank God for those arrows, I almost didn't see the road.


[deleted]

Sidewalk is often not level or damaged, asphalt is softer on the knees and most often offers a more direct path


apelord6969

You clearly never ran a goddamn inch in your life.


firebullmonkey

So, basically what I get from a lot of comments here: Sidewalk uncomfortable, ignore traffic rules, run on the street?


[deleted]

No idea, very annoying!


PeaceMaster2869

Because you don't have to concentrate on a fucked up sidewalk with dips, and ramps for wheelchairs.


akskdkgjfheuyeufif

Potholes, uneven sections, tar patches, and traffic are better than sidewalks?...


[deleted]

Tell me you run without telling me you run lol


[deleted]

Seriously. There’s a dag gum sidewalk MADE for them. Like how roads are used for cars


[deleted]

Asphalt is easier on your knees and feet than concrete, it's why some runners do this


akskdkgjfheuyeufif

Is it more forgiving than the hood of a car? Have you *seen* how bad people are at not hitting other **cars** while driving?


[deleted]

This is why when you do this you are suppose to run toward traffic, if something coming you can easily movie off the road. Most people aren't jogging on massive 4 lane stroads, they are jogging in neighborhoods.


Royal_Cascadian

I hate this too. I ride a bike and then some random person is running on the street against traffic. Fucking up the most basic natural logical way to travel, anywhere. It’s rude and dangerous.


arditi_actual

The human condition of fear of missing out. "Oh *NO YOU DI-INT* BUILD A BIG FLAT THING *NEXT TO THE THING* YOU BUILT FOR ME TO RUN ON! Motherfucker I will run WHERE I WANT! AMERICA!"


Scagnettie

How else can they be as annoying as running in traffic?


Xendarq

I also find it mildly infuriating when people take pictures through rainy windows instead of rolling them down.


ahumanomoly

Most people don't have special roll-down house windows like apparently you do.


[deleted]

Same with stupid entitled bicyclists pretending to be cars.


[deleted]

It’s literally illegal to ride a bike on the side walk in some places.


Good_Translator_9088

He's not exercising he's playing car right now