Are You a Runner? When Do You Have the Right of Way in Ohio? Laws and Safety Tips for Ohio's Road Runners

For those of you who love that runner's high, we have some laws and safety tips which you may find interesting!

1. If you can, USE THE SIDEWALK: Runners are considered pedestrians in Ohio. Ohio Law states that where a sidewalk is provided and "its use is practicable" it is unlawful to run in the street.

2. If there is no sidewalk, or you can't use it, USE THE SHOULDER: Where there is no sidewalk, you must walk or run on the shoulder or "as far as practicable" from the roadway.

3. FACE TRAFFIC: If it is a two way street, you must run on the left side, i.e. facing oncoming traffic.

4. DON'T RUN ON FREEWAYS: Ohio law defines a freeway as "a divided multi-lane highway for through traffic with all crossroads separated in grade and with full control of access."

5. USE MARKED CROSSWALKS: In intersections with traffic control signals in operation, you cannot lawfully cross anywhere except in the marked crosswalk.

6. YOU DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY: Although drivers must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian on a sidewalk, within a marked crosswalk, or within an unmarked crosswalk, you must yield the right of way to "all vehicles, trackless trolleys, or streetcars".

7. DON'T DART. DON'T CUT ACROSS INTERSECTIONS: Ohio law prohibits pedestrians from suddenly leaving a curb or "other place of safety" to walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is "so close as to constitute an immediate hazard." You are also prohibited from crossing an intersection diagonally, unless authorized by an official traffic control device.