Forum Topic

Joggers on widened pavements of PHS

Becoming a problem, huffing and puffing, over shoppers, encountered 5 at 8 am this morning on my short walk to Pret

Penelope Becker ● 2343d37 Comments

Wearing masks?  I know it would be hard whilst exercising, but so what, the safety of the many is more important than the wants of the few.  There are lots of other places to run, High St is not one of them.

Bunny Payne ● 2342d

So agree Bunny. What's more the pollution in the High Street smells appalling. What is the point of jogging along it?

Lucille Grant ● 2342d

I wish the bikes didn't have baby carts on the front. Today a young child asleep and the father pulled across in the middle of the road by East Putney, it will be the baby or child who will get hurt first.They should be banned on main roads, so dangerous.

Barbara Stevens ● 2342d

Given the situation we're in can people please not use Pret etc over independent local coffee shops!In terms of the runner, they have a right to run. Others have a right to walk. You need to learn to deal with each other! No-one has priority over someone else unless you're walking with a kid/buggy.

Gabrielle O'Mahoney ● 2342d

These joggers do not need to run along Putney High Street where the pavements are so narrow. There are  many places with wider pavements as well as  open spaces more suitable.

Lucille Grant ● 2342d

It’s a High Street in one of the busiest cities in the world.  80,000 people live in 9 square kms.  What do you people expect?  Honestly, the level of entitlement on this forum sometimes is breathtaking.  People literally think the world should revolve around themI also don’t understand why joggers are singled out as any more of problem than people with pushchairs or dogs, or people carrying shopping bags in either hand or elderly people or those just dawdling along - other than the general intolerance towards anyone exercising that’s usually found here. Given we’re going through a pandemic where studies are now suggesting that up to 80% of those who have been hospitalised in the UK were overweight of obese, we should be actively encouraging jogging and exercise, not moaning about them.  It’s yet another example of where our lazy, sedentary and gluttonous lifestyles are literally killing us

Craig Fordham ● 2342d

Wow Craig! I think we are all only too well aware we are in the midst of a pandemic but the point about joggers on the PHS remains valid. You very rarely see people walking  dogs along the high street and pushchairs  are usually used by parents shopping with their kids. High streets are for shopping primarily and PHS probably one of the narrowest high streets in London. Besides the pollution PHS should primarily be a safe  place for people to walk along the  pavements carrying their shopping, buying a coffee or getting from one end of it to the other. Joggers can jog on elsewhere (and for their health probably should do so.)

Lucille Grant ● 2342d

Sorry Lucille, I don’t agree.  Why are the pavements not for joggers?  Why does anyone have any more right to be on the High Street than anyone else?  And why are joggers more of a risk than anyone else?A society works well - and ours generally works incredibly well - when people consider the needs of others and adapt their behaviour accordingly. This forum is just filled with people who expect others around to them to moderate or change their behaviour to suit their own personal preferences.

Craig Fordham ● 2342d

Actually I think you both have a point. We should be encouraging jogging for its  health benefits but not on  pavement crowded with shoppers and pushchairs.. This does mean however that walkers should stop moaning about joggers on the tow path, common and in parks. As you say, Craig, we need to adapt to the needs of others. I suspect that anti jogging feelings may have been stirred up by the appalling incident with the killing of the cygnet in Richmond Park.

Jane Carter ● 2342d

Craig why would self righteous joggers, who bang on about healthy living, want to jog along one of the most polluted High Streets in London?  We have lots of joggers plip-plopping, huffing, puffing and spluttering along our road on the way to Wandsworth Park and they don't wear masks or practice social distancing, pedestrians have to get out of THEIR way.  And you accuse others of being entitled!?

Sue Hammond ● 2342d

So, to add to the list of places I can't run - Chiswick Mall to Putney Bridge on the Hammersmith side of the river ... and now Putney High Street? Entitlement is the right word for this issue and notable other issues of late.

Simon Sharp ● 2342d

So some people jogging are selfishly not getting out of the way of others, so lets tar jump to the conclusion that all joggers are selfish.  To be clear, ANYONE who thinks others should change their behaviour to suit themselves is entitled - it comes down to individuals, not the activity they’re partaking in.  But where’s the point in recognising that when we can just jump to lazy generalisations to suit or our nasty intolerances....and no I’d rather not jog along polluted streets, but recognising that many others rely on vehicles on the High Street, it would be selfish of me to start demanding the closure of the High Street to traffic.  I’m willing, therefore, to put up with the fumes

Craig Fordham ● 2342d

Please take extra care on the narrow PHS. If you are walking dogs, pushing prams, queuing for buses, walking or just standing please be thoughtful and considerate to each other.Surely this is what we all want?

Ed Robinson ● 2342d

Hello Craig, I have skimmed over the posts as I must go out in a few minutes, so am sorry if I repeat things already stated. I do not jog, I dislike jogging but do not mind others doing it.  What I cannot understand is why so many joggers like to jog along polluted roads (be it PHS, URR, Kings Road, Embankment), but this is just me — it seems to be a contradiction in terms of doing exercise while inhaling car fumes....  As I said, it is just me but I would prefer to be in a park or on a side road. There are [many] complaints about cars, motorbikes, cyclists, pedestrians, old people, children, dogs, you name it.  But we have become more intransigent or selfish perhaps recently.  

Ivonne Holliday ● 2342d

"Why does anyone have any more right to be on the High Street than anyone else?"  Joggers have a perfect right to jog on the High Street pavement as long as they travel at the speed of pedestrians."And why are joggers more of a risk than anyone else?"Why are pavement cyclists more of a risk than 70 year-old pedestrians? Just "personal preferences" after all.

David Ainsworth ● 2342d

Why can't you run  between Chiswick Mall o Putney Bridge on the Hammersmith side of the rive

Lucille Grant ● 2342d

Thank you Ed. Voice of reason. Trouble is  not enough people are considerate to their fellow human beings.

Lucille Grant ● 2342d

After  seeing the  benefits of less pollution on the High Street for a few weeks I would LOVE it to be closed to  cars and motorbikes permanently.

Lucille Grant ● 2342d

I did post this on another thread but, albeit at a tangent, it is relevant here too. https://www.facebook.com/bbccomedy/videos/you-woke-tbtn/10155592951401778/

Ivonne Holliday ● 2342d

Everywhere is overcrowded and overpopulated, hence the constant spats between groups of people.  Look how many tower blocks of flats have been built in the past 20 years.

Bunny Payne ● 2341d

I would like to commend Sue Hammond for the best use of onomatopoeia I have seen for a while!

Mark Curtis ● 2341d

Joggers are more of a risk, like the original post points out, because they are huffing and puffing. I've never seen one wear a mask, and it makes my skin crawl when one goes by me. I try not to breathe in for a few moments. Anyway, who wants to shop in the midst of scantily clad, sweating, huffing and puffing posers? That's why gyms are not shopping centres. My husband is a jogger, but I think anyone jogging on the High Street is inconsiderate.

Lisa Cottam ● 2341d

And might I congratulate you on a spelling triumph?

David Ainsworth ● 2341d

Cheers Mark.  However I didn't know what the hell you meant until I googled it lol.

Sue Hammond ● 2341d

Gabrielle, the only problem is they run so fast they are liable to catch an elderly persons shoulder and knock them flying.

Barbara Stevens ● 2341d

Craig, they could jog on to Bishops Park or the Hurlingham, or run in Richmond Park, or Putney common onto Barnes. That will leave all the fatties you always refer too happy.

Barbara Stevens ● 2341d

No Jane, Joggers do take up the whole pavement. I find you only agree with the men so when a subject you put on here you hope they will then agree with you.

Barbara Stevens ● 2341d

Phillipe, Phollope, Is that what they call them in France Ha Ha.

Barbara Stevens ● 2341d

Craig: As for your comment of "Honestly, the level of entitlement on this forum sometimes is breathtaking.  People literally think the world should revolve around them", do you not see the irony??? What you say applies to you! For a minority to inconvenience the majority is what many would consider entitled. And no one is moaning about people exercising, only people exercising in an inappropriate place. Happy trails!

Lisa Cottam ● 2341d

That's an idea. Rugby players could train in the High Street. Obviously they would be practicing swerving and dodging tackles and doubtless there would be the odd accident, but be fair, it is everybody's High Street …

David Ainsworth ● 2341d

Err? I did not put the subject on the forum and I said that joggers should NOT jog on crowded pavements. Your comment that I only agree with men is pathetic. Please read what people say and think before you race to the keyboard with your next personal insult. Thankyou

Jane Carter ● 2341d

Should have read THINK i.e you think

Jane Carter ● 2341d

Joggers could stay at home and jog on the spot, but that's not the point.They are predestrians and have a right to jog and as long as they are considerate I do not see an issue.On the plus side the more fit people the better. It will leave more resources for those who aren't as healthy.Another welcome observation is an increase in couples and women jogging.Now where are my running shoes?

Ed Robinson ● 2341d

Being considerate means wearing a mask.

Lisa Cottam ● 2341d

Then we should ask politely for for joggers and cyclists to wear a mouth and nose covering.It's not a government requirement but we can still ask politely.

Ed Robinson ● 2341d

Good luck with that, you'll have to be fast!

Lisa Cottam ● 2340d

The matter relates to the consideration of others in urban spaces. Joggers on the High Street do not reflect consideration or sometimes care for anyone at this difficult time.

Miles Thompson ● 2338d