The recent accident involving a jogger being hit by a car because he was running along the main road instead of the pedestrian lane got me thinking about what measures could have been in place to prevent such a mishap from happening again.
My initial reaction was to put up signboards to warn joggers off the roads. Then I remembered my own experience jogging around Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium. Despite my best effort to stick to the sidewalk, there are so many cracks and potholes that if I took my eyes off the path even for a split second, it could spell trouble.
While I try to stick to the pedestrian lane, there are times when I’m attempted to join the dozens of joggers on the roads, just so I could focus solely on the run instead of trying to avoid all the possible hazards along the way.
Then there is the comfort issue. Sidewalks are made of cement, which is fine for pedestrians.
But for us joggers, it is markedly harder on the joints than asphalt. For athletes training for competitions, it is understandable that they would avoid sidewalks at all costs.
The health authority has been encouraging the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle by moving more for years now, and it seems to be working. I have been seeing more joggers at stadium, even at 6am!
It would be good to see proper lanes, ones paved with asphalt, be constructed to accommodate the rising number of joggers. With more people joining the “get healthy” bandwagon, I believe a dedicated recreational area for these health enthusiasts would be timely.
Health Nut
