[ElDiabloJoe]

Concur. While it is human nature to walk/run with the flow of traffic just as we did as kids on bikes, or as adults in cars, it is the least safe method and not the recommended one.

The smart "rule of the road" for walkers / runners is to run on the side of opposing traffic. For the very reasons listed here: eyeballing each other to ensure they are seen, to gauge attentiveness and room if needed to jump aside, to not be overtaken by surprise by the Lance Armstrong wannabe pelotons or golf cars. A walker walking with traffic could easily step left to avoid something on the path (dog poop, stick, trash, etc.) and step right into a golf car or bike coming up behind them.

I was a stubborn "run on the right" guy and ran thousands of miles as such. 15-25 miles per week for years. It just "felt' right to go with the flow of traffic. Someone else eventually pointed out the pros and cons and I was converted.

As for the EarPods, if they are worn listening to music, they will drone out ambient sounds. However, if worn simply for noise-cancelling purposes, they will allow ambient sounds quite clearly. There's no way to tell which way a runner or a cyclist is wearing them.