He was simply answering the question as to why they do it. I am a runner and I know that what he says is true. However, I run on the sidewalk.

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."

Here, once an for all, is the proof that running on asphalt
has no advantage over concrete, since they are both
at least a thousand times harder than your running shoe.
References:
Epoxy Asphalt for Orthotropic Steel Bridge Decks | ChemCo Systems
http://physics.uwstout.edu/strength/tables/cyoungs.htm
Comp. modulus of elasticity, or Young's modulus for materials:
Rubber (average) = .4 (k.p.s.i.)
Composite Asphalt = 380
Wood (compression along grain) = 1,500
Concrete = 4,500
Steel = 30,000
Using these numbers, this is the percentage of energy that is
absorbed by a rubber-based shoe running over each of
these surfaces:
Shoe Surface
Asphalt 99.89% 0.11%
Wood 99.97% 0.03%
Concrete 99.99% 0.01%
Steel >99.99% 0.001%
In running shoes, training on concrete is like adding one
extra stride's worth of shock for every every thousand
strides that you would take on asphalt, or about one stride per mile.
Since the cushioning difference between any two shoe models
is much more that 0.01%, I submit that shoe choice, and not
surface choice, is the only thing that matters for injury prevention
on hard surfaces.

I agree with most that it seems like you are taking an unnecessary risk walking in the cart lane when there is a perfectly good sidewalk available. But I question the comments, "death wish" and "organ donars" since there are many streets in the Villages where there is no other place to walk. Is it somehow less risky to walk in the cart path when there is no sidewalk available? I think the risk is probably about the same.

Thanks, I just knew to myself that running on asphalt was easier on joints was BS.

Yep.


Facts matter. :ho:

There are plenty residential streets for a runner to use.

There, the traffic is at least slower moving and the runner is not jepardizing the golf cart lane.

If you were really wondering WHY they were doing so WHY didn't`t you ask them instead of asking for opinions on here ? You would have been more likely to get the answer to your question from the source of your aggravation .

Because they won't stop running to answer you. Or who wants to stop their car/t in the street to go ask a runner why s/he's not on the sidewalk? That solution becomes part of the problem.

Whereas on here, the runners who are not running at the time of your question might answer you.

Very simple explanation.
VILLAGE ENTITLEMENT ATTITUDE! L.O.L God i crack myself up~
:girlneener:

We saw a biker on the diamond lane the other day approaching a walker in same lane, facing traffic. The biker had to go into the car lane to avoid the walker. SMH There was a side-walk right next to the diamond lane and 'said' walker.

...

Exactly! :oops:

There was a woman walking on Delmar in the cart lane last night when we were leaving Spanish Springs. Fortunately, she had on a reflective vest and was carrying a big flashlight. There are NO sidewalks there. Then, when you factor in the type of traffic on the "multi-modal" paths, IMO, The Villages does not score well in "walkability."

Except......
When a driver of a car or cart encounters a road with no sidewalk (and usually no cart lane), THEN the walkers are permitted to walk in the road, and it is incumbent upon the driver to use extra caution. When the same car or cart is driving on a road with a cart lane and a sidewalk right next to it, the walkers ARE NOT entitled to be in the road, and may present an unexpected hazard, especially to carts and bicycles. So, IMHO, the risk is greater when the walker is breaking the law and has planted himself in a place where he SHOULD NOT BE.

I am a runner (40 years). I had an issue with my shins and back a number of years ago and asked the doctor about it. He stated that I should not run on concrete and run on pavement if at all possible. I did and the issues went away.
I have had a few people yell at me or stop in in the street telling me to get on the sidewalk (99% of the time the 'yellers' are between Jan and April). I called the Sheriff's department one morning after being yelled at. A deputy told me that I had the right to run in the cart path, he said that I need to run into the traffic in order to see the cars coming at me. When I run, I jump on the sidewalk or grass when a cart and car next to the cart are coming at me. But when it is just a cart, I stay in the cart lane.

Once again, bottom line, it is easier on the runner's body to run on pavement.