Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Joggers in the Passage
What does HoL think about joggers using the passage? I find it so worrying that I have become uncomfortable walking much through the passage at the moment, despite it being otherwise a haven from the traffic of Green Lanes and Wightman Road.
The passage is a little less than 2m wide, and, although open to the skies, quite an enclosed space, so good social distancing is not really possible. Most people walking quietly through it are currently careful to allow others to leave before they enter, and to pass one another as distantly as possible. That doesn't happen with joggers. Breathing heavily, they come at a pace that leaves no option of avoiding uncomfortably close contact. And research about how long the virus remains in the air after it has been breathed out, whether as droplets or aerosol, even outdoors, remains unclear and far from reassuring.
How joggers behave towards other pavement users can't easily be regulated - although maybe it's worth noting that, in April, the city of Paris simply banned all such outdoor exercise between 10am and 7pm, as a safety measure and it may yet come. But perhaps common sense and social consensus might make a difference meanwhile? Maybe it is worth saying something to joggers? This morning, possibly rashly, I spoke to two I met in the passage. One, pleasant and responsive, said he was aware of the problem and tried not to enter the passage when other users were present. The other was merely aggressive and abusive.
I'd be really interested to know what other HoL users think about this? I'd also be interested to know if there are joggers choosing not to use the passage at the moment, perhaps because they've become aware of how much concern and even alarm their appearance raises in other users? And of course also I'd be interested in reasoning from joggers who continue to use it regardless.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by kotkas on
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I run every day but couldn't possibly bring myself to jogging in the passage. It's such a moronic thing to do given that it can be very busy, and every 70 metres or so one has to slow down and take care for people crossing on the sidewalk. I agree - most people who take the passage are super considerate and joggers should stay out.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon T on
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Since March I've used the Passage once: a hop last week from Burgoyne to Umfreville. Halfway along someone entered the far end; not a heavy-breathing jogger fortunately but still too proximate. For the same reason the last time I visited Finsbury Park (the park) was late March; the numbers of joggers/cyclists then meant I haven't been back since.
The Ladder and Wightman Rd pavements are open and wider, so those are the routes I take now.
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Permalink Reply by Shar on
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I find the situation to be binary. Most runners are considerate (though personally I'd probably want to avoid having to stop so often). Others huff and puff past a without regard for distancing and that makes me uncomfy.
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Permalink Reply by KP on
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I think they should not be using the passage. As you mention David some people are using common sense and wait until people are through before they enter on the opposite side as there is not enough space for 2 people to pass safely. Like others have said I have had very mixed experiences with joggers in Harringay more widely. Some understand social distancing and why you wouldn't want their sweat near you - so they run around. Others are less considerate. I was walking along Wightman the other day when a girl jogged right past me, way too close for comfort, and when I said something she gave me the finger
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I find it extraordinary that a casual jogger can try this, presumably believing that they can outrun whomever they have confronted. I’m no spring chicken but my runs average 3:55/km; I’d relish the opportunity to run along and continue the debate...
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Yep I was tempted to do that (and more to be honest!) but was on my way to work and decided it probably wasn't worth the energy. She could probably see I wasn't in a position to run anywhere. If I was a big bloke/ person I doubt she would have reacted that way
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Well, with the rain predicted for this weekend, you could carry an opened umbrella and they will have to give you a decent amount of space when they're jogging.
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Permalink Reply by tigha on
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I’m pretty gobsmacked at this. It seems people have a real problem with joggers. I would never have known. I would say that the massive majority I have come across are very conscientious and move across, whereever they are so we have 2metres distance. Yes of course as in any group, you will have the inconsiderate
but as for joggers on the passageway, well as you say, there is no room to do that. But for goodness sake, if you are taking the risk to walk down the passageway, then you are obviously happy to take the risk you might be passing someone, and it certainly won’t be 2metres apart. Tbh when we were really in the thick of Covid 3-4months ago, I never understood why they hadn’t blocked the passage way off. And if you don’t want to take the risk, then you can go the long way round and avoid it. Just saying
I’m a runner, not sure if that is the same as a jogger, but I don’t run along the passageway as it’s not my usual run route. But I would now, if it was. As by now, we have all been around this long enough to make decisions about what we feel comfortable with. I now feel ok about running along the passageway, now numbers are so much better, and outside is known to be so much safer. But if others don’t feel happy about who they might come across, and yes it might be a jogger,then just choose a different route
i mean if it’s a no to joggers, then you also need to think about bikes, then there are the oldies who walk too slowly, and the worst are people with prams or small children who take up the most room,
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Wow. For a nurse you sure are inconsiderate in real life. Love how you criticise the oldies, the people with prams and small children. Cause from what I understand David's concerns are about joggers and the droplets of sweat when they jog or run past you. Not about them taking too much space. I assume David takes the passage because maybe like me he tries to avoid Green Lanes where quite frankly people are taking the social distancing piss at each other.
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That's exactly the reason I use the passage - to avoid Green Lanes where the concept of social distancing has been totally ignored from the beginning!
Tigha you say we are taking a risk if we use the passage but I don't really think so. If I see someone if coming down in the opposite direction I just wait for them to exit before I walk down. It's not a long wait. Most people seem to understand and do the same thing
It's just about being considerate to others and I have come across a fair number of joggers/runners who aren't - but no-one is saying it's all of them!
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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Tigha. You may have been around long enough to make decisions that you feel comfortable with but what about the rest of us who are not comfortable with your decisions ?
Oldies may well walk too slowly ( in your view ) but they and people with prams and their children are not going to be sweating and panting like you.
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Not sure if I've missed something here but it seems pretty clear to me that maladyboy was being sarcastic...
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