Are You Running on the Wrong Side of the Road in Massachusetts? Here Is What MassDOT Says

This past weekend was absolutely gorgeous, and lately I've been on a bit of a kick getting outside for walks and runs with my son. So I loaded him into the jogging stroller and hit the road for some fresh air, exercise and a little father-son time.

I've always had one rule when I'm out there. If I'm walking, jogging or running, I go against traffic, so I can see the cars coming toward me. When I'm riding my bike, however, I always ride with traffic, going in the same direction as the vehicles around me.

During Saturday morning's run, however, I saw another runner up ahead of me who was also pushing a stroller. The only problem was, we were on the same side of the road, coming directly toward one another. Suddenly, a rule I've followed pretty much my entire life had me wondering: wait a minute, which one of us is actually on the right side?

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Which Way Should You Walk or Run in Massachusetts?

As it turns out, my longtime habit was on the right track. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, pedestrians should use sidewalks whenever they're available. If there isn't a sidewalk, MassDOT recommends walking facing traffic and as far away from moving vehicles as possible.

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The state's regulations get even more specific on undivided state highways. When there is no sidewalk, pedestrians should, when possible, use the left side of the roadway or shoulder while facing approaching traffic. So whether you're out for a walk, jog or run, the idea is that you should be able to see the vehicles coming toward you instead of having them approach from behind.

What About Riding a Bicycle?

Here's where things flip completely. The Massachusetts Driver's Manual states that bicyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic, unless signs or road markings indicate otherwise. That means walking and running generally have you facing cars, while riding your bicycle has you moving along with them.

READ MORE: Massachusetts Parents Should Know These Laws About E-Bikes

Apparently, I've been doing both correctly all along, but it took another dad or mom with a stroller coming toward me to finally make me look it up. It's one of those simple rules of the road that plenty of us probably learned years ago but may have never actually questioned. Cue "The More You Know" shooting star.