Calls for joggers to avoid busy streets after bridge attack

A dramatic incident in which a female pedestrian narrowly avoided being struck by a bus after she was pushed on to a busy road by a jogger has sparked debate over whether runners should have their own lanes.

CCTV footage of the 33-year-old woman falling in the path of an approaching bus has gone viral since it was released as part of an appeal for witnesses on Tuesday.

While police said they have received a “good response” to the video, the incident has also led critics of inconsiderate joggers to call for a designated zone on streets which will keep them away from pedestrians.

The footage, taken on Putney Bridge in south westlondoninmay,shows a male jogger barging into the woman, causing her to fall. The Metropolitan Police said the jogger ran the other way across the bridge around 15 minutes later and the victim attempted to speak to him, but “he did not acknowledge her”.

Now, the so-called “jogger rage” incident has led some to argue that joggers should not be allowed to run where other people are walking.

Author Chas Newky-burden said aggressive joggers were an “embarrassement” and suggested those embarking on longer distance runs should follow more “secluded” courses so that they are not running “pumped yet exhausted” down busy streets.

The writer, Julie Bindel, said it was “not right” for joggers to run towards pedestrians at full speed while showing their “clear irritation” at the fact someone was in their way.

In a debate on Radio 4, she said: “It’s exactly like pedestrians on the pavement when cyclists decide that they’re going to take their bicycle off theroadwheretheyshouldbe.

“So I think that runners should have their designated spots, and we should give priority to that, and that we shouldn’t be pushed out of the way under any circumstances.”

However, others dismissed the idea of “jogger rage” and said the man involved in the incident in London should be treated the same as anyone else who is alleged to have committed a crime.

Writing on Twitter, Ken Murray said: “Plenty of room on that pavement for joggers & pedestrians. What needs to happen is this jogger not to be a violent thug.”

Another Twitter user, Sophia Cannon, stated: “I note the word ‘thug’ is not used but the word ‘jogger’.”

Christopher Pittard, meanwhile, said that joggers were not the biggest threat to pedestrians.

He wrote: “Joggers aren’t really a problem; pavement cyclists, on the other hand, are the worst people imaginable.”