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That popularity has, in turn, shown an increase in events north of the city. The battle between drivers and runners is not new. It is waged on streets every day. Considering eliminating races in Toronto runs counter to the explosion in popularity of run- ning. The divide between the two groups who grudgingly share the road, hit a fever pitch in Toronto this year after angry drivers com- plained of too many road closures with two marathons running in the city three weeks apart. It's the war bver York Region’s streets between drivers and run- nets. words exchanged. Ironhurlngtutu Motorists, runners continue to ba'fil‘é BY CAROLINE GRECH cgrech @yrm g. com ometimes, it's a horn honk, other times it is a rude hand gesture. Often, there are unkind 095 DA‘ Science brings you closer in natural human bearing than ever before 0 SALES and SERVICE to ALL MAKES OF HEARING AIDS 0 TIiIiiIIuS Therapy - ADP. WSIB, OVA AUTHORIZED DISPENSERS - NO CHARGE All Inclusive Loss and Damage lnsur - Hearing Assessments - ilevrborn to Geriatric 0 NO CHARGE All inclusive Manufacturers Warranty - Hearing Aid Evaluations - 34 Day Foil Satisfaction Guarantee 0 Batteries and Hearing Aid Accessories 0 Associated With EiiT (Ear. Nose and Throat) now 0 Assistive Listening Devices FM Systems 0 Full Time Experienced Certified Audiologists - Custom Hearing Protection - Musician and Svrlin Plugs On Hand To Serve You Being visible isn’t the onlvy thing Sgt. Bulmer pleads with runners to do. “Common sense prevails. A big problem is how conspicuous you are for a motorist. Dark colours are very fashionable, but they are brutal when it comes to being vis- ible by a driver," Sgt. Bulmer said. “You need something that con- trasts with your surroundings." But, with the growth in populaâ€" tion, there are more cars and run- ners than ever before. Who has the right of way? It is not illegal to run on the road, but the safety of runners heavily relies on the runners themselves, according to York Regional Police Staff Sgt. Bradley Bulmer who heads up the region's traffic bureau. The Highway Traffic Act states runners are well within their rights to run on the road as long as they face traffic. Five of the nine municipalities in the regiqn host running events. Instead of lecturing his groups on safety, he makes the message For Markham resident and marathon instructor John‘Lang, safety is paramount when taking his groups out for a run. If a light is green, but the hand is up, the runner does not have the right of way, Sgt. Bulmer said. PARK The only time a car has to yield to runners is when runners are legally crossing a road, which means the walk signal is on, he said. “loggers don’t like to wait for pedestrian signals They want to keep moving They jog around the intersection and they’ll go up a few metres and cross away from the intersection because they feel they are defeating the need to stop for a pedestrian signal," Sgt. Bulmer said. He wants them to obey road signals, which seems like a simple task, but he stresses that might mean waiting a little longer to cross at intersections. 0 NO CHARGE All inclusive Loss and Damage insurance - 1 year 0 NO CHARGE Ail Incimm Manuiacturm Warranty - 2 yam o 34 Day Full Satisfaction Guam. 0 A88de With EMT (Ear, lieu mi Throat) Doctor 0 Full Tim Exp-tinned Cotillion Audiologist: “I sometimes can appreciate a driver’s annoyance at a pack of runners on the road. What I don’t appreciate as a mnner are people in cars who feel the need to be overly aggressive, be it loud horn honking. name calling or speeding up and swerving in to ‘play chickâ€" en’ until you end up in a snowbank or ditch." Mr. Martin said, adding running on sidewalks for 26 miles takes a harder toll on a runners joints than running on the road. marllldm » April 25: Run for the Diamond, Uxbridge ~ b April 25: Run for Southlake 10k run/walk, 5k run/walk, Half mara- thon run/walk, Aurora D May 9: Markham Women's 5k D My 1: Angus Glen Canada Day S-miler, Markham For runner Dan Martin, it comes down to runners and driv- ers being conscientious. “I ask them to imagine if their children did what we did â€" play- ing in the road when cars came.” “I talk about their families at home waiting for that phone call from the hospital, about how their kids and loved ones would react to the news of them being struck in a totallyl avoidable accident," Mr. lang said. hit home. summi's'uus FILE more The Audiology Centre Established 1986 1333 Sheppard Ave. 6.. Suite# 340 West End Hearing Established 1991 1243 lslington Ave, Suite# 711 “OIIOOKE 4 1 6- 233-858 1 b April 25: Markham Stouffville Hospital Legacy 5K Run/Walk, Markham There is no shortage of races to par- ticipate in and around York Region no matter your running level: > April 11:Angos Glen Iomita, Markham } szecttheunetpettedWhen youpassajoggerorsomnewalk- ingonfllemadyoureaflyneedto moveoverandallowasnmdmom as possible, because you don't know ifthey knowyouare there. b Keep an eye on your surround ings,particu|ar1y in winter; and b Obeytrafficrules-onlycrossat major intersections; D lfyouarerunningontheroad run in single file; D Use sidewalks if you run on major thoroughfares; D Avoid any type of device that impairs your hearing, such as an iPod; v Be conspicuous colours; Runners: D Avoid hoods. STAY SAFE EVENTS Source Sgt. Bradley Bulmer, York Regional PoIice avoid dark