Juniors crossing roads

[sketchweppers]

I had a thought the other day, after my son (M14) attempted a green course. All the courses up to light green at the event did not cross any roads, but green, blue and brown crossed a quiet road twice (unmanned crossings).
If the BOF guidelines suggest that juniors under 16 should not cross roads with 'some' traffic - is it going to cause problems wth insurance if M/W14 (and younger) choose to run courses which cross roads? It didn't really bother me, but may be a potential issue.

[NFKleanne]

I read somewhere about junior road crossings whilst on holiday last week. I was talking to one of my kids (W16) and she was not impressed by the fact it suggested that she should not run a more difficult course requiring a road crossing as she was only 15 - I think both her and her twin brother are both sensible enough to cross a road after all they have both been crossing roads to walk to high school since they where 11.
I also see how insurance would be affected, but I thought we entered at our own risk anyway!!!

[denzil53]

If you are referring to the event I attended recently, where Green, Blue and Brown crossed a quiet road once on the way to the start, and again in the early part of the course, be assured that the crossings, although unmanned, were clearly signed and runners (even young ones) were not put in a vulnerable situation. The information on road crossings was available prior to registration.

Of course, you may be referring to a completely different event . . . . .

[Big Jon]

Shows the impracticality of attempts by insurance company to force ridiculous standards onto sports events that the insurers obviously know sweet FA about.

[DaveR]

The actual quote from the most recent issue of Focus is:

"Participants under 16 should not be competing on courses that tempt, or require them to run across roads that contain significant traffic. Roads with traffic management that induce low speeds (15mph as on many campuses) are acceptable but busy public roads are not."

So for under 16s "busy public roads" and roads with "significant" traffic are definitely BAD, roads with "traffic management" are GOOD and there is a large range in the middle that, presumably, you decide for yourself (with the aid of a suitable risk assessment form).

I'm not sure that this is very different from what I would have done anyway before this whole issue arose.

[Gross]

Gone are the days when motorways were closed for orienteering.... think the old Solo events in Norway spring to mind ..... bet Terry doesn't have the Glasgow Parks crossing the M8

[graeme]

If you want to cross the M8, you'll have to use the new extended Dechmont map! (subject to planning).

Why did the chicken cross the road? To celebrate its 16th birthday...

[buzz]

Gone are the days when motorways were closed for orienteering....

Ah yes, I remember playing football on the M54 after an event near Telford. The motorway hadn't been opened yet, come to think of it I'm not sure Telford had been built either!

[Roger]

My 10km PB (slower than Lard's but nevertheless respectable) was set on the M40 before I'd reached M40.

[follyfoot]

...

[DIDSCO]

So at 16 in the UK you're allowed to:

Join the army
Have an abortion
Get married
Get drunk with your 18 year old mates at the pub

and cross the road by yourself

...Britain gone mad again

[yted]

'yted' reported that in York, Junior courses have been set in 'traffic free' areas - but I can confirm that the junior courses have crossed both pedestrianised streets, and streets with regular, yet restricted traffic - that include delivery vehicles, taxis etc.. and the speed is not limited other than by the standard 30mph limit.

Once again, the junior courses in York have always been within the pedestrianised area or on traffic free paths or parks. As the written information has always said, some traffic is allowed in the pedestrianised areas before 11.30. BUT anyone who has been to York will know that, regardless of the speed limit, there is no way any vehicle could exceed 10 mph on bank holiday Monday! As all veteran York runners are aware, the mass of pedestrians slows down the orienteers never mind the small amount of traffic.

...Britain gone mad again

And I'm still absolutely convinced that it is irresponsible to have juniors crossing roads under time pressure. It's the "time pressure" bit that matters. Anyone who plans and controls can probably imagine how they would feel if a youngster got runover racing across a road. I'm lucky because next year I'm planning in Filey and York and both areas allow technical courses for the juniors with no potentially dangerous road crossings. It takes a lot of time and energy and persuasion to get permission for these areas but I think it's worth it.