Running University Lake - A Blessing and a Curse

On the one hand, this is one of the most enjoyable runs not just in Baton Rouge and not just in Louisiana. I've run all over the Southeast U.S. and in many European countries and this is still my favorite run of them all. Sure, the nostalgia factor of running on the campus where I went to school may play a part, but I think we can all agree this is a great little 3-4 mile track.

One problem: the stretch along Stanford Ave. between E. Lakeshore Dr. and S. Lakeshore Dr. is probably one of the most dangerous areas to run in all of Baton Rouge. (Of course, it gets even worse if you don't take the S. Lakeshore Dr. loop and instead continue along Stanford Ave. all the way back to Milford Wampold Memorial Park.) This is due to a number of factors. First off, the sidewalk is basically on the road. Second, you have some telephone polls encroaching the little sidewalk space you do have. Third, the path near the condos has a number of roots and elevation changes, making it difficult to go slightly off path to avoid oncoming pedestrians who don't happen to be in single file. And fourth, and perhaps most unnerving, car traffic often occupies the lane closest to the sidewalk even when the other lane is open. Why they do this is beyond me, but it's in excess of 90% of drivers by my very unscientific internal calculator.

Has the City ever considered something as simple as some signage encouraging (but not requiring) drivers to occupy the center lanes where possible? Why must runners simultaneously (a) be tempted to run along one of the best routes around while also (b) greatly increasing their chances of being struck by a vehicle relative to other running routes in the area?