Look out! All of the hazards you face walking along the Meadows

Ah the Meadows. They're pretty, they're Instagrammable, but they are also unbelievably hazardous. Don't be fooled by the picturesque nature of it. Walking to uni along the Meadows is a minefield of potential perils, so here they are:

Dogs

Dogs are cute, which makes them a distraction that can put you at risk of harm. While you're staring longingly at that golden retriever, there is a cyclist heading straight towards you, but you neglect to notice this and only just avoid a major collision at the last minute by jumping out of the cycle lane and back onto the pedestrian path.

Dogs are also a hazard in that they are energetic, and want to run everywhere. Fear the excitable dog who comes running towards you as they may well take you down in their quest to catch their ball. Dogs are also a tripping hazard, so be alert or risk being tripped up by a small, unsuspecting but speedy dog.

Sweet and unsuspecting

Runners

Runners are everywhere on the Meadows. That's fine, but you need to be aware of them because they have a habit of appearing out of nowhere. Also be aware especially in the evenings and on weekends when there are large groups of runners. If you're truly unlucky, then you might feel like you're in a David Attenborough documentary as a large herd of enthusiastic runners come bounding towards you with no escape in sight.

The Elements

When it's windy on the Meadows, it's windy. When it's raining on the Meadows, you can bet that you're going to arrive to uni drenched. When it's sunny the Meadows are beautiful, but when it's not sunny, the weather is miserable so prepare to face the full brunt of the elements.

Mud, glorious mud

Mud

The Meadows can become very muddy. How is this a hazard? It's a hazard because if you're not looking where you're going, you may well land up with sticky brown mud on your clean shoes. "I'll just stick to the path," you say. That probably won't happen because of…

People who walk in big groups and block the path

People who walk in groups and spread across the whole path need to understand that they are causing unnecessary hazards for everyone else because it is most likely that to get around them, you will either have to go on the grass and get muddy, or walk in the cycle lane and risk getting run down by a cyclist.

Cyclists

Cyclists are prolific on the Meadows. They have their own designated cycle lanes. Even so, the crossing at the middle of the Meadows at the bottom of Quarter Mile is quite possibly the most dangerous part of the Meadows, due to the fact that cyclists never stop to let you go, and very rarely signal to tell you which way they're going. It is honestly a surprise that I am still alive to write this article considering the number of times I have nearly been sent flying by cyclists who think they own the Meadows.

Brace yourself, take your life in your hands and tackle this crossing if you dare

Children

Children come in several forms on the Meadows, whether they're doing PE, dossing about after school, or have been let loose from their pushchair prisons, they are everywhere. Most dangerous are arguably toddlers. Like dogs, small children appear out of nowhere and can easily trip you up. Similar to people who walk right across the path, parents with buggies often walk in pairs or groups and block up the paths, so onto the mud or into the cycle lane you go.

People on their phones

We are all guilty of walking and using our phones. Because the Meadows are so damn pretty, it means that loads of people are going to be distracted by their Insta opportunities. Be aware of sudden stops and being walked into – people don't pay attention.

Get that Insta aesthetic