A battle has broken out over the sidewalks in Canada害羞草研究所檚 most populous city.

Toronto has divided into factions. Torontonian against Torontonian, runner against walker 害羞草研究所� or so the comment sections of some online videos would have you believe.

A small cohort of Toronto residents have taken issue with some of the city害羞草研究所檚 running clubs, who they claim treat the sidewalks like their personal treadmills, fellow pedestrians be damned.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檒l turn a corner and it害羞草研究所檚 just a large group running at you, and you honestly don害羞草研究所檛 really know what to do,害羞草研究所� said Leah Madley, an east-end Toronto resident who害羞草研究所檚 had several run-ins with large running groups.

害羞草研究所淚 mean, obviously you are the pedestrian, but it害羞草研究所檚 more safe to just go off to the side. But if you have bags with you, they rub up against the bags.害羞草研究所�

Madley害羞草研究所檚 worst encounter with one of the groups happened two months ago, and became the subject of a quasi-viral TikTok video. She said she was out with her then-four-month-old puppy Cher, and one of the groups appeared.

Madley was standing near a patch of grass, she said, and Cher was wearing a light on her collar for visibility.

Even so, she said, a passing runner kicked the dog, who only weighed a couple of kilograms at the time.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 sure it was not intentional,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淗owever, it害羞草研究所檚 the fact that they didn害羞草研究所檛 move out of the way.害羞草研究所�

An online petition calling for the city to rein in its runners had garnered more than 500 signatures, including Madley害羞草研究所檚, by Friday.

害羞草研究所淲e need some safety regulations here,害羞草研究所� she said.

The petition, created by another TikToker, seeks to limit the size of running clubs in Toronto or designate specific lanes for them to use.

For its part, the City of Toronto said it gets involved when large running events require a street closure.

害羞草研究所淗owever, the City does not issue permits for impromptu running events like these,害羞草研究所� a spokesperson said in an email. 害羞草研究所淭he City encourages running groups with large memberships to be considerate and mindful of those they share public spaces with during their activity.害羞草研究所�

The spokesperson did not say whether thecity would entertain the petition.

But Michael Brennan, a founding member of the midtown Toronto Running Club, said a few inconsiderate runners are giving the community a bad name.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 in three different uptown clubs and we害羞草研究所檝e never had problems like the recent downtown drama,害羞草研究所� he said by email.

For the Toronto Running Club, safety and etiquette are top priority. They wear high-visibility gear, warn those running behind of upcoming vehicles, pedestrians and bikes, and always move out of the way for other sidewalk users, Brennan said.

In general, he said, issues like those being discussed online are not widespread.

害羞草研究所淧robably 98 per cent of runners follow good safety and courtesy protocols but it害羞草研究所檚 the two per cent who cause problems like the recent fiasco downtown,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 being blown way out of proportion.害羞草研究所�

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press