A battle has broken out over the sidewalks in Canada91裸聊视频檚 most populous city.

Toronto has divided into factions. Torontonian against Torontonian, runner against walker 91裸聊视频� 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 city91裸聊视频檚 running clubs, who they claim treat the sidewalks like their personal treadmills, fellow pedestrians be damned.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檒l turn a corner and it91裸聊视频檚 just a large group running at you, and you honestly don91裸聊视频檛 really know what to do,91裸聊视频� said Leah Madley, an east-end Toronto resident who91裸聊视频檚 had several run-ins with large running groups.

91裸聊视频淚 mean, obviously you are the pedestrian, but it91裸聊视频檚 more safe to just go off to the side. But if you have bags with you, they rub up against the bags.91裸聊视频�

Madley91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 sure it was not intentional,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淗owever, it91裸聊视频檚 the fact that they didn91裸聊视频檛 move out of the way.91裸聊视频�

An online petition calling for the city to rein in its runners had garnered more than 500 signatures, including Madley91裸聊视频檚, by Friday.

91裸聊视频淲e need some safety regulations here,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淗owever, the City does not issue permits for impromptu running events like these,91裸聊视频� a spokesperson said in an email. 91裸聊视频淭he City encourages running groups with large memberships to be considerate and mindful of those they share public spaces with during their activity.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 in three different uptown clubs and we91裸聊视频檝e never had problems like the recent downtown drama,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淧robably 98 per cent of runners follow good safety and courtesy protocols but it91裸聊视频檚 the two per cent who cause problems like the recent fiasco downtown,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 being blown way out of proportion.91裸聊视频�

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press