A braking system for a treadmill having a tread that rotates around a front axle and a rear axle and a side rail on each side of the tread that does not move includes a brake configured to apply a braking force to one of the front axle and the rear axle, a controller in communication with the brake, and a weight sensor under each side rail configured to detect a load indicating that a user is standing on the side rails, each weight sensor in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to, when the tread is moving, engage the brake when a first signal is received from each weight sensor contemporaneously that a load is detected and disengage the brake when a second signal is received from each weight sensor contemporaneously that the load is removed.