Sidewalk Rules

[OhWiseOne]

When you are walking on the sidewalk do you follow the same rules that apply to driving on the road with regards to where you walk?
I walk on the right side but it appears that some have walking licenses that are different than their drivers license.

 

[tbrguy]

European left, European right?

Could you please explain in what way the left and right that you use differs from the left and right that I use? I'm totally confused.

But in answer to the spirit of your question, I take the line of least resistance when walking down a pavement.

 

[nudeyorker]

The sidewalks in NYC are like pedestrian interstate freeways and others are like country roads. Most everyone knows how to maneuver respectfully except a hand full of tourists and woman with strollers (don't get me started on the strollers ladies)
The sidewalks in the heavy pedestrian areas of Honolulu are very efficient except in Waikiki where it's usually a big free for all whether you are walking or driving.

 

[Catchoftheday]

No way - Pavement Rules (and rock too)

Pavement - Cut Your Hair - YouTube :tongue:

 

[EllieP]

I usually follow traffic patterns on the sidewalk. And that got me into trouble on my first visit to the UK as an adult, LOL! I'm serious. I knew about driving left but forgot about walking left. I actually had one "gentleman" berate me for improper "footpath etiquette."

 

[OhWiseOne]

European left, European right?

Could you please explain in what way the left and right that you use differs from the left and right that I use? I'm totally confused.

But in answer to the spirit of your question, I take the line of least resistance when walking down a pavement.

I put those in that way because some countries the left side is the proper side to drive on and I didn't want to throw off the poll results.

 

[deleted703704]

But in answer to the spirit of your question, I take the line of least resistance when walking down a pavement.

Ditto

 

[IntoxicatingToxin]

I walk down the middle unless there are people coming towards me, then I move to the right. If they're biking or have a stroller (or something else that takes up most of the sidewalk) then I'll just go completely into the grass or whatever and let them have free reign of the sidewalk until they have passed me.

 

[NIMBUS]

It's particularly annoying in London, where people tend to wander around anywhere that they feel - and many (possibly due to being tourists from right-side driving countries) keep to the right, which I find extremely irritating.

I was taught, from childhood, to follow the same etiquette as on the road, i.e. to keep left on the pavement (in the UK) and on roads without footpaths to keep to the right hand side of the road.

I was taught that there was a good reason for this - safety. By keeping to the left on a pavement you are walking nearest to the approaching traffic but towards it, so that you can see what it is doing or anticipate what it is likely to do. For example, a vehicle may be travelling close to the kerb, with mirrors (or load) overhanging the footpath. If you walk on the right (UK), with your back to the traffic, the first that you will know is when the overhanging item strikes you. Similarly, if a vehicle appears to be running out of control towards the footpath you are in a position to take avoiding action (if you're paying attention!).

Likewise, on country lanes without footpaths you walk on the right of the road, towards approaching traffic, giving them greatest opportunity to see you and you them.

 

[LargeSide]

If there is nobody else coming towards me on the sidewalk, I tend to walk in the middle. Otherwise, I thinking driving rules should be applied. Some people don't follow this, but I've also seen a lot of idiot drivers. Maybe they're the same people.

 

[OhWiseOne]

If there is nobody else coming towards me on the sidewalk, I tend to walk in the middle. Otherwise, I thinking driving rules should be applied. Some people don't follow this, but I've also seen a lot of idiot drivers. Maybe they're the same people.

Please note the number of votes for the last choice in the poll. I think that is the group you are discussing. :drive:

 

[D_22]

Wow, I have never heard of this rule. I tend to just walk wherever, but it helps that I generally tend to walk pretty fast, mostly when I'm in the city. I can maneuver well around people and things, but they'll occasionally be the slow pokes, tourists, etc. It's the damn subways that are annoying. People are so damn slow there and make you miss the damn train!

 

[dude_007]

It is the sidewalk, the only rule I know of is that a sidewalk is for pedestrians, which a lot of dumb dumbs on bicycles seem to not understand.

 

[OhWiseOne]

Wow, I have never heard of this rule. I tend to just walk wherever, but it helps that I generally tend to walk pretty fast, mostly when I'm in the city. I can maneuver well around people and things, but they'll occasionally be the slow pokes, tourists, etc. It's the damn subways that are annoying. People are so damn slow there and make you miss the damn train!

*Looking for the rules book to forward to D* :biggrin1:

 

[nudeyorker]

This more or less sums up my feelings on the matter.
Think You Own the Sidewalk?; Etiquette by New York Pedestrians Is Showing a Strain - New York Times

 

[D_Bubba_Butter]

In the UK, we have pavements, so I wouldn't know.

When in New York, I constantly have to repeat the mantra, "I am a crab, I am a crab, I am a crab," in my head (& occasionally out loud), to remind me to walk sideways.

I think the sidewalk is a brilliant idea, as it reduces the surface area available for head on collision with opposing pedestrians. It's somewhat let down by the US obesity epidemic.

 

[OhWiseOne]

This more or less sums up my feelings on the matter.
Think You Own the Sidewalk?; Etiquette by New York Pedestrians Is Showing a Strain - New York Times

Mhmmm #2 and #3.

 

[Jason]

In the UK there is no rule about the side of the pavement on which you walk.

When walking on a road without a pavement pedestrians should walk so that they face oncoming traffic, so in the UK that's walk on the right-hand side of the road. This is a safety issue - if a car comes too close you have a chance to jump in the ditch.

 

[OhWiseOne]

In the UK, we have pavements, so I wouldn't know.

When in New York, I constantly have to repeat the mantra, "I am a crab, I am a crab, I am a crab," in my head (& occasionally out loud), to remind me to walk sideways.

I think the sidewalk is a brilliant idea, as it reduces the surface area available for head on collision with opposing pedestrians. It's somewhat let down by the US obesity epidemic.

In the UK there is no rule about the side of the pavement on which you walk.

When walking on a road without a pavement pedestrians should walk so that they face oncoming traffic, so in the UK that's walk on the right-hand side of the road. This is a safety issue - if a car comes too close you have a chance to jump in the ditch.

So sidewalks are called pavements in Europe? Hmm I didn't know that. :smile: Am I confused?

 

[bigirishman]

When you are walking on the sidewalk do you follow the same rules that apply to driving on the road with regards to where you walk?
I walk on the right side but it appears that some have walking licenses that are different than their drivers license.

WTF just walk wherever the fuck you want