Even though my neighborhood doesn’t have sidewalks, it’s very pedestrian-friendly and I go for lots of walks. When I’m out, there are always others out and about doing the same by themselves, in groups, with dogs (and dog-like cats) and/or children in tow, at fast paces, at slow paces, birdwatching, you name it. (It’s really quite lovely.)
Since we don’t have sidewalks, we have to walk in the street. And what always strikes me is the number of people who walk on the wrong side of the street. That is to say, the right side of the street, as if they are a vehicle, rather than on the left side of the street, facing oncoming traffic.
I get it. If you’re on a sidewalk or a trail, you typically act like a car (in the US) and move to the right to allow for two-way traffic. But when you’re in the street, the priority is safety from vehicles, so you need to walk against traffic.
A quick Google search for, “what side of the street should I walk on” yields these top results:
- “Pedestrians must always walk against traffic. Walk as close to the left side of the road [as] possible…” (source)
- “Walking against traffic is one of the top rules for safe walking, and it differs from the rules for bicycling.” (source)
- “[W]hen you do not have the option of walking on a sidewalk, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends walking while facing traffic for a number of reasons.” (source)
So I know I’m right. 😂
I also know safety is a priority for my neighbors, so it’s not like they’re all choosing to live dangerously. I’ve even seen folks decked out in reflective gear on the wrong side of the street.
What drives me completely bonkers is the game of chicken I sometimes play when approaching someone walking on the wrong side (and therefore in my way). More often than not, if they end up moving to the correct side of the street while we pass each other, they end up moving back to where they started. This happens more and more now that Richie walks with a cane and people seem more willing to move for us. Previously, we were usually the ones to have to move out of others’ ways, despite being on the correct side.
My hypothesis is that they just don’t know that they’re supposed to walk against traffic. And while I don’t always believe that when people know better, they do better, I do think it’s true (or would be true) in this case.
Because I didn’t know this safety rule until I started running and ended up in the street a lot. Once I learned what to do and why, I changed my behavior. So I have to give my fellow pedestrians the benefit of the doubt.
But if I’m right about why my neighbors do this, then it really says something about the stubbornness of believing you’re right.
When faced with an obstacle, you have some obvious choices:
- Put your head down and power forward, either through the obstacle or hope/expect that it will get out of your way
- Get out of the way temporarily, going back to your original course once you’ve cleared it
- Get out of the way permanently, allowing it to put you on a new course
- Confront the obstacle to find out why it’s in your way
Maybe it’s not that deep, but I wonder if I can be brave enough to choose Option 4 more often than Option 1, 2, or 3. Though I suppose they all require some level of bravery. It all comes down to intent and a willingness to learn and change (or pivot).
I also wonder how many of my neighbors are irritated with me being in their way and writing blog and obnoxious neighborhood listserv posts about sharing the road.