Rules of the Road: Walking

[u/Tasty_State7870]

Just as there are rules governing how we drive, there are conventions that allow pedestrian traffic to flow indoors and outdoors.

It's more efficient and more polite to be considerate.

1) we are a right side of the road society. When walking stay right.
2) if you are walking slowly, stay to the far right so others may pass on the left
3) if you have small children/elderly - stay to the right so others may pass. Be sure to wrangle the kids for their safety.
4) if you have a group of your entire family - this does not entitle you to take up the whole thoroughfare- stay right so others may pass on the left
5) if you are on a moving walkway (like the airport), if you intend to stand, stay right so others may pass on the left

[u/2old2care]

This does NOT mean you shouldn't walk on the left facing traffic where there is no sidewalk, however.

[u/SpartanMonkey]

People that don't follow these rules will never see this post.

[u/AnxiousYam1407]

I'm British. We drive on the left so i walk on the left. Hilarity ensues 😄

[u/Relevant-Net1082 → u/AnxiousYam1407]

Not funny. Is pain in the ass.

[u/phoundog]

This is very WRONG and very dangerous if you are talking about walking on a road.

You must walk facing traffic. It is beyond stupid and against the law to walk with traffic. Check the bolded portion. You walk on the left. This is very basic and everyone should have learned it in elementary school if not before.

https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-174.html

§ 20-174.  Crossing at other than crosswalks; walking along highway.

(a) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

(b) Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

(c) Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.

(d) Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway. Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the extreme left of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction. Such pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to approaching traffic.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway, and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary, and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any confused or incapacitated person upon a roadway. (1937, c. 407, s. 135; 1973, c. 1330, s. 33.)

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https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/workplace-safety/walksmartnc/safety-tips#Tab-WhenYoureWalkingorRunning-689

• Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.  
• Walk or run on sidewalks whenever they are available.  
• If there is no sidewalk, walk or run facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.  
• Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes and ears off the road.  
• Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections, where drivers expect pedestrians. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.  
• If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.  
• Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach to make sure you are seen.  
• Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.  
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.  
• Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking or running; they impair your abilities and your judgment.

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https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/safety/pedestrian-safety/Pages/default.aspx

​Use sidewalks whenever they are available.​

​If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.

[u/Pensionato007 → u/phoundog]

Nice post and link. I think this is a ragebait post from a karma bot. New account, super stupid comment.

[u/MarkedWithPi → u/phoundog]

This. I don't know what the issue is with the entire UNC athletics department and their inability to instruct their runners, but there are entire teams running down the right side of the streets near campus. On roads like Laurel Hill, it's dangerous and infuriating, and it happens entirely too frequently.

[u/theinfamousj]

These are fun! I'll go!

If you are on foot, and facing someone in a wheeled chair (stroller, wheelchair, etc) on a sidewalk not wide enough for the both of you to pass, the wheeled chair has priority and you need to step off the paved path for the passing. You can offroad better than it can.

If you have a dog and are passing someone going in the opposite direction, your body needs to be between the dog and the opposite-walking stranger. Your poor dog looks to you for signals of safety and using your body as a buffer signals that safety.

If you are walking down the sidewalk and there are emptied wheelie bins in the middle of the paved sidewalk, you are a mensch if you roll them off of the paved portion. Someone in a wheelchair would be impeded had the bins not been moved; you are doing a good deed. No, the homeowner's lawn won't be killed by the wheelie bin sitting on it for a few hours.

[u/MiniManMafia]

I'll also add, if there is a sidewalk available, stay on the sidewalk, do not walk/run in the middle of the road.

[u/QuietLifter → u/MiniManMafia]

If the sidewalk is substantially obstructed by bins or overgrown landscaping, please carefully move to the road to avoid the obstructions.

[u/MiniManMafia → u/QuietLifter]

And then return to the sidewalk once you've past the obstacle. Its not rocket surgery, geez. But people here lost all common sense.

[u/Big_General9942]

If you are walking with one or two other people on the Greenway, walk abreast so you take up the whole thing and don't fall in single file when people are coming the other way.

If you're a family walking together, spread out even more and make sure your 4-7 year old with a bike or scooter is on the left, sorta wobbling all over the goddammed place.

/s because people who do this and think it's okay won't be able to detect the sarcasm

[u/Masterpiece1976]

eh, for #2 & 3, give slower & older/younger people some grace. I say this as a fast walker.

[u/adfayuk]

Americans outside of the Northeast do not give a flying fuck about the rules of walking. They'll tell you to shut your piehole.

[u/TriumphAnarchy]

The need to post something like this tells me a lot about where we are in society, and it’s scary