h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Sidewalk Etiquette - A988031
Author: itissunnytoday (also sometimes know as Ebert) - U221196

Research born of frustration. I have noticed many people don’t seem able or maybe simply not willing to share a sidewalk/pavement politely. However in most cases these guidelines seem to apply. Please let me know what you think.

ebert

This reminds me very much of a scheme proposed by (I think) City of Westminster Council to resolve inter-pedestrian conjestion and conflict on Oxford Street.

Incensed that it woudl discriminate against the elderly and other less able pedestrians, I wrote a stiff letter to the Council who were rude enough not to bother to respond.

I will dig it out and post it up either today or tomorrow ... you can use it or lose it.

DMT

Good point. I'ld love to see what you wrote.

I have no intention to discriminate agenst the elderly, I've just observed in some of the cities I've visited that there is an efficent method of walking down the sidewalk. I've walked down oxford st. London, and it takes forever, so I can understand why Westminster would think about doing something like that.

Personally I don't feel that the city should get involved, but like table manners I feel that there could be a more polite way and a less polite way to walk down the sidewalk.

(perhaps I could add in a bit about giving way to the less abled pedestrians. would that help do you think?)

please let me know.

Ebert

The problem is pedestrian density combined with the dual purpose of Oxford Street pavements ... as both a commuting route and a spot for window-shoppers.

It’s all those silly tourists isn’t it? I know I love being a tourist, but hate inefficacy. In every city I have lived in it has been the mane complaint about not wanting to go the center of town in the summer due to all the tourists getting in the way.

Oxford Street is lovely though isn’t it? But I’ve seen busier places full of tourists and commuters (Tokyo subway at rush hour) that have moved with more efficiency, and less busy places move with less (if you can believe it).

I feel that the solution to this is a set of guidelines, not rules mind, that show a common courtesy for fellow pedestrians, if we could make people aware that there are more people on the sidewalk then themselves, maybe they could be more helpful.

What do you think?

Ebert

ps. don't worry, I'll add that bit in about being kind to the less able pedestrians in durring the next few days. I haven't forgotten.

DMT-

I've just updated the entry, adding in the bit about being polite to the less mobile. Please let me know how it can be improved.

I value your advice.
Thanks.

Ebert

As promised ... A990678 ... it's more or less the same as the original letter to his nibs. No reply!

I like to blatantly disobey these basic rules for a little something I call fun

DMT

Great letter. Thanks for sharing it.

I think you are right that it would be discriminating to impose a law and fine offenders. It would be impractical. I especially like you comparison of an untied shoelace to a flat tier on a freeway.

I hope that sidewalk etiquette never becomes a problem to be dealt with by the officials. It would be a blatant waste of money.

What I hope I am presenting here is the option of a more polite way of traveling down the sidewalk. One that could minimize annoyance, not one that governs our behavior with hard and fast rules. Sort of like saying ‘excuse me’ if you burp, we don’t have to say it, but it’s polite to. Do you feel this idea comes across in this article? If not, how can I improve it?

Thanking you in advance

Ebert

- fun is my favorite thing, as long as no one gets hurt.

A988031 is a nice little read. Well played.

What are your intentions for this ... remember that if it's for The Edited Guide, it needs to be established fact rather than opinion.

i don't know that it would have to be "established fact" if it is done in the spirit of guidance, just as there are no hard-and-fast rules to table manners (only accepted guidelines) but it would be possible to write an entry on them all the same.

i think the entry contains some good ideas. while i have very limited experience trying to make my way down a pedestrian thoroughfare the prospect seems to contain similar elements to shopping in a busy store (i hate wal-mart, which probably means nothing to you brits ). perhaps it could be fleshed out a bit by including advice for some of the points dmt makes in his letter.

good base tho

The idea comes from two different experiences…

First of all, school. When I went to school the teachers deemed it important to instruct us how to walk down the hallways, and to enforce it. There were very strict rules of when, how fast, what way, who do you yield to, what side do you walk on and so on. Not very nice but when you have over 1,200 students in a school designed for 600, it makes a lot of sense. (Perhaps Oxford st is having a similar situation. What if they increased the size of the pavement to accommodate more pedestrians?)

The second experience is that while in Japan (and also to some extent in London) there were signs recommending for slower traffic to keep to a certain area to facilitate the movement of pedestrians.

I know that for most things that involve other people there is a polite way of acting. I am hoping to point out a polite way based on my observations and the observations of others of walking down the sidewalk.

One of the problems I am having is that the etiquette varies depending on where you are. In Japan you would normally walk on the left side of the sidewalk, where as in Canada you walk on the side closest to the traffic if you are going the direction so that you are facing the traffic. If not you walk on the other side.


‘Perhaps it could be fleshed out a bit by including advice for some of the points dmt makes in his letter.’ - I’ll give this a go in the next few days. it's a good idea.



Ebert

You’re right about Wal-Mart. YUCK!

You probably need to introduce scientific engineering data ... it seems that pedestrian flow, especially in confined spaces (like corridors) is not dissimilar to channelised fluid flow (laminar in the middle), when they are all travelling in the same direction. But street pedestrians have different goals, like getting from the kerb to the door of Hamleys or getting from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road.

You have hit the nail on the head about widening the pavements. Visionary London Mayor Ken Livisgstone has introduced controversial and unpopular measures to restrict the volume of vehicular traffic in London, and I applaud him hearily for that.

Towns are for people, not cars.

DMT

back in the early 80's (may have even been late 70's, but it's irrelevant at any rate) my city closed our Main Street to vehicle traffic altogether. to promote it as a shopping and business district it was made easier to access by pedestrians, and parking lots were made available on adjacent streets, and for major events in the area shuttle stations were set up. this worked well for many years until business traffic slowed in the late 90's and the road was opened back up.

I’ve just updated my sidewalk entry. Please come and have a look, tell me what you think.
Thanks

Ebert
Ps. Sorry it took so long. Exams.