Sidewalk etiquette
DW and I walk 3 plus miles most mornings for our exercise. It is almost unbelievable the way some people show little to no common courtesy with something so basic as sidewalk etiquette. Several recent incidents come to mind. Please note that these experiences are on residential size sidewalks that are typically sized for two people going in opposite directions to barely pass each other without bumping into each other. I would estimate the width typically 4 feet wide or less. In none of these examples am I talking about heavy foot traffic, only occasional passersby. When DW and I approach on-coming pedestrians, I move to the extreme right side of the sidewalk, directly behind DW to give maximum room for the approaching walker(s) and offer a friendly "Good Morning" as we pass.
Just this morning as we approached an on-coming young man we took up our positions on the extreme right side of the walk at least 50 feet before we were to pass. So what happens, the young man moves from about the center of the sidewalk over to his left side, directly in our line of travel. He continues directly at us and basically forces DW to veer off to the left side of the sidewalk to avoid running directly into him. I stopped into my tracks nearly nose to nose with this young man, and I asked him, "Didn't your parents teach you to pass on the right side?" He said to me, "I'm not from around here." I responded back, "I can tell."
Then there are the people in groups of two or more that are holding what must be a most high level conversation, walking side by side on the sidewalk as you approach going the opposite direction. DW and I take up our single file on the extreme right side of the sidewalk position. But do some of these people in high level discussions show a similar courtesy? Ohhh Nooo, they are too important to have their conversation interrupted so they stay side by side and force you off the sidewalk.
Ever approach bicyclists on the sidewalks? When it is kids, no problem I step off the sidewalk to give them plenty of room, but adults? Some are polite and go off the sidewalk and into the grass till they pass, or some really courteous bicyclists will stop, dismount and walk the bike past us. But once in a while you get the adult bicyclist that rides right down the middle of the sidewalk and forces us off of it. How rude. They should be riding in the street anyway, not on the sidewalk.
Then you have the on-coming pedestrian walking their dog. I must admit that most people keep their pet under control as we pass but there are quite a few people that assume that all people love to have their pet jump up on you and expect you are just dying to pet them. Don't get me wrong, we like dogs, but it is best to be wary of strange dogs.
I haven't even mentioned drivers that seem to think there is no reason to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. After all, they don't want to be late to work.