As a pedestrian safety advocate, I looked for evidence that supported building sidewalks. Virtually all of the collisions involving pedestrians walking along the roadway (rather than crossing it) were pedestrians walking with their backs to traffic in darkness. I cannot remember finding collisions involving pedestrians walking with traffic in good lighting.

At the intersections, contra-flow pedestrians fared much worse than right-way pedestrians, regardless of crosswalk design.

Thanks.

I have a friend who works for the Highway Division (of the D.P.W.) and he says they put out a memorandum telling all workers to face traffic at all times. Plus they must ALWAYS wear an ANSI lime green (strong yellow green) reflective vest.

I have a friend who works for the Highway Division (of the D.P.W.) and he says they put out a memorandum telling all workers to face traffic at all times. Plus they must ALWAYS wear an ANSI lime green (strong yellow green) reflective vest.
Then they make them drive the wrong way too,
while wearing "their ANSI lime green (strong yellow green) reflective vest".

I don't get how it's faster riding consistently the wrong way. Left turns may be faster, but right turns would not be. I suppose it would be faster if you just rode on whichever side of the road is dictated by your next turn, and then you have to deal with crossing the road on occasion and are not consistently riding the wrong way. Is that the style you mean?