Commuting - Who else looks behind them when they walk?

I've noticed after commuting for a few months without a mirror, when I'm walking on the sidewalk, before I go around to pass someone, I catch myself unconsciously checking my left to make sure there's no one coming up behind me.

My friends think I'm paranoid haha...

Yep, I do the same thing sometimes...

This is a given for me while walking the streets of downtown Chicago. When leaving/going to the train station the crowds can get pretty heavy so if you don't look behind you it's very likely you'll run into someone.

I do the same thing. I started doing it because when I was riding my bike I noticed peds would move out without warning alot of the time. Other than annoying me slightly, it created a potentially unsafe situation by leaving the bike rider with no escape path other than braking. So, when I walk on those same shared pathways I always check behind myself before moving from my line. I sometimes even check behind me when im just walking straight just to give myself advance warning of bikes coming up behind me. :) Maybe I need a handheld mirror or something. Hehehe.

Incidentally ive noticed alot of the 'serious' walkers and joggers do the same thing maybe the bike riders around here have trained them well. :)

I figure being proactive about whats coming up behind me is better than listening to headphones and being completely ignorant about whats coming up behind....buts thats another topic altogether....

Walking, Driving, Biking, but most of all flying. Keep looking all around.
Joe

Wha? who's there??

I have a bar end mirror. I've caught myself many times looking where it would be if I was riding.

Incidentally ive noticed alot of the 'serious' walkers and joggers do the same thing maybe the bike riders around here have trained them well.

I'm a cyclist first, runner second and I ALWAYS shoulder check if I have to move to the left while running. It's kind of funny actually because I've received some pretty strange looks from other peds and cyclists when I do this - the peds can't figure out what I'm doing and the cyclists are amazed. The one thing, as a cyclist, that pee's me off more than anything are inconsiderate joggers/walkers who couldn't care less about other pathway users around them. But of course, when cycling, I tend to stay away from the crowded/busy pathways anyway.

Oh yeah, this happens to me all the time, and until now I thought I was just wierd. I also look for gaps in groups of people to shoot through, just like I do on the bike.

Walking, Driving, Biking, but most of all flying. Keep looking all around.

You got it. Always maintain your SA.

I'm a cyclist first, runner second and I ALWAYS shoulder check if I have to move to the left while running. It's kind of funny actually because I've received some pretty strange looks from other peds and cyclists when I do this - the peds can't figure out what I'm doing and the cyclists are amazed. The one thing, as a cyclist, that pee's me off more than anything are inconsiderate joggers/walkers who couldn't care less about other pathway users around them. But of course, when cycling, I tend to stay away from the crowded/busy pathways anyway.

The absolutely worst most irresponsible thing I've ever seen on the path was this wide circuit around a park that has two CAR lanes and a bike lane next to it. This parent was pushing a baby stroller in the bike lane and my gf and I were in the car lane with more than 6 ft of clearance. Out of NOWHERE, no looking or anything, the parent decides to make a 90 degree turn INTO the car lane, we missed the kid by inches.

The setting I most often check my rear quarters and six before changing my line is in shopping malls. Talk about pedestrian anarchy!

The absolutely worst most irresponsible thing I've ever seen on the path was this wide circuit around a park that has two CAR lanes and a bike lane next to it. This parent was pushing a baby stroller in the bike lane and my gf and I were in the car lane with more than 6 ft of clearance. Out of NOWHERE, no looking or anything, the parent decides to make a 90 degree turn INTO the car lane, we missed the kid by inches.

I've scared the crap out of a few irresponsible parents I've encountered teaching their kids to cross a street in the middle of the block. I'm not sure why people think it's okay to teach a kid to a) cross the street in this manner in the first place, and b) to step into the path of an oncoming bicycle - other than they've greatly underestimated the speed of an approaching bicycle. These are most likely the same jack asses who don't like sharing the road with cyclists in general. It's always good to give them a little wake-up once in a while without anybody getting hurt.

I've scared the crap out of a few irresponsible parents I've encountered teaching their kids to cross a street in the middle of the block. I'm not sure why people think it's okay to teach a kid to a) cross the street in this manner in the first place, and b) to step into the path of an oncoming bicycle - other than they've greatly underestimated the speed of an approaching bicycle. These are most likely the same jack asses who don't like sharing the road with cyclists in general. It's always good to give them a little wake-up once in a while without anybody getting hurt.

Yes, I crashed into one of those people you're talking about, no one hurt but still annoying.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=50109

When walking I catch myself looking slightly up and to the left (the location of my helmet mirror) to see if anyone is behind me. Then I realize I'm not wearing my helmet and have to smile at myself.

I've noticed after commuting for a few months without a mirror, when I'm walking on the sidewalk, before I go around to pass someone, I catch myself unconsciously checking my left to make sure there's no one coming up behind me.

My friends think I'm paranoid haha...
I was walking and I checked the upper left-hand corner of my glasses.