Get on the sidewalk! (pedestrians)

[tarwheel]

Why would pedestrians choose to walk on a busy road rather than use the sidewalk? I encountered this situation twice yesterday on my commute, where a pedestrian walking on a busy road forced me to move further out into the lane -- even though there was a nice sidewalk alongside the road. I understand that some runners prefer asphalt pavement to concrete sidewalks because the asphalt is supposedly "softer" and flatter. But I am totally baffled as to why a pedestrian would do this.

I am tempted to yell "Get on the sidewalk!" to them, but would rather not since so many drivers yell that at cyclists all the time, even though we are legally supposed to ride on the road.

[mystang52]

Hmmm, I wonder if those pedestrians are otherwise avid runners? I'm a runner and use the sidewalks for heavily trafficked streets. But in my suburban town, force of habit finds me frequently walking on the street, facing traffic - just like I do when I'm out on my runs.

[Doohickie]

Somewhere on a pedestrian forum, someone is describing their near miss with a bike and claiming that just because they have dedicated pedestrian infrastructure shouldn't mean pedestrians should be constrained to it.

[colleen c]

Dunno. Perhaps cyclist are initiating on those driver's silly suggestion of getting on the sidewalk has forced pedestrian off the sidewalk due to the lack of space?

I had this one dude who walks in the middle of the street in total darkness. He's not a jogger and he refuses to get out of the way even with cars honking behind him. First time I saw him I thought he was drunk but apparently he does this routine everytime we cross. He also wear total dark black clothing. I would consider him a Ninja in the pedestrian group.

Just for the heck of it, I decided to turn on all my lights on high everytime I am in the area where we usually cross because I almost ran into him on several occasion. Several time he covers his eyes and mumble something. He now get on the sidewalk when he see me approaching from a distant. Totally weird.

[locolobo13]

I see it a lot on my commute. People walking, not jogging, in the bicycle lane. Even when they see me coming they don't move back to the sidewalk forcing me to take the lane during rush hour.

[Shimagnolo]

I see it a lot on my commute. People walking, not jogging, in the bicycle lane. Even when they see me coming they don't move back to the sidewalk forcing me to take the lane during rush hour.

Sounds like a situation that needs an Airzound.

[dynodonn]

As long as the ped gives me adequate time to safely pull out into the traffic lane, I'm ok with their walking in the BL or gutter pan. I contend with parked vehicles, vehicles pulling out of driveways, debris in the BL,..... so a ped is just another obstacle to deal with on my daily commutes.

[Scheherezade]

In many towns, sidewalks run along a street for one block, then disappear for another. Or, there may only be a sidewalk on one side of the street, which promptly changes to the other side of the street on the following block. Many sidewalks may become flooded after a rain or snow melt. Sidewalks may be covered in rutted hard packed snow or ice. Sometimes, the sidewalk is tore up.

Those are a few of the reasons that I might choose to walk on the road instead of the sidewalk. Always walk salmon style.

[CommuteCommando]

I feel your pain. These are the same ones who like to weave on the MUP's. I just bear it.

[windhchaser]

i used to do it when the grass was wet .wet shoes and long walks suck

[jsdavis]

I usually move to the right to force the walker/runner towards the traffic. They are in a much better position to see what is coming up behind me.

[nd2010]

If I'm walking though a bad part of town, I'd rather walk on the street than walk by a possible drug deal in progress on the sidewalk.