Originally Posted by
ro-monster
On my commute about 75% of the pedestrians I encounter walk on the left side of the path, facing the "wrong" way. Does anyone else encounter this?
I just pass slowly and cautiously without yelling anything because I absolutely hate it when someone yells at me. By the time I parse what they said, they're long gone anyway.
Yes. It all stems from walkers being encouraged by the law to walk in the opposite direction of traffic on the road. Stated as being safer. But in fact it is so that if a ped sees a car coming close, he can move out of the way.
On a bike trail, I've read several rules of several trails and it is stated that nobody should impede the flow of traffic. Of course this does but so do cyclist that stop on the trail looking for their cell phones so it's hard to mention one without the other.
So the walkers figure the same goes for the trail. Some of it stems from being buzzed by riders which I have seen so I can sort of understand why they do. I myself ring my bell from far back in an attempt to avoid startling walkers etc. I get LOTS of thank you's for doing so!