When you are on the pathways,
By whyaskq
@whyaskq (7523)
Singapore
May 19, 2007 10:01am CST
do you face the problem of having people walking into your path when you try to zig-zag through, especially when you are in a rush?
I have encountered this many times, got frustrated but was still tolerant until last evening. The sky was dark and it looks like there will be a heavy pour. I could feel droplets. I quicken my pace, but somehow I am stuck! I am not able to zoom past the few strollers!
We were all on a pathway comfortable for queues in twos. However, there were no
orderly queues, just some pedestrians, some keeping to the left, some to the right and some pacing in the center of the pathway. I always keep to the left or right depending on which has more "traffic". I do not have the habit of stalking behind someone. So when my "path" is blocked, I will overtake.
The frustrating thing is whenever I try to overtake, the person in front somehow has some basic instinct. Instead of giving way, he would walk into my path without any signal! If I had not maintain a distance behind, there would have been many "accidents". I cursed beneath my breath.
Why can't people keep within their "lane" when walking?
Why can't people keep within their "lane" like cars?
Do you walk in one direction, or do you walk freely in any direction whenever you feel like it?
Kindly share your walking habit. Thanks.
9 people like this
16 responses
@narayanshravan (151)
• India
20 May 07
yes i do..and i insist on people who seem to respond to my request to folow there lanes to tell other people also to follow the lane dicipline
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
20 May 07
Hello,whyaskq,I do not face any problem when i try to 'overtake'someone and I will always walk in one direction,i will not walk freely in a irregular direction.
The pace of life in australia is very slow and people will also walk very slowly,when you try to overtake,you will not get any problems if you accelerate abit.
I do not know why i will walk in one direction,but i feel strange if i am walking freely in any direction,i will be like getting drunk.
@dana234 (2114)
• Spain
20 May 07
It´s very difficult in Spain to keep walking whithin your lane. Generally because the people in front of you don´t walk straight (not because they are drunk,lol). As a lot of people also walk very slowly you´re forced to zig zag around them, which is difficult if you´re are in a street with very small sidewalks. If they don´t hear you saying: "excuse me, can I get past?" you´re forced to walk on the road. The most annoying thing are couples, or groups of friends who just abruptly stop when you´re walking behind them. I don´t zig zag around them (don´t see why I should),I walk in a straight line towards them and once I´m really close I force my way through saying: "excuse me". Some people react by looking at me as if I was an alien when I do this and others apologize because they were in the way.
When there´s enough space I walk in one direction.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
19 May 07
Yes it happens to me sometimes too, especially when I walk along crowded places. I normally become a moving human vehicle and try to look for spaces to assert my route. When I am not my most friendly self, I just shooed them off verbally or physically.
I haven't met any who bumped onto me from the front though. I would think though that a "polite" EXCUSE ME would scare that person still or off.
I walk straight only when there is a straight path. I normally approach my destination like a stubborn goal and walk in any possible fashion to get there quickest possible.
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
19 May 07
I am a tall person so I do walk faster then most people. I do get annoyed when others are blocking my path. I realize that I am not the only one walking. It frustrates me when people just stop in the middle of the sidewalk to have a conversation. Hello, can you move out of the way so others can use the sidewalk? I mean for the most part I don't mind going around this people but when I am in a hurry I don't always have the time to try to find another path. If they would use common courtesy and move out of the way this wouldn't be a problem.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
20 May 07
..it can be the same in grocery stores, and I often wonder at it.. why not stay in the right lane, like with traffic? Or at the side of the aisle you are shopping at? why park in the middle? or at one side, while browsing the other side.. I suppose I have made those errors before.. but I try not to! I try to be always out of other people's way.. so if I walked the paths, yes, I would stay to one side or the other.. even if I was in a group, I would still try to be at least one who leaves room for others to get by.. To me this is courtesy.. and courtesy comes from truly caring about others.. Not to say those who forget don't care about others! I just don't think they think about it. This of course excludes very old folks who may be forgetful and/or slower moving..
:))
@r0ck_r0ck (1952)
• India
20 May 07
hap[pens to me daily when i ma on my way to university!but lol i never found it fustrating! haah its more then fuuny to me! lol! w/e! sorry dat u feel fustrarted! (:
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
19 May 07
I walk so slow that people always pass me.
sometimes people stumble by accident. I was walking with my boyfriend who is handicapped and he stumbled in front of a guy who snapped can't you watch where you are going
I yelled back to the man can't you see this man is handicapped. When he saw that he apologized profusely.
1 person likes this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
20 May 07
walking in pathways especially during peak hours is frustrating since there are so many people like you walking different directions..for me i just go with the flow.. and try overtaking if have the chance so that i could arrive my destination quickly..
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
22 May 07
Interesting discussion. Yes, you are right people do not care about other, while walking...perhaps they remain so engrossed in their thoughts that they do not bother who is overtaking them...who is corossing them. If I have to walk on a pathway, I try to walk on left side...if the space permits me. And untill and unless ...I am in hurry...I do not overtake others. People should have some sense that others are also using the pathway..others have equal right..so they should allow some opportunity to others also.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
19 May 07
You make it sounds like Singapore is always crowded on the street, bighead. I normally will walk on nearby areas and the streets here are wide. Otherwise, I drive everyday and loves to overtake any car who will block my way, LOL!
This usually happened while inside the mall. I'm a fast walker. I can walk in one direction but the people in front of me are always walking like a turtle. Since I'm always a head taller, I will start to look for the best direction to walk so I can arrive at my destination fast.
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
19 May 07
Oh yes, i have encountered this problem more then once.
Did you ever try to analyze a person personality by his walking style.
There are people that always walk in the middle, they rule the world, they think that both paths belong to them and they are the only one in the world that walk. They do not care much of anyone else, because they do not tend to see anyone else but themselves, this is amazing.
And there are the ones that are feeling that someone is behind them so they start to lose their confidence, and they start to zig zag, not knowing, and not being sure of what they should do, walk on the right lane or the left one.
And there are those that walk only on one lane, and nothing can move them, they know their lane, they rule their lane, they are ok, and no one has the right to go and pass them, those are the ones that think they are the best, they compete even when there are is no need in competing. Those people are amazing.
I see them every day when i am taking my walk. Wonderful post whyaskq. :)
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
25 May 07
I walk in the direction the people are walking. The ones that are walking in the same direction I am. It is very rude for people to take up the whole sidewalk. I have seen this happen and have had to step off the sidewalk and onto the grass. The people give me a look like I was doing something wrong. It is very irritating. There is a reason why the sidewalk is big enough for two people to walk on. One going one way and the other going the opposite direction. Sometime I think some walkers need a class in how to use sidewalks. I am a person who does a lot of walking.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
19 May 07
I usually stick to the right side of the footpath when I'm walking. I'm mostly with my son so we often walk a little slower than others so I think those behind me get most annoyed LOL. As long as there is room for them to pass us then its ok I suppose.
When we are in crowds I like walking behind my husband. He's tall and has very broad shoulders and makes a pathway for my son and I - people are forced to move around him because of his size LOL.
The only time I do zigzag around others to get by is when I'm out exercising and power walking.
