Inspired by the "backwards walker" vent

[lindalinda]

Does anyone else have this problem. When walking down a sidewalk, and encountering another person...are you the person who always has to move aside? I mean, you are face to face..they see you...but you have to leave the sidewalk and allow them to have it? Once when I was walking with my son, I decided I would just soldier ahead instead of stepping into the gutter with my son...and was nearly knocked over!

 

[CathrynRose]

No way - I dont move for nuthin!!! I'll plow right through ya! ARGH!

***too many chocolate covered expresso beans, today***

 

[CheshireVal]

I read an interesting article on this in Glamour a few years back. I wish I could remember all the details, but basically they had done a study which showed that men won't (generally) step aside for women. In the studies, if a woman "played chicken" and refused to move over, the man would basically plow right into her because it was unexpected since the women always step aside.

For some reason, women have gotten used to being the "submissive" ones and stepping aside.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

No way - I dont move for nuthin!!! I'll plow right through ya! ARGH!

I don't move either - I hope our paths don't cross or it could get ugly

 

[pearlieq]

I got totally neurotic about this when I worked in downtown Chicago!

One day I realized that I always seemed to be the one stepping aside to allow someone (usually a man) to pass. It's like it didn't even occur to the other person to yield.

I made up my mind that I wasn't going to yield no more! It was an interesting few weeks that followed as I played game after game of "sidewalk chicken" with passers by. They all looked so surprised that they would have to yield, and once or twice, neither of us would yield and we wound up crashing.

I eventually realized this was pretty silly and just went back to walking normally. It was kind of fun while it lasted, though!

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

This always happens to me. I think I have it stamped on my forhead, or I'm too nice.

It happens to me while driving too. I am always the one to move over on packed side streets. I hate playing chicken.

 

[Marseeya]

Yes! I've noticed that I'm definitely always the one stepping aside.

On a related note, I'm also always the one who waits patiently for someone else to move out of my way. This drives me batty! I'll be in a grocery store, waiting patiently for someone to move along, only to have someone else breeze right by me, thus making me wait even longer!

Yesterday this woman nearly drove me nuts. I was behind her while she was trying to decide on a cereal or something. I waited a moment or two, then decided to go ahead around her when the other side of the aisle cleared out. No sooner had I walked alongside her than she finished and whipped her cart around me again and stopped right in front of me again. It wouldn't have been so bad, but she did it more than once. I was starting to feel like I was at her mercy, until I actually backtracked down a different aisle just to get away from her.

Vent over.

 

[KristaTX]

Rule #1 of the road (or sidewalk or shopping aisle or whatever) - Stay on the right. When I am on a sidewalk and am approaching another able-bodied walker, I veer toward the right side of the sidewalk (while still remaining at least partially on the sidewalk). If the person heading toward me is walking in the middle or toward their left, I make eye contact with them until they either move or run into me. I might even say "Stick to the right" if they are not.

 

[jgmklmhem]

I am a guy and it happens to me too....but for the most part I do what KristaTx has said and make a move slightly to the right and then plow through if need be. I figure I will be at least a little bit considerate by moving to the right some.

 

[Karnak]

This is sometimes a bit of a problem at the WDW parks. I have my personal way to react when it looks like someone walking toward me is going to run into me.

I simply stop dead still in my tracks, and wait until the uncoming person walks around me. I do not move at all until he or she is past me. I say nothing. Usually I simply pretend I don't see the person coming toward me. So far, this method has always worked. (And it works even if the uncoming person is pushing a stroller.)

I do make an exception if an ECV is heading my way.

If you attempt to walk around everyone who walks towards you in a crowded park, you would be spending all your walking time weaving around folks.

Enjoy.

 

[Stacerita]

Rule #1 of the road (or sidewalk or shopping aisle or whatever) - Stay on the right. When I am on a sidewalk and am approaching another able-bodied walker, I veer toward the right side of the sidewalk (while still remaining at least partially on the sidewalk). If the person heading toward me is walking in the middle or toward their left, I make eye contact with them until they either move or run into me. I might even say "Stick to the right" if they are not.

Yep, stay on the right.

Unless Im somewhere that they drive on the left. Then I would ammend my statement to .....stay on the left. But around my parts, stay to the right. And if someone comes towards me when im on the right, look out. Its go time!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If I'm in a bad mood I'll grumble, "walk to the right".

 

[redshoes]

Yep, even small children will not yield to me. It's gotten to be a joke with me and my husband- will they (they being people in general) yield or won't they, 9 times out of 10 they won't.

Kate

 

[vhoffman]

BW's (Backwards Walkers) never yeild to anyone. They don't see them. Watch out for Backwards Walkers!

BTW, when will the Association of Backwards Walkers stage their annual rally? That should be a sight--all those BW's backing into each other--better than playing chicken!