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Pedestrians should face oncoming traffic
To those letter-writers wanting to instruct us pedestrians to walk on the right side of a roadway, and to those who teach safe habits to children, I urgently report the following.
Since the 1930s, parents and teachers taught my generation, “Always walk facing oncoming traffic.” That way, errant drivers on wheels will not surprise you from behind.
At Scout camp (1940s), when we walked in a long column to pass our “14-mile hike” requirement, we all followed instructions to “stay on the left side facing traffic.” Still makes complete sense to me, to see what’s coming! No silent cyclist surprises the bejesus (etc.) out of me anymore, coming from behind.
Maybe your letter-writer who thinks it’s “intuitive” and another who believes it’s “accepted convention” to walk along the right side like vehicles, have grown up only on wheels.
Recently, a brave little boy riding his bike toward me after school saw that I was not getting out of his way on the very edge of our paved path. He had the courage to stop in front of me and declare, “You should be on that side.” I smiled in appreciation and said, “Know what? We’re both right; it’s so we can both see and get out of each other’s way.”
No collision. We moved on. Brave kid. I hope he remembers our encounter.
Dale M. Heckman
Davis
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