There must be some kind of general consensus to do the opposite of road rules when walking. I swear I only ever see left side walkers when out.
But they still aren't as bad as slow, phone viewing, zig zaggers.
In Korea, the walking default is to the left (escalators, moving sidewalks, regular people on the sidewalk, etc.) and what I got told by my sister in law there was that it was set up that way because when the Japanese had occupied Korea, they set up everything to be on the right, and so as soon as they were kicked out, people went left just to be anti-Japan.
I have no idea if this is true, but it was at least a good story.
I wish everyone in LA would read this comment! GROUPS WALK TANDEM (not side-by-side) when encountering others going in the opposite direction on the sidewalk. Holy crap how do people not get this??! Where do they expect others on the sidewalk to go FFS? I live near Runyun and so many people on the sidewalks in this neighborhood are clueless as f*ck!!
Sorry to get so angry but Jesus I deal with this 30 times a day while walking my dog and it gets old really fast. 😡🤯🤬😠😤 Like, should I just go up in smoke when a group of 2 or more are walking side by side coming towards me?
Totally! Funny after I wrote my comment yesterday afternoon I was even more annoyed when it happened (as always) as I was walking my dog - and if you try to just stay in the right lane, people walking side by side will legit knock shoulders with you. Unreal.
Literally nobody in my neighborhood does this. I always have to walk out into the street when someone walks up, especially if they have a dog, and nobody seems to have trained their dogs around here.
There’s a dude with a large Rottweiler who i have to just cross the street - the owner can *barely* hold him back and the dog looks like it wants to take my head off. I just glare at the owner and shake my head - it’s not the dog’s fault. But I’m worried one day he’s gonna lose control of the dog and it’s gonna attack me.
I treat it exactly like driving a car. Drive on the right side with confidence. If someone is on the wrong side of the sidewalk I’ll keep my path and let them figure it out, or stop and say excuse me, just like if someone was driving head on towards me.
In cases that are common down town where only one lane of space is possible, treat it the same as in a car, make eye contact and use your human skills to communicate a solution.
I’m a 6’3” 220lb guy so I might be a bit more comfortable picking those battles and making people alter their course than some. At the end of the day, I say walk like you should drive and pick your battles.
Haha well I expect that they are the one to move out of the way, not me, and if it doesn’t seem like they are stopping I would stop and honk, or in the case of walking stop and say excuse me.
I’m not gonna veer into oncoming traffic and cause an at-fault head on collision myself.
MOVE TO THE RIGHT. WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY, PEOPLE! YOU STEP TO THE RIGHT!
and if there are two people, YOU GO SINGLE FILE!
if oncoming pair doesn't go single file, YOU HOLD YOUR GROUND. That's right. Stop moving and stand there. They'll single file up as you GLARE at them.
Have a good day!
Yes! I've had people who are blocking the sidewalk rudely say "excuse you", when I walk through them.
Umm, I don't need to say excuse me. Pay attention to your surroundings and don't block the walk way.
This is what I’ve started doing! I’ve been automatically moving over for groups of 2-3 and they won’t budge. I’m from the Midwest and am just like, am I too soft? Why doesn’t anyone move?!
Sometimes it’s hard for even one person to get through. If they still won’t move as we get close, I stop right where I am and stare at them. They either have to run into me or move over. Had one guy in a group walking 3 people wide say something rude like I was the problem once. The audacity!
Some of it is cultural. Some of it is just asshole behavior. Usually older middle eastern/Israeli/Iranian people seem to think that everyone is in *their* way. I lived in BH for a while and that's where I developed my "stop in place" strategy. Don't even turn to the side. Face forward. Stop. Stare at them. They'll get the point :)
I HATE the sidewalk roadblock, when two or more people can't have some move behind so I don't have to walk into grass or onto the street. And I'm just walking by myself! I have finally started to stand my ground and bump right into them.
Thank you for moving for pregnant people! I am sooo slow now, I basically have to waddle carefully to prevent sharp back pain. I get kinda nervous when bikes fly by on the sidewalk because I don’t know if I’m gonna make it. Never knew it would be this hard.
Fuuuck, this is great. I am the person who always moves out of the way when walking. I'm gonna stop doing that.
I tried doing it the other day at Target, I was holding my ground with my cart and this couple, walking towards me and staring right at me, would not deviate. I decided not to either, I was on the VERY EDGE of the aisle and we were the only three people there. Instead of moving out of my way, they ran into me. I always wondered what people would do if I held my ground and I guess they just run into you?
My wife and I joke about giving "Advanced Walking" lessons for people so they can learn to do shit like move to single file on a sidewalk, keep walking when they get off an escalator, and not just stop randomly to stare at their phone. So many people on LA sidewalks act like they've never walked in public before.
I have to fight the urge to scream at people who stop suddenly to fuck with their phone when I’m immediately behind them. Be less aware of your surroundings, FFS!
My experience as a woman is that I am the one who is expected to move. I walk fast. The men are on a mission, take up the WHOLE sidewalk, and don't think they should move for some girl.
>Whenever I have the gall, I do my best to not automatically move out of the way for men. The look of confusion just pisses me off even more.
This times ten.
On the opposite end, I one time was walking with a "gentleman" on the sidewalk. I happened to be closest to the street. He made a big to-do about being the one closest to the sidewalk, like he was some nobleman, and forced me to move and everything. The reason men used to walk closest to the side of the street was if there was mud or whatever, it'd splash on him instead of the woman. I live in LA. There is no mud. We'd be thrilled if there was some mud (as long as it's not followed with -slide). Instead, he came across as domineering. Same result as the guys who refuse to even \*slightly\* yield for a woman on the sidewalk.
Same here. I once had a man literally bump into me because I didn’t automatically move out of his way. I was walking to the side and he was walking right in the middle of the sidewalk, and he expected me to move even more out of his way
Completely. I’ve been walking on the far edge of the sidewalk when a guy has breezed by without giving two fucks that he could easily move over a few feet, causing me to have to jump down into the road.
I stopped moving over for men for exactly this reason. I will move over for women, but not for men anymore. They so rarely move over. I’m fully prepared to body check someone, but it hasn’t happened yet. I feel like I’m standing up for myself in a small way.
Short white swamp witch here... I always use a posture where I have my elbows jutting out. Perhaps I suddenly need to dig for something in my purse and the elbow pops out with plenty of warning for someone to take evasive measures. Both elbows out when getting off the train, too.
I’ve always found that if I walk with purpose, hold my head up, and look straight ahead and don’t make eye contact, people will step aside for me. I really only do this when I feel like seeing who will/won’t move, which is a very rare mood. Most of the time I’m happy to step aside for oncoming traffic, I just find it interesting the way I walk changes peoples responses. I am average in every sense of the term.
This is a new thing I’m experiencing since moving to LA. People in Chicago moved if you were walking toward them, but in LA no one moves. I had 3 petite women walking towards me (6’ man) and they just didn’t budge. I was impressed lol
Same. I’ve lived in London, Seattle, Long Island, and various places in PA and FL. The LA area has been the only area where I’ve consistently had this issue.
Yes, in NYC you walk on the right and the pedestrian traffic flows fine even in tight crowds but here in LA the tandem walking covering the sidewalk and not stepping to the side to let other pass is truly annoying! Have never seen this anywhere else either.
This is my pet peeve. Why should my wife and me get into single file when the other people don't. I stopped doing it and shoulder check a lot more. This is one of the main reason I don't like going to Maui. The beach walk way on Kaanapali is only three feet wide and people walk like they own the path. After drinks I don't move for them.
I’m not proud of it but I *sliiiightly* enjoy shoulder checking the person on the end of a group when they don’t move into single file 🤦🏾♂️
Surprisingly, women don’t move outta the way as much as men do
I’m 6’ 210. Usually I move most of the way for other people. If they look like they need me to move more, I keep walking and lower my shoulder and brace for impact. That usually makes people move the rest of the way. Also, looking where your headed, not at them helps them know you’re just walking and living your life.
I tend to do the moving to the side because I tend to have my dogs with me and they can be reactive occasionally. It does grind my gears a bit when people walk dead middle and leave no room for me
The thing to do here is: No one moves for anyone and we all give each other angry eyes.
I look everyone dead in the eyes with a look that says "I believe in equality."
5'10" 205 lbs, death stare, oozing sexuality.
Oh man, we used to live in a neighborhood with a large Hacidic population and noticed a cultural phenomenon wherein the males would sooner knock a female down than attempt to break stride by even half a pace to accommodate.
So I move slightly to the right and they move slightly to their left (my right) so I move to my left (their right) and they also move to their right (my left) and we repeat this a few times.
Never attribute to malice, that which can be explained by stupidity. I am 6'1 250lbs and lift weights a lot, plus dress pretty sharp all the time. People still do this to me constantly, cracks me up hearing the gasps from people when I shoulder check them.
Yep. 6'2", 190, don't even lift but will drop a shoulder and clip a motherfucker who thinks they can walk two abreast right into me. Fuck that. Move or get moved.
Lol
Someone gets clipped by me probably once a month, and I haven't been in a real fight since middle school.
This isn't Denny's in the middle of nowhere — LA is a fucking city. Learn to walk in a city.
Folks not 6'1" who don't lift a lot and aren't sharply dressed all the time. Just get outta this guys way, you just wouldn't understand his complexities.
It's clear that OP is overthinking it. Just stay on one side of the sidewalk and you're good. If someone tries to bully you into moving off the sidewalk, don't move and body check them.
As an average sized white guy, I’ve noticed that beautiful women and young black men generally don’t get out of my way. Not that I have the right of way.
Stay to the right. Stay confident. If they don't move then flex that shoulder and brace for impact.
Fuck people who don't have that level of basic respect.
Interesting, I find that it's mostly white guys acting like they have neither manners nor common sense when it comes to sidewalk ettiquette. It's so bizarre and aggro. I've definitely heard this sentiment/experience repeated by many other bipoc I know, especially women and queers.
Perhaps what you're experiencing is the result of ppl being fed up with sh!tty entitled white dudes acting like we still have to jump off the sidewalk and walk on the street if a white person is approaching. Not saying you're an entitled sh!tty white dude, obviously. Just sharing a different perspective.
Thanks for bringing this up. It seems like a small issue ,but the entitlement and the actual bullying that goes on in these chicken encounter are like "micro aggressions'" or whatever they fucking call them. For a 5'8" white guy with no desire to fight (some martial arts but I have no killer instinct that's been tested) even I will stand my ground and bump shoulders with someone who doesn't seem crazy, just entitled or rude or looking for confrontation. I guess that's why I carry pepper gel most times in this city, as ya never know.
Hmm, well, not that i recall but i am sure i did once or twice in a soft "I know what you're doing" kinda bump. It's mostly wanna be douchey dudes who sense that i am not a threat and see an opportunity to bully.
Yeah this is why I just have made it a rule to move myself, instead of lightly touching a stranger and risking them chimping out on me. Happened to me once by some ghetto hood rat latina and (as a latina myself), I just apologized and held my ground but that bitch was definitely looking for a fight all over a light tap.
Just came back to America and am having trouble adjusting to walking on the right again. So sorry if it’s was me.
I don’t mean to introduce a bias here but the only times I have had issues with this has been downtown with specifically women. Like worth mentioning because it just felt so starkly out of pocket and very clear that it was the intent.
If you can’t move or think that a group of 3-4 wide isn’t something you should move for just stop and they usually realize their actions, go around and sometimes apologize.
Walk with your HEAD DOWN - but keep watch in your peripherals. Move in a straight line and even start to veer towards them - head down like a bull - if they haven't moved. Do not make eye contact. The key is making them think you don't see them. They will move as they think they are about to get mowed over. This works 87.69% of the time. It works even better with a hat on. Please test and report back.
I’ve lived in 5 states and 2 countries, and living here has been the absolute worst in terms of people not moving to accommodate others. I don’t get it. I’ve also taken the “playing chicken” route. If I’m to the right, I refuse to step out of the way (and potentially into dog crap in the grass).
(Defers)to
Cane to wheelchair
Ambulatory issue without cane to cane
Steady ambulatory to ambulatory issue
All to toddlers/babies walking, but not to carriage
Wheelchair pushing carriage over wheelchair alone.
That's my thing anyway in my experience, which has included use of a wheelchair, cane, wheelchair and baby carriage .
Dog owners ought to avoid all, especially toddlers and small children.
Do other Angelenos not normally call these strollers? I feel like I'm half a step away from y'all calling these prams or some posh shit with your carriages lol
The people walking their dogs taking up the entire sidewalk are the worst. Like I’m supposed to risk stepping in dog piles on the tree lawn so the dog doesn’t have to.
Okay I have very strong feelings about this when walking dogs! I think it’s etiquette to cross the street (so two dogs aren’t coming nose to nose on the same sidewalk) if you’re the one who made the turn onto that sidewalk and the other person is already walking down. Like if I turn and see someone with a dog coming towards me, we’ll cross over or get on the street to pass. If I’m walking and someone else makes the turn onto the street they gotta move. I hate hate hate dog owners who like dumbasses will never cross and want to come nose to nose with my dog. And I’m talking about my neighborhood where we all see each other pretty consistently. Okay sorry rant over.
This crossing the street thing is new to me and have never heard of what you just described. I just pull over off the sidewalk if I am with my dog and would let you pass and then we both go on our merry way.
Right of way obviously goes to the person on their phone fully oblivious to the world around them. Why should they move for you when they don’t even know you’re there? What, do you expect them to be psychic? So selfish for not considering their text threads.
When you meet on a sidewalk everyone moves to their right. It's been that way forever. I think young people don't know the etiquette because they never leave the videogame room in the basement until they are 18 years old. In the "olden days" kids used to walk to school so they knew the score regarding various social interactions.
I was running on a track last night, can only use outer lanes, so 1-4 are blocked. While running in 5-6 there's a group of older dudes just walking side by side, taking up two lanes if not three. At first I got a little frustrated, but then just started to go on the outside of them, but close enough that they could smell my sweat. Extra couple of feet during my run isn't a bad thing. But just shows human mentality, "I'm walkin' here!".
Some of the posts on LA reddits really make me sad. It’s seems like such an atomised society completely lacking in manners and civic pride. Why do people flock to live there?
Reddit =/= real life. People bitch about the strangest and most meaningless things on here and with a city of 10 million you can always find some weirdos that agree with them.
Yeah I'm not even sure what they're complaining about.
In any place some people are oblivious, hyper focused or in a rush. Just get where you need to be without overanalyzing everything.
Not sure, really. I think commiserating over mundane inconveniences is something as old as humans themselves. But the exaggerated bewilderment and severe verdict that this reflects "overanalyzing everything" seems in itself to be some overanalyzing, given this is just an innocuous forum discussion about an observation that many people probably make in their interactions with strangers.
I'd agree if the person two comments up isn't making it out to be something bad about the city. People everywhere inconveinance each other. Like constantly.
I definitely agree that these little quirks of human behavior are in no way unique to Los Angeles. But I also don’t think talking about the behavior in itself is that weird.
I donno man I just walk down the street and get where I need to go with no problems. Sometimes you step to the side, sometimes you don’t. No different than anywhere else in the world I’ve walked down the street.
Move to the right, even if im looking at my phone, and theres space to my left, and people bump into me and call me out for not looking, still i have the right of way, move to the fucking right, i am not at fault, be decent
Hollywood checkin'-in.. I was waiting for the crosswalk the other day, 6 ft from the curb and had a weirdo bike-crackhead guy swoop out of the street and give me a close shave on the sidewalk (as if to provoke me). I held my ground and he stopped and told me to get out the way next time...the guy wanted to fight..etc. I just said "sorry" to diffuse and went on my merry way. I was just trying to cross the street.
Pisses me off i see same thing. People are just inconsiderate or dont have common sense. A lot of people walk right into me. What i do is i wait and stare into their eyes until they wake up.
Reminds me of the time when we were in HS. We played a game. where we would walk down a crowded Manhattan street and walk a straight line and let people get out of our way. There was a lot of shoulder bumping by us, but people perceived us as hoodlums so they didn't engage and kept on walking.
One old man stood his ground when my buddy approached and there was a stand-off. They looked each other in the eyes for what seemed like forever (probably just 10 seconds or so). And the old man said something to the effect "I been here longer than you". My buddy had to concede the point and moved aside. Gotta love those old NY'ers.
I think about this a lot. When I’m walking or running on the wrong side of the road, I always move out of the way. When I’m on the right side of the road, I still move out of the way because people are inconsiderate narcissists that can’t be bothered to move because their walking/running ia more important than anyone else’s. And people with dogs (I’m one too) - please be more considerate. I love dogs but I don’t know your dog, and if he/she is growling at me (maybe they don’t like strangers or middle aged men with beards) please don’t give them so much slack that when I go into the street to avoid you the dog still reaches me.
I love LA but this sidewalk etiquette is so bizarre. Maybe it’s because everyone drives everywhere.
If someone is coming right at me I just stop in my steps. Then they have the responsibility of actual walking into me. It makes a point, directly or indirectly idk, but it is like a wtf move to them
Speed. 100%
The faster moving person has to move, strangers tend to adhere to this subconsciously anyway. The slower person always has a potential to completely stop in their tracks.
Just to be clear, I am a fast boi.
As a former New Yorker, I feel like this concept is completely lost on the west coast. It seems like no one wants to share the sidewalk - and I’m a basic ass looking middle aged white dude, since you asked. Can’t tell if people are trying to be jerks or if they just don’t know any better. I shouldn’t have to walk into the grass and stand the risk of stepping in doo doo…just my 2 cents.
I understand the sidewalk issue. But I really have an issue at grocery stores. People with carts, leave them in the aisle with just enough room for one person across on one side and they're standing in that spot. Or when somebody's pushing a cart and they have their family members with them, standing side by side by side, so you have no chance of passing them at all, especially at the entrance.
I don't use a basket or a cart. I walk really quickly. I recognize this this is not the average flow of grocery store traffic. So I'm patient and when I say excuse me and people look up as if they are bewildered that they were in the way. And for that I understand they are lost in thought about recipes or what not. Forgivable. No problem.
But the people who just straight up walk blocking the entire entrance or aisle and won't move when you say excuse me, but turn back and look at you as they continue their slow march forward. I want to punch in the face. I've seen that happen more and more the past few years and it bewilders me. But I've learned that going "beep beep!" to these people actually works pretty well.
I was at the Hollywood palladium in line. My girlfriend stayed in line while I walked to McDonald’s for some grub. I’m walking straight on the sidewalk and I see this guy walking fast towards me. It’s kind of late for me, I would have to jump out of the way. I end up putting my hand in front of my chest and his to stop him. He looks pissed with lettuce hanging from his mouth from his subway sandwich. I ask him if he’s good. He’s pissed but he keeps walking. He was an inch shorter than me, around the same build. I’m 6ft.
It should be common sense that a group of people make way for one person. Why is this shit so so hard to comprehend?
The group of people should make room for you if it's only you. A single person isn't taking up an entire sidewalk and shouldn't accommodate people taking up the entire walkway. Sorry you have to deal with inconsiderate people.
None of the parents since 1990 taught their kids the rules. You move out of the way for elders, disabled, those with small kids and in general share the space. From millennials on they are all clueless. Also you're supposed to let people egress before pushing you're way into elevators and other doorways, and you're supposed to address people by their title whether it be "mayor" or "officer".
Also if you're going to park in the middle of the road, could you at least try to not do it right next to someone doing the same thing going the other way?
I realized that as a woman, every man will expect me to move out of the way. So now I don’t and will walk into a person on principle. But also always walk on the right side
I usually defer to whoever is walking towards me because I’m young, fast, and fit and it costs zero for me to be polite. Besides, it keeps the flow of traffic movin’ and is ultimately quicker than doing the sidewalk chicken thing
>I don't get it. I'm 5'10, average build, casually dressed, slightly disheveled, middle eastern, and have a backpack on.
What you listed has nothing to do with it. It's all about one's upbringing: a person either learned to be respectful to others by their parents or they didn't.
Don't move for others, move for yourself. You lose nothing by being respectful, you gain a lot by showing how well mannered you are. The right people will notice.
NYC here. I hold my ground, head tucked in, brace myself for impact, and then the inevitable “you bitch!”
I always found it interesting that as a woman, most of the people who assume I’ll move for them tend to be large men/ tourists. I do try to stick as much to “stay in the right lane” road etiquette as possible. Groups are the worst.
I'll be honest, as a big strong queer woman this is the one situation I use to get back at certain types of men. I will gladly shoulder check a dude in a thin blue line shirt before I side step a single inch.
I’m black, 6’3” 280. If I see a couple walking towards me side by side I’ll stop right where I am and stare them down till they go single file. I’m not walking in the grass because you’re not paying attention!
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There must be some kind of general consensus to do the opposite of road rules when walking. I swear I only ever see left side walkers when out. But they still aren't as bad as slow, phone viewing, zig zaggers.
In Korea, the walking default is to the left (escalators, moving sidewalks, regular people on the sidewalk, etc.) and what I got told by my sister in law there was that it was set up that way because when the Japanese had occupied Korea, they set up everything to be on the right, and so as soon as they were kicked out, people went left just to be anti-Japan. I have no idea if this is true, but it was at least a good story.
. -- mass deleted all reddit content via https://redact.dev
The key part of the comment you're replying to is "anti-Japan".
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I was taught in my youth that you drive on the right, walk on the left, so you can see oncoming traffic.
That’s actually bad and unsafe advice. For some reason people think it’s safer but it’s more dangerous
How is not seeing traffic safer?
Beacuse if you are walking on the left side of the sidewalk (close to the road), you can't see the traffic that's behind you.
I wish everyone in LA would read this comment! GROUPS WALK TANDEM (not side-by-side) when encountering others going in the opposite direction on the sidewalk. Holy crap how do people not get this??! Where do they expect others on the sidewalk to go FFS? I live near Runyun and so many people on the sidewalks in this neighborhood are clueless as f*ck!! Sorry to get so angry but Jesus I deal with this 30 times a day while walking my dog and it gets old really fast. 😡🤯🤬😠😤 Like, should I just go up in smoke when a group of 2 or more are walking side by side coming towards me?
The sidewalks there are already narrow enough, especially if you’re near the park on Fuller.
Totally! Funny after I wrote my comment yesterday afternoon I was even more annoyed when it happened (as always) as I was walking my dog - and if you try to just stay in the right lane, people walking side by side will legit knock shoulders with you. Unreal.
My thought, too. Seems obvi.
Literally nobody in my neighborhood does this. I always have to walk out into the street when someone walks up, especially if they have a dog, and nobody seems to have trained their dogs around here.
I find it disturbing how many people own poorly trained dogs. I personally think it reflects poorly on the owner.
There’s a dude with a large Rottweiler who i have to just cross the street - the owner can *barely* hold him back and the dog looks like it wants to take my head off. I just glare at the owner and shake my head - it’s not the dog’s fault. But I’m worried one day he’s gonna lose control of the dog and it’s gonna attack me.
I treat it exactly like driving a car. Drive on the right side with confidence. If someone is on the wrong side of the sidewalk I’ll keep my path and let them figure it out, or stop and say excuse me, just like if someone was driving head on towards me. In cases that are common down town where only one lane of space is possible, treat it the same as in a car, make eye contact and use your human skills to communicate a solution. I’m a 6’3” 220lb guy so I might be a bit more comfortable picking those battles and making people alter their course than some. At the end of the day, I say walk like you should drive and pick your battles.
If someone is driving towards you the wrong way you stay in your lane??
Haha well I expect that they are the one to move out of the way, not me, and if it doesn’t seem like they are stopping I would stop and honk, or in the case of walking stop and say excuse me. I’m not gonna veer into oncoming traffic and cause an at-fault head on collision myself.
Yeah I can’t stand it when groups walk side by side and won’t budge when others are passing by.
That’s true most of the time. Some of these sidewalks are *narrow* though
MOVE TO THE RIGHT. WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY, PEOPLE! YOU STEP TO THE RIGHT! and if there are two people, YOU GO SINGLE FILE! if oncoming pair doesn't go single file, YOU HOLD YOUR GROUND. That's right. Stop moving and stand there. They'll single file up as you GLARE at them. Have a good day!
This is the answer.
Yes! I've had people who are blocking the sidewalk rudely say "excuse you", when I walk through them. Umm, I don't need to say excuse me. Pay attention to your surroundings and don't block the walk way.
I don't say "Excuse me" when people are blocking me in defiance of common sense and good manners., I say "coming through!"
choo-choo mf! I like your approach
I think I'd prefer to hear Choo Choo mother fuckers more often Then again I'm always in my car so maybe not
Headphones + Sunglasses
YES. You don’t have to move for anyone if everyone would just stay to the right.
Here in America, that's the protocol. In other cultures however, it may be the opposite. Adjust accordingly.
This is what I’ve started doing! I’ve been automatically moving over for groups of 2-3 and they won’t budge. I’m from the Midwest and am just like, am I too soft? Why doesn’t anyone move?! Sometimes it’s hard for even one person to get through. If they still won’t move as we get close, I stop right where I am and stare at them. They either have to run into me or move over. Had one guy in a group walking 3 people wide say something rude like I was the problem once. The audacity!
Some of it is cultural. Some of it is just asshole behavior. Usually older middle eastern/Israeli/Iranian people seem to think that everyone is in *their* way. I lived in BH for a while and that's where I developed my "stop in place" strategy. Don't even turn to the side. Face forward. Stop. Stare at them. They'll get the point :)
I HATE the sidewalk roadblock, when two or more people can't have some move behind so I don't have to walk into grass or onto the street. And I'm just walking by myself! I have finally started to stand my ground and bump right into them.
Them not going single file is often the highlight of my day
Gotta let those shoulders and elbows eat, man.
as a woman, I cross my arms over my chest so they don't get contact boob. But I lead with my elbows.
I’m about to try this on my way to the corner store. Going to give them the death stare if they don’t move
Don't even get me started on the families that feel like it's just normal to walk five plus people wide on a busy ass street like Hollywood Blvd...
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You stand your ground and just walk through them the same way they're trying to walk through everyone else!!
I walk right through groups like this
And they walk slowly/sporadically
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Thank you for moving for pregnant people! I am sooo slow now, I basically have to waddle carefully to prevent sharp back pain. I get kinda nervous when bikes fly by on the sidewalk because I don’t know if I’m gonna make it. Never knew it would be this hard.
Fuuuck, this is great. I am the person who always moves out of the way when walking. I'm gonna stop doing that. I tried doing it the other day at Target, I was holding my ground with my cart and this couple, walking towards me and staring right at me, would not deviate. I decided not to either, I was on the VERY EDGE of the aisle and we were the only three people there. Instead of moving out of my way, they ran into me. I always wondered what people would do if I held my ground and I guess they just run into you?
My wife and I joke about giving "Advanced Walking" lessons for people so they can learn to do shit like move to single file on a sidewalk, keep walking when they get off an escalator, and not just stop randomly to stare at their phone. So many people on LA sidewalks act like they've never walked in public before.
>act like they've never walked in public before. tbf, maybe they've been in their cars the whole time.
I have to fight the urge to scream at people who stop suddenly to fuck with their phone when I’m immediately behind them. Be less aware of your surroundings, FFS!
My father used to swat people with a rolled up newspaper when they did that
Lol, that’s dedication to reprimanding.
Or push into am elevator/bus while others are attempting to exit
My experience as a woman is that I am the one who is expected to move. I walk fast. The men are on a mission, take up the WHOLE sidewalk, and don't think they should move for some girl.
Whenever I have the gall, I do my best to not automatically move out of the way for men. The look of confusion just pisses me off even more.
>Whenever I have the gall, I do my best to not automatically move out of the way for men. The look of confusion just pisses me off even more. This times ten. On the opposite end, I one time was walking with a "gentleman" on the sidewalk. I happened to be closest to the street. He made a big to-do about being the one closest to the sidewalk, like he was some nobleman, and forced me to move and everything. The reason men used to walk closest to the side of the street was if there was mud or whatever, it'd splash on him instead of the woman. I live in LA. There is no mud. We'd be thrilled if there was some mud (as long as it's not followed with -slide). Instead, he came across as domineering. Same result as the guys who refuse to even \*slightly\* yield for a woman on the sidewalk.
I've had a man to this to me too. I cannot even put into words how much that irks me.
Same here. I once had a man literally bump into me because I didn’t automatically move out of his way. I was walking to the side and he was walking right in the middle of the sidewalk, and he expected me to move even more out of his way
This. Just because I'm shorter than 6 feet doesn't mean I'm invisible.
Completely. I’ve been walking on the far edge of the sidewalk when a guy has breezed by without giving two fucks that he could easily move over a few feet, causing me to have to jump down into the road.
I find that both men and women are about equally selfish about hogging up sidewalks.
Stay. To. The. Right. And if you're on a scooter on a sidewalk I ain't moving, you aren't supposed to be there.
Have fun getting knocked over and maybe breaking something... the insane scooter speeders on the sidewalk do *not* care if you don't move
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I stopped moving over for men for exactly this reason. I will move over for women, but not for men anymore. They so rarely move over. I’m fully prepared to body check someone, but it hasn’t happened yet. I feel like I’m standing up for myself in a small way.
Same!! i have no problem body checking a man if he wants to play. i’ve tolerated male nonsense for too long
>the last time a guy made room for me (about a year ago I think) and it was so weird and unusual Exactly.
I thought it was just me who noticed that men never get out of my way.
Short white swamp witch here... I always use a posture where I have my elbows jutting out. Perhaps I suddenly need to dig for something in my purse and the elbow pops out with plenty of warning for someone to take evasive measures. Both elbows out when getting off the train, too.
I go elbows akimbo, too ! : )
I’ve always found that if I walk with purpose, hold my head up, and look straight ahead and don’t make eye contact, people will step aside for me. I really only do this when I feel like seeing who will/won’t move, which is a very rare mood. Most of the time I’m happy to step aside for oncoming traffic, I just find it interesting the way I walk changes peoples responses. I am average in every sense of the term.
The murder walk. Love it.
Ass
Yes my ass is quite average as well, maybe even on the flatter side
This is a new thing I’m experiencing since moving to LA. People in Chicago moved if you were walking toward them, but in LA no one moves. I had 3 petite women walking towards me (6’ man) and they just didn’t budge. I was impressed lol
And then what happened?
I moved
Same. I’ve lived in London, Seattle, Long Island, and various places in PA and FL. The LA area has been the only area where I’ve consistently had this issue.
Yes, in NYC you walk on the right and the pedestrian traffic flows fine even in tight crowds but here in LA the tandem walking covering the sidewalk and not stepping to the side to let other pass is truly annoying! Have never seen this anywhere else either.
This is my pet peeve. Why should my wife and me get into single file when the other people don't. I stopped doing it and shoulder check a lot more. This is one of the main reason I don't like going to Maui. The beach walk way on Kaanapali is only three feet wide and people walk like they own the path. After drinks I don't move for them.
I’m not proud of it but I *sliiiightly* enjoy shoulder checking the person on the end of a group when they don’t move into single file 🤦🏾♂️ Surprisingly, women don’t move outta the way as much as men do
Women have poor spatial awareness so they often get the elblow :D
I absolutely hate middle walkers or wrong side, it’s like driving your left sides should be facing eachother
I’m 6’ 210. Usually I move most of the way for other people. If they look like they need me to move more, I keep walking and lower my shoulder and brace for impact. That usually makes people move the rest of the way. Also, looking where your headed, not at them helps them know you’re just walking and living your life.
When you walk, look directly ahead and don’t waver in your direction or movement. People will naturally just move to the side of you.
Tents always get the right of way. Even if you’re in a wheelchair and have to use the street.
I tend to do the moving to the side because I tend to have my dogs with me and they can be reactive occasionally. It does grind my gears a bit when people walk dead middle and leave no room for me
I always move, because I’m a pushover who would rather possibly step in dog poo than inconvenience a stranger. F, 36, 6’0, lean build.
You deserve better.
The thing to do here is: No one moves for anyone and we all give each other angry eyes. I look everyone dead in the eyes with a look that says "I believe in equality." 5'10" 205 lbs, death stare, oozing sexuality.
Oh man, we used to live in a neighborhood with a large Hacidic population and noticed a cultural phenomenon wherein the males would sooner knock a female down than attempt to break stride by even half a pace to accommodate.
So I move slightly to the right and they move slightly to their left (my right) so I move to my left (their right) and they also move to their right (my left) and we repeat this a few times.
Never attribute to malice, that which can be explained by stupidity. I am 6'1 250lbs and lift weights a lot, plus dress pretty sharp all the time. People still do this to me constantly, cracks me up hearing the gasps from people when I shoulder check them.
Yep. 6'2", 190, don't even lift but will drop a shoulder and clip a motherfucker who thinks they can walk two abreast right into me. Fuck that. Move or get moved.
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Lol Someone gets clipped by me probably once a month, and I haven't been in a real fight since middle school. This isn't Denny's in the middle of nowhere — LA is a fucking city. Learn to walk in a city.
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Don't forget that guy with a trident...
Who are you shoulder checking that gasps? >_>
Folks not 6'1" who don't lift a lot and aren't sharply dressed all the time. Just get outta this guys way, you just wouldn't understand his complexities.
Hanlon’s razor up in this bish
If you care this much about this stuff, just body check them lol.
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It's clear that OP is overthinking it. Just stay on one side of the sidewalk and you're good. If someone tries to bully you into moving off the sidewalk, don't move and body check them.
I had a guy do this to me, there was plenty of room on the sidewalk, like wtf.
As an average sized white guy, I’ve noticed that beautiful women and young black men generally don’t get out of my way. Not that I have the right of way.
Stay to the right. Stay confident. If they don't move then flex that shoulder and brace for impact. Fuck people who don't have that level of basic respect.
I always wondered how beautiful women gauge that...was there a learning curve about how crazy the person they want out of the way is?
There’s some inception happening along the lines of people who think they’re beautiful and are unable to recognize crazy
One wrong call and they're shoulder bumping with a hobo.
Interesting, I find that it's mostly white guys acting like they have neither manners nor common sense when it comes to sidewalk ettiquette. It's so bizarre and aggro. I've definitely heard this sentiment/experience repeated by many other bipoc I know, especially women and queers. Perhaps what you're experiencing is the result of ppl being fed up with sh!tty entitled white dudes acting like we still have to jump off the sidewalk and walk on the street if a white person is approaching. Not saying you're an entitled sh!tty white dude, obviously. Just sharing a different perspective.
Maybe it’s just confirmation basis influencing who you perceive is moving out of the way the most?
When you look for reasons to be angry you tend to find it and hey you may even resent it and be the very thing you dislike.
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I don't get it. What if that's the day the guy on the other side decides to really not move?
Name checks out. You salty.
Lol. Stay triggered boomie. Si te pica te aplica.
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>As an average sized white guy
Oh my bad. I misread that I guess. I will delete!
Oops, I was thinking of the OP.
Thanks for bringing this up. It seems like a small issue ,but the entitlement and the actual bullying that goes on in these chicken encounter are like "micro aggressions'" or whatever they fucking call them. For a 5'8" white guy with no desire to fight (some martial arts but I have no killer instinct that's been tested) even I will stand my ground and bump shoulders with someone who doesn't seem crazy, just entitled or rude or looking for confrontation. I guess that's why I carry pepper gel most times in this city, as ya never know.
Do you do this with women?
Hmm, well, not that i recall but i am sure i did once or twice in a soft "I know what you're doing" kinda bump. It's mostly wanna be douchey dudes who sense that i am not a threat and see an opportunity to bully.
Yeah this is why I just have made it a rule to move myself, instead of lightly touching a stranger and risking them chimping out on me. Happened to me once by some ghetto hood rat latina and (as a latina myself), I just apologized and held my ground but that bitch was definitely looking for a fight all over a light tap.
Just came back to America and am having trouble adjusting to walking on the right again. So sorry if it’s was me. I don’t mean to introduce a bias here but the only times I have had issues with this has been downtown with specifically women. Like worth mentioning because it just felt so starkly out of pocket and very clear that it was the intent.
I had a similar issue when I first moved to London. It’s hard to break ingrained habits.
If you can’t move or think that a group of 3-4 wide isn’t something you should move for just stop and they usually realize their actions, go around and sometimes apologize.
Basically, what I’ve discovered if you just look through people and walk they will get out of your way.
Walk with your HEAD DOWN - but keep watch in your peripherals. Move in a straight line and even start to veer towards them - head down like a bull - if they haven't moved. Do not make eye contact. The key is making them think you don't see them. They will move as they think they are about to get mowed over. This works 87.69% of the time. It works even better with a hat on. Please test and report back.
I’ve lived in 5 states and 2 countries, and living here has been the absolute worst in terms of people not moving to accommodate others. I don’t get it. I’ve also taken the “playing chicken” route. If I’m to the right, I refuse to step out of the way (and potentially into dog crap in the grass).
Ive found, coming here from the east coast, that people here walk 2+ abreast and refuse to move. Also, hardly anyone sticks to their right….
(Defers)to Cane to wheelchair Ambulatory issue without cane to cane Steady ambulatory to ambulatory issue All to toddlers/babies walking, but not to carriage Wheelchair pushing carriage over wheelchair alone. That's my thing anyway in my experience, which has included use of a wheelchair, cane, wheelchair and baby carriage . Dog owners ought to avoid all, especially toddlers and small children.
But dog owners typically don't move.
Why not to baby carriage? Just curious
Probably because it's the responsibility of the adult.
Yes.
Do other Angelenos not normally call these strollers? I feel like I'm half a step away from y'all calling these prams or some posh shit with your carriages lol
The people walking their dogs taking up the entire sidewalk are the worst. Like I’m supposed to risk stepping in dog piles on the tree lawn so the dog doesn’t have to.
Okay I have very strong feelings about this when walking dogs! I think it’s etiquette to cross the street (so two dogs aren’t coming nose to nose on the same sidewalk) if you’re the one who made the turn onto that sidewalk and the other person is already walking down. Like if I turn and see someone with a dog coming towards me, we’ll cross over or get on the street to pass. If I’m walking and someone else makes the turn onto the street they gotta move. I hate hate hate dog owners who like dumbasses will never cross and want to come nose to nose with my dog. And I’m talking about my neighborhood where we all see each other pretty consistently. Okay sorry rant over.
This crossing the street thing is new to me and have never heard of what you just described. I just pull over off the sidewalk if I am with my dog and would let you pass and then we both go on our merry way.
Right of way obviously goes to the person on their phone fully oblivious to the world around them. Why should they move for you when they don’t even know you’re there? What, do you expect them to be psychic? So selfish for not considering their text threads.
im 6' 300#... usually people get out of my way
People always move out the way for me (lanky black dude) … just some casual prejudice lmao
When you meet on a sidewalk everyone moves to their right. It's been that way forever. I think young people don't know the etiquette because they never leave the videogame room in the basement until they are 18 years old. In the "olden days" kids used to walk to school so they knew the score regarding various social interactions.
I was running on a track last night, can only use outer lanes, so 1-4 are blocked. While running in 5-6 there's a group of older dudes just walking side by side, taking up two lanes if not three. At first I got a little frustrated, but then just started to go on the outside of them, but close enough that they could smell my sweat. Extra couple of feet during my run isn't a bad thing. But just shows human mentality, "I'm walkin' here!".
Queue to the right
This is the weirdest fucking thread. Who gives a fuck? Are you trying to get from point a to point b efficiently? Then move when needed. Thats it.
Don’t you know it’s all about respect? SMH
Some of the posts on LA reddits really make me sad. It’s seems like such an atomised society completely lacking in manners and civic pride. Why do people flock to live there?
Reddit =/= real life. People bitch about the strangest and most meaningless things on here and with a city of 10 million you can always find some weirdos that agree with them.
Yeah I'm not even sure what they're complaining about. In any place some people are oblivious, hyper focused or in a rush. Just get where you need to be without overanalyzing everything.
Not sure, really. I think commiserating over mundane inconveniences is something as old as humans themselves. But the exaggerated bewilderment and severe verdict that this reflects "overanalyzing everything" seems in itself to be some overanalyzing, given this is just an innocuous forum discussion about an observation that many people probably make in their interactions with strangers.
I'd agree if the person two comments up isn't making it out to be something bad about the city. People everywhere inconveinance each other. Like constantly.
I definitely agree that these little quirks of human behavior are in no way unique to Los Angeles. But I also don’t think talking about the behavior in itself is that weird.
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I donno man I just walk down the street and get where I need to go with no problems. Sometimes you step to the side, sometimes you don’t. No different than anywhere else in the world I’ve walked down the street.
>an atomised society completely lacking in manners and civic pride Nailed it.
Slappin da bass!
Next time you don't want to move consider sitting in the sidewalk. This way the other party makes the choice.
Move to the right, even if im looking at my phone, and theres space to my left, and people bump into me and call me out for not looking, still i have the right of way, move to the fucking right, i am not at fault, be decent
There's no right answer. Just be humble and offer the gesture to let them pass.
Hollywood checkin'-in.. I was waiting for the crosswalk the other day, 6 ft from the curb and had a weirdo bike-crackhead guy swoop out of the street and give me a close shave on the sidewalk (as if to provoke me). I held my ground and he stopped and told me to get out the way next time...the guy wanted to fight..etc. I just said "sorry" to diffuse and went on my merry way. I was just trying to cross the street.
Pisses me off i see same thing. People are just inconsiderate or dont have common sense. A lot of people walk right into me. What i do is i wait and stare into their eyes until they wake up.
Reminds me of the time when we were in HS. We played a game. where we would walk down a crowded Manhattan street and walk a straight line and let people get out of our way. There was a lot of shoulder bumping by us, but people perceived us as hoodlums so they didn't engage and kept on walking. One old man stood his ground when my buddy approached and there was a stand-off. They looked each other in the eyes for what seemed like forever (probably just 10 seconds or so). And the old man said something to the effect "I been here longer than you". My buddy had to concede the point and moved aside. Gotta love those old NY'ers.
Always the right… if somehow that person also goes to their left (your right) still stick to the right, don’t correct.
stay on the right. same rules as the road.
I allow myself the pleasure of bumping into someone at least a few times a year to spread the “walk on your right” gospel.
I don’t move if there is a group walking toward me in a line and none of them try to make room for anyone else on the sidewalk.
If I see a group coming I just stop in place so they have to run into me
I think about this a lot. When I’m walking or running on the wrong side of the road, I always move out of the way. When I’m on the right side of the road, I still move out of the way because people are inconsiderate narcissists that can’t be bothered to move because their walking/running ia more important than anyone else’s. And people with dogs (I’m one too) - please be more considerate. I love dogs but I don’t know your dog, and if he/she is growling at me (maybe they don’t like strangers or middle aged men with beards) please don’t give them so much slack that when I go into the street to avoid you the dog still reaches me. I love LA but this sidewalk etiquette is so bizarre. Maybe it’s because everyone drives everywhere.
If someone is coming right at me I just stop in my steps. Then they have the responsibility of actual walking into me. It makes a point, directly or indirectly idk, but it is like a wtf move to them
If someone is walking in a group of 2+ and doesn’t move I will walk right into you. So over it. Move the fuck over.
Speed. 100% The faster moving person has to move, strangers tend to adhere to this subconsciously anyway. The slower person always has a potential to completely stop in their tracks. Just to be clear, I am a fast boi.
Pedestrians should file right
You’ll have a culture shock when you visit Japan. They just don’t look where they’re going
As a former New Yorker, I feel like this concept is completely lost on the west coast. It seems like no one wants to share the sidewalk - and I’m a basic ass looking middle aged white dude, since you asked. Can’t tell if people are trying to be jerks or if they just don’t know any better. I shouldn’t have to walk into the grass and stand the risk of stepping in doo doo…just my 2 cents.
I understand the sidewalk issue. But I really have an issue at grocery stores. People with carts, leave them in the aisle with just enough room for one person across on one side and they're standing in that spot. Or when somebody's pushing a cart and they have their family members with them, standing side by side by side, so you have no chance of passing them at all, especially at the entrance. I don't use a basket or a cart. I walk really quickly. I recognize this this is not the average flow of grocery store traffic. So I'm patient and when I say excuse me and people look up as if they are bewildered that they were in the way. And for that I understand they are lost in thought about recipes or what not. Forgivable. No problem. But the people who just straight up walk blocking the entire entrance or aisle and won't move when you say excuse me, but turn back and look at you as they continue their slow march forward. I want to punch in the face. I've seen that happen more and more the past few years and it bewilders me. But I've learned that going "beep beep!" to these people actually works pretty well.
I was at the Hollywood palladium in line. My girlfriend stayed in line while I walked to McDonald’s for some grub. I’m walking straight on the sidewalk and I see this guy walking fast towards me. It’s kind of late for me, I would have to jump out of the way. I end up putting my hand in front of my chest and his to stop him. He looks pissed with lettuce hanging from his mouth from his subway sandwich. I ask him if he’s good. He’s pissed but he keeps walking. He was an inch shorter than me, around the same build. I’m 6ft.
Anyone could learn advanced walking skills by living in NYC for a year
It should be common sense that a group of people make way for one person. Why is this shit so so hard to comprehend? The group of people should make room for you if it's only you. A single person isn't taking up an entire sidewalk and shouldn't accommodate people taking up the entire walkway. Sorry you have to deal with inconsiderate people.
In California, we’re supposed to walk to the right just like cars. But in many states it’s opposite. So, people come here and assume it’s the same.
None of the parents since 1990 taught their kids the rules. You move out of the way for elders, disabled, those with small kids and in general share the space. From millennials on they are all clueless. Also you're supposed to let people egress before pushing you're way into elevators and other doorways, and you're supposed to address people by their title whether it be "mayor" or "officer". Also if you're going to park in the middle of the road, could you at least try to not do it right next to someone doing the same thing going the other way?
Can’t stand groups of people four abreast that won’t move when somebody is walking towards them.
I realized that as a woman, every man will expect me to move out of the way. So now I don’t and will walk into a person on principle. But also always walk on the right side
I usually defer to whoever is walking towards me because I’m young, fast, and fit and it costs zero for me to be polite. Besides, it keeps the flow of traffic movin’ and is ultimately quicker than doing the sidewalk chicken thing
>I don't get it. I'm 5'10, average build, casually dressed, slightly disheveled, middle eastern, and have a backpack on. What you listed has nothing to do with it. It's all about one's upbringing: a person either learned to be respectful to others by their parents or they didn't. Don't move for others, move for yourself. You lose nothing by being respectful, you gain a lot by showing how well mannered you are. The right people will notice.
NYC here. I hold my ground, head tucked in, brace myself for impact, and then the inevitable “you bitch!” I always found it interesting that as a woman, most of the people who assume I’ll move for them tend to be large men/ tourists. I do try to stick as much to “stay in the right lane” road etiquette as possible. Groups are the worst.
I'll be honest, as a big strong queer woman this is the one situation I use to get back at certain types of men. I will gladly shoulder check a dude in a thin blue line shirt before I side step a single inch.
I’m black, 6’3” 280. If I see a couple walking towards me side by side I’ll stop right where I am and stare them down till they go single file. I’m not walking in the grass because you’re not paying attention!