When walking, which side do you stay?

Philippines
January 16, 2012 5:21am CST
I always keep to the right whenever I'm walking on the sidewalks, stairs, riding elevators, or walking in public places where there are many people. I hate colliding with other people especially during rush hours. There are times also when I get frustrated because either you or the person coming from the other way don't know which side to go just to let the other pass - it could be sometimes funny because it looks as if you're both dancing. We know that vehicles along the highways/roads stay on the right side and there's even a sign that says "Keep Right." I thought that it would be applicable, too, when it comes to walking. So which side do you stay when walking in places where there are many people also who are walking?
3 people like this
17 responses
@tatzkie23 (770)
• Philippines
16 Jan 12
I walk to the right. Maybe because I'm right handed? i don't know, i'm used to things with my right. But when there are a lot of people, i just walk at anyside, Especially when i'm rushing.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Sometimes I think because we are right handed that we tend to stay on the right side. But when we are rushing, it's really bad when people just keep on going either to the left or right. Thanks, tatzkie.
• Philippines
20 Jan 12
When entering the elevator, I'll keep to the right side, and when nearly exiting, I'll move to the right. Lol, I just thought about it, haha!
• Philippines
19 Jan 12
Yes, i think because i'm right handed. LOL. How about when you're inside the elevator which side do you go, if there's no one is with you?
• United States
16 Jan 12
I usually keep to the right. I treat it like those who cruise the left lane. If the person coming towards me is walking on my right, I try to make eye contact. If that does not work, I move to the left. Now, when I was younger, and it was a cute girl...
1 person likes this
• India
17 Jan 12
Hey sweetokole, What will you do when there are lot of crowd on the right hand side ?
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Oh that's good then. I think in the last sentence you meant you once met a cute girl while walking and nearly bumped into her? Lol, anyway, thanks!
@Mayuko (1268)
• United States
16 Jan 12
I don't really notice which side I go to. I pretty much go where ever a person walking towards me isn't. If someone is on my left, then I'll go to the right and vice versa. It also varies on situations. For example, when I'm walking on the sidewalk, I'll walk farther away from the street, than closer. So that means I'm sometimes walking on the left side. But if I'm in a building, and there is no one else around, then I tend to stay in the center of a hallway.
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Yes, it's nice to walk in the center. You can walk peacefully Thank you, Mayuko, for sharing!
@ardoy0731 (7308)
• Philippines
16 Jan 12
AS much as possible I do keep right when walking but we really can't help it to still almost bump in to someone with is sometimes funny or sometimes irritating especially when we are in a hurry.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Right, I agree with you Thanks for the response.
• India
16 Jan 12
Here in India the rules is keep left, (Vehicle follow left pane rule) so. I always keep to the left at every situation and maximum people follow the same rules. People who not follow the rules I always tell them "Keep left".
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Oh I see. So even in walking you also keep left. And yes, when I'm about to bump into someone, I also say "keep right." Thanks for the response and the info, ashvinspatel.
@pandora22 (868)
• Romania
16 Jan 12
i've never tought at this before but i realise now that whenever i walk with someone on the street i always stay on the right side.i don't feel comfortable walking in the left side of someone.i don't now why.coud this be related to the fact if someone is right handed or left handed?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Maybe it is related to being right or left handed. When walking with someone, I think I prefer being on the right side, too Thanks!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
16 Jan 12
I also walk on the right...even in the aisles at a store. If everyone did this can you imagine how must better the flow would go? like in a store? People wouldn't be crowding the aisles....no running into each other!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
I agree. There is no problem if the way is wide enough but if it is just a narrow way/space then it's much better to keep right and avoid bumping into each other. Thanks, jillhill!
@jordq7 (576)
• Philippines
16 Jan 12
Hi there neelia_lyn!! Well I always stay at the right side.i don't know why I am like that but I always stay on that side.I also hate it when people doesn't want to give way when I am walking in the street especially when it is a guy in front of me.I think men should give way when they see that a lady is walking in that side of the street.I think its very unethical if they don't.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
It seems that there are almost no gentlemen these days and yes they should give way, as they say "ladies first". That I have observed so many times when riding a public vehicle - men always wanted to go first and they don't even seem to care if the ladies are standing and them sitting comfortably :) But of course, not all of them, there are still gentlemen out there who show respect and give way to women. Thank you and keep right always
@alberello (4752)
• Italy
16 Jan 12
I'm used to walking on the right side of the road. But when I went in adolescence during the summer in the colony, the animators made ??us walk on the left side, as it was possible to see the cars before they happen
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Hmmm..... Animators? How is that?
• Philippines
16 Jan 12
Yes, I am following the conventional way of Keep Right too. But when I am rushing, I can't help doing a counter flow maneuver and end up going to the left. But as much as possible, I go to my right. I do drive and keeping right is essential when hitting the road. I do think that most people too has the tendency to walk to the right. I am also partaking in the right bandwagon.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Great, you have said it well. Thanks for the nice response and remember...always keep right
• India
17 Jan 12
I used to move through the way where there are less people if there are lot of people on right hand side then I goes to left hand side and vice versa
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Me, sometimes I wouldn't move out of the way, I just let the person walking towards me go the other way :) Because sometimes people seem to know or feel that they should keep right so they automatically move to their right, at least here in our place. Thanks again, wonderboy!
• India
18 Jan 12
• India
16 Jan 12
Here in India the rules is keep left, (Vehicle follow left pane rule) so. I always keep to the left at every situation and maximum people follow the same rules. People who not follow the rules I always tell them "Keep left".
1 person likes this
@FluxNL (503)
• Netherlands
16 Jan 12
I like to cross from right to the left. I love to annoy people by standing a front of them and keep going to the side the want to. I usally walk on the right, but sometimes on the left. Even on the middle of the road :)
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Oh naughty you! That's what I don't like, crossing from right to left not really knowing which side I'm supposed to stay. Anyway, thank you for your response.
@Pipink19 (15)
• Philippines
16 Jan 12
Right! I don't know why but I just feel like being on the right side, maybe because I'm a righty! :)
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
And I wonder why, too but I always keep right and if I go to the left I feel as I'm kinda outbalanced, something like that Thanks and have a nice time!
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
17 Jan 12
Walk, kid! - No; he's just standing still; or was, this was me many years ago now.
I've never thought about it, but I imagine as I'm from England in the UK I might tend to walk to the left, as cars drive on the left. But I don't do enough walking to truly know. I do a lot of walking around supermarkets, but certainly don't recall keeping to one side. I occasionally walk around my local small town centre (I'm from the suburbs of London); there aren't enough people at any given time to keep to one side, I pretty well walk as I please I think although I may slightly favour the left; I can't say. As to my city, London, there I may walk on the left or leftish hand side; but I really can't recall; I guess it depends on the area; the size of the streets; the amount of people and so on. But you've got me thinking...I'll be observing my walking habits more closely from now on.
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Oh you do that I always do a lot of walking and here in our country, almost everywhere is crowded. One time while walking along with a crowd, I asked myself why I always keep to the right and have observed most people keep right. As you are from the UK, and mike up there said it's "keep left" in the Uk, I have observed that most people I came to know from there write with their left hands. Now, I understand why Thanks, Carl, for sharing! See you around :)
@Rick1950 (1575)
• Lima, Peru
19 Jan 12
When I go walking I stay on the right or on the left side. But if somebody comes then I walk on the right side. I do the same when I go jogging. Of course when you're in a shopping center and you use the stairs you should stay on the right side. Also when you cross the street and you see on the other side in front of you a lot of people coming, the best is that you walk on the right side. Actually is a matter of order and common sense. I know that in England and Japan the cars go through the left side, opposite as to the other countries. But I don't know if the people do the same there.
• Philippines
20 Jan 12
Yes, you are right that it's really a matter of order and common sense. Most people though, I think, keep to the right. Thanks, Rick, for sharing your opinion :)
@davaome (1826)
• Philippines
9 Jul 12
Hi neelia_lyn, I am the same, I try to "always keep right", but I don't know why, but when I meet head on with people on the street usually I want to go to my right, but the person I am on a collision course on will go to his left so we will hit each other if neither one of will change direction,so I end up going to my left instead :D
• Philippines
9 Jul 12
Sometimes if I'm rushing, I get frustrated and think "People should know that they should keep right" Thanks, davaome!