People walking in roadway
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I have noticed over several years the increase of the following at least in my community. This is a cut and paste from a forum called Bike Forums after Googling the topic:
"Anyone else noticed more people walking in the roadway?
Lately I've noticed more people walking in the roadway on the sidestreets of my commutes. There have been unused sidewalks on either side of the road, and often there have been cars parked on the side of the road. Which means the pedestrians (usually salmon) are choosing to walk (not run or jog) in the path of vehicles when they could be walking on empty sidewalks on either side of the road - I'm not sure why they're doing this. Has anyone else noticed this?"I am curious about others' observations. The term "salmon" is used to describe someone walking against the flow of vehicular traffic, if you were wondering.
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Swimming up stream perhaps?
And maybe the increase in pedestrian ignorance is that the world is going to end soon.
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Maybe they are in training for the Toronto Zombie Walk
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I have not noticed people walking in the roadway. And I've lived in Berkeley and now Davis, CA for the last 4 years. Berkeley probably being one of the most pedestrian-minded cities in the country and Davis being the most bike-oriented. And I've never really encountered this.
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My speculation is this:
It is a personal expression of disdain for rigid order, in which "all pedestrians shall walk on the sidewalks, and not disrupt the uniform flow of vehicular traffic."
They may or may not harbor the lofty sociological ideal that "Streets are for People."
The increase in occurrences just indicates that it has become fashionable. For some, it may be a case of ignorance.Further speculation: Not all communities may experience this, nor might it occur in all cultures.
It may be generally harmless, but I would consider it risky behavior.
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In the Boston area people are walking in the roadway more I'd say. Bostonians are not know for their observance of traffic rules (rather the opposite) and the same goes for pedestrians there. It's gotten worse though, and it's dangerous. We have narrow roads and often cars are parked at the curb, making it tighter; yet with a perfectly good sidewalk some elect to walk on the street. Stupid. Combine bad drivers with "bad" pedestrians and things are going to happen, no lawsuit will fix two ruined lives.
I'd say some of the blame rests on the city or town. We have older sidewalks, some approaching 50-75 years of age, that are spalling, heaving due to freeze cycles or tree roots, cramped due to those same trees or property owners who let plants and bushes grow into the pedestrian area, or are just plain crumbling and unsafe. I've been forced onto the road many times thanks to these hazards - especially when pushing my kid in a stroller that won't fit between that overgrown shrub and utility pole, and that's twice as scary.
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Maybe the side walks are full of dog shit.
Anyway, dog shit or not, people in my town have always walked on the road, too. At least as far as I remember. Nothing new in that.
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