Deep Thoughts: Do People in Great Britain Walk on the Left?

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction) 03/13/2014 at 13:07 • Filed to: deep thoughts

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What about Japan, India, Australia, etc.? I was just walking back to my office with a bag of delicious Chipotle, and after cutting through a grassy area, I took my place walking back in the right "lane" of the sidewalk. How heavily does a country's automobile traffic influence its foot traffic?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-_an…

BKRM3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 13:08

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woahhhh man, that like, totally blew my mind mannnnn

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 13:08

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Yes, we often stick to the left on stairs and stuff.

In London though in the Underground on the escalators if you're going to stand rather than walk or run up the steps you stand to the right and people run up on the left hand side.

Tom McParland > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 13:10

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When I was in Australia it was weird driving on the left, but even weirder walking on the left.

ddavidn > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 13:11

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The general rule, I've always thought, is that you do walk on whichever side you drive on. There's a video somewhere. I'll go find it.

jariten1781 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 13:11

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In Japan they walk on the left, but if you're a tall bearded white dude you walk wherever you want. Even in super crowded subway stations the crowd parts like Moses parting the sea. It's kind of hilarious.

MountainCommand > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 13:13

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deep thought?

i guess youre right though, they must. Its the norm for them, remember, they dont know any different.

thebigbossyboss > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 13:15

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Some who went to Heathrow told me they walk on the right in the airport. Crazy.

ddavidn > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/13/2014 at 13:16

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Which is the best thing ever, because in America, people just stand in the middle blocking the whole thing. England was a relief, even though I usually had to push my wife to the side.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/13/2014 at 13:18

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Didn't think about stairs - so most people's non-dominant hand would be on the rail.

In a manual-equipped car, RHD probably makes more sense from a safety standpoint, as your dominant hand never has to leave the steering wheel (unless you're a lefty, of course).

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > thebigbossyboss 03/13/2014 at 13:20

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Just in the airport? To be polite?

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 13:23

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I'm not sure if this has anything to do with traffic, I live in Norway (we drive on the right side), but I always walkon the left side... That way I always have my right arm towards people who walks past me..

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 03/13/2014 at 13:26

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For shaking hands? For punching? For pickpocketing?

So many options.

thebigbossyboss > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 13:26

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Yeah i dunno. Maybe it`s because there are people from all over in the airport and most countries drive on the right.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > thebigbossyboss 03/13/2014 at 13:30

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Foot traffic can't really be regulated, it just happens. Majority rules.

The Compromiser > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 14:28

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Mind Blown Gif if the Tiger doesn't join the clowns and eat me...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > The Compromiser 03/13/2014 at 14:34

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Is this the one that Craig Ferguson used on the old Daily Show?

MonkeePuzzle > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 14:36

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yes, as a transplant from Australia I can tell you, that even though you don't notice, Americans hang to the right and Aussies to the left, I found this most noticeable when on the stairwells of high school, just could not figure out why I was always going against the flow.

The Compromiser > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 15:25

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Don't Know, Its the one from Scanners I believe.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/13/2014 at 15:29

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Came here to say this. Walking's just wherever, but stairs you stick to the left.

Simplify, then add beer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 19:21

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Well this will mess with you:

In a RHD car manufactured in a country with LHD, the indicator stalk is on the left. So you're changing gears & indicating with your left hand.

But if the car is RHD from a RHD country, the stalk is on the right, so you're changing gears with your left hand and indicating with your right hand.

So if you're turning right you're sitting in the far right hand lane of the left side of the road with your left hand on the gear shifter whilst indicating with your right waiting for the opposing traffic on the right hand side of the road to clear.

Make sense?

Simplify, then add beer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 19:23

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Here's the original scene:

Bubbles22 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/13/2014 at 22:00

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Yes, I kept running into people in the grocery.

Cé hé sin > Simplify, then add beer 03/14/2014 at 15:40

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Not any more. There was a time when Japanese cars (rhd country) had this but nowadays they fit the same stalks to all their production, at least that of it that's sold in Europe. Japanese market cars may differ.