Traffic law dictates as a pedestrian, if there’s no sidewalk you need to walk on the left side of the road.
This way the traffic (in this case, the oncoming traffic) you share a side of the road with is in your field of vision, so both parties are aware of each others presence.
The question is: when there is a road without any marking in which it is allowed to walk and cycle or drive, where should a pedestrian walk?
In my experience, 99% of the people they walk on the right side, but I think this is not the best option, because they cannot see the cars / bicycles approaching and then step out if necessary. If there are several pedestrian walking side by side, if they are on the left, they can see the bikes or cars approaching, so they can go into a “one by one column”.
I think most of the walkers they just copy the idea “I drive on the right, I cycle on the right” so they tend to walk on the right, but this could be more dangerous.
edit: the code seems to say that it is mandatory for pedestrians to keep their left, unless if that could be unsafe.
>*”When pedestrians follow the roadway, they keep as close as possible to the edge of the roadway. They go left in relation to their direction when following the carriageway or side lanes, or right when safety reasons warrant it.”*
What I learned 40 years ago at school:
Against trafic, except in curves where you have to walk outside of them.
My personnal experience says, use the above rule and common sense.
Always on the left.
Would walk left in order to see oncoming traffic.
This including in sharp turns. Because crossing involves, well, crossing, which would put me in the very middle of the road. Twice if I cross back. Which I believe is the most dangerous part.
If somebody comes full speed in the turn I can dodge it, by jumping above the barrier, or flattening myself against the wall, or stabbing myself in the bushes. If I’m in the middle of the road I’m not sure, it’s quite unpredictable what would happen.
Always on the bright side of life
The closer they get to the curve the more dangerous it get tho. If I were them I would change lanes at this point.
Well in this case the grass. If a car would come across the corner it would have to little time to dodge these pedestrians. At least don’t walk side by side.
Take the bus.
Left side to see oncoming trafic unless you’re in a very large group which would act as a vehicle
Left on straight streets or curves you have view.
Right in blind curves.
I know it’s the left side and I do agree that seeing the oncoming traffic is most important. But you kind of block each others way when there’s oncoming traffic from the other side, what is done in that situation? Both parties come to a stand still, wait for the other side to pass and then right side traffic passes pedestrians and pedestrians continue?
In a group of les than 15 people the left side is preferable because you can see oncoming traffic. For groups of more than 15 people this advantage becomes useless so it’s advised to stay on the right side of the road.
There are laws about this. Opinions do not matter.
Scouts&Gidsen Vlaanderen used to (they probably still do but I don’t know for certain) recommend walking on the side of incoming traffic so that you could make eye contact with the driver and have a better view of wether or not they give you enough space.
In fact, I find that it even works well when there is a sidewalk so you don’t get a koersfiets parked in your buttcrack because you didn’t see it coming.
16 comments
Traffic law dictates as a pedestrian, if there’s no sidewalk you need to walk on the left side of the road.
This way the traffic (in this case, the oncoming traffic) you share a side of the road with is in your field of vision, so both parties are aware of each others presence.
The question is: when there is a road without any marking in which it is allowed to walk and cycle or drive, where should a pedestrian walk?
In my experience, 99% of the people they walk on the right side, but I think this is not the best option, because they cannot see the cars / bicycles approaching and then step out if necessary. If there are several pedestrian walking side by side, if they are on the left, they can see the bikes or cars approaching, so they can go into a “one by one column”.
I think most of the walkers they just copy the idea “I drive on the right, I cycle on the right” so they tend to walk on the right, but this could be more dangerous.
edit: the code seems to say that it is mandatory for pedestrians to keep their left, unless if that could be unsafe.
>*”When pedestrians follow the roadway, they keep as close as possible to the edge of the roadway. They go left in relation to their direction when following the carriageway or side lanes, or right when safety reasons warrant it.”*
(Art.42.1 [Belgian highway code](https://www.wegcode.be/nl/regelgeving/1975120109/voetgangers~hra8v386pu))
What I learned 40 years ago at school:
Against trafic, except in curves where you have to walk outside of them.
My personnal experience says, use the above rule and common sense.
Always on the left.
Would walk left in order to see oncoming traffic.
This including in sharp turns. Because crossing involves, well, crossing, which would put me in the very middle of the road. Twice if I cross back. Which I believe is the most dangerous part.
If somebody comes full speed in the turn I can dodge it, by jumping above the barrier, or flattening myself against the wall, or stabbing myself in the bushes. If I’m in the middle of the road I’m not sure, it’s quite unpredictable what would happen.
Always on the bright side of life
The closer they get to the curve the more dangerous it get tho. If I were them I would change lanes at this point.
Well in this case the grass. If a car would come across the corner it would have to little time to dodge these pedestrians. At least don’t walk side by side.
Take the bus.
Left side to see oncoming trafic unless you’re in a very large group which would act as a vehicle
Left on straight streets or curves you have view.
Right in blind curves.
I know it’s the left side and I do agree that seeing the oncoming traffic is most important. But you kind of block each others way when there’s oncoming traffic from the other side, what is done in that situation? Both parties come to a stand still, wait for the other side to pass and then right side traffic passes pedestrians and pedestrians continue?
In a group of les than 15 people the left side is preferable because you can see oncoming traffic. For groups of more than 15 people this advantage becomes useless so it’s advised to stay on the right side of the road.
There are laws about this. Opinions do not matter.
Scouts&Gidsen Vlaanderen used to (they probably still do but I don’t know for certain) recommend walking on the side of incoming traffic so that you could make eye contact with the driver and have a better view of wether or not they give you enough space.
In fact, I find that it even works well when there is a sidewalk so you don’t get a koersfiets parked in your buttcrack because you didn’t see it coming.
no smart people needed
**the bushes dumbass**