Road rules=walking etiquette?

[malfeas99]

So during my midday musings, I came across this interesting set of questions that hopefully someone who's been abroad recently can answer:

In the US, we drive on the right side of the road. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), we also abide by those kinds of rules when walking. For example, if I am walking towards someone and they are walking towards me, common understanding is that we will go to the right of each other, thus passing each other on our lefts. Similarly, if we are on an escalator or something, you stand to the right, letting people pass you on the left. Also, as best I can remember, if you are facing a set of escalators, the one you want to use is almost always on your right (down if you're upstairs, up if you're downstairs).

My question, then, is are these rules different for countries that drive on the other side of the road? Do people stand on the left side of escalators and let people pass on the right? Do we walk past each other on our right hand sides?

[HyPer50]

dunno... but pretty good point.. never looked that far into it.

[Dragonfly5338]

So during my midday musings, I came across this interesting set of questions that hopefully someone who's been abroad recently can answer:

In the US, we drive on the right side of the road. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), we also abide by those kinds of rules when walking. For example, if I am walking towards someone and they are walking towards me, common understanding is that we will go to the right of each other, thus passing each other on our lefts. Similarly, if we are on an escalator or something, you stand to the right, letting people pass you on the left. Also, as best I can remember, if you are facing a set of escalators, the one you want to use is almost always on your right (down if you're upstairs, up if you're downstairs).

My question, then, is are these rules different for countries that drive on the other side of the road? Do people stand on the left side of escalators and let people pass on the right? Do we walk past each other on our right hand sides?

no, hehe. good question tho.

[malfeas99]

no, hehe. good question tho.

So in the UK, people still observe the right-bias of foot traffic while driving on the left?

HOW CONFUSING.

[Dragonfly5338]

So in the UK, people still observe the right-bias of foot traffic while driving on the left?

HOW CONFUSING.


Hmm. Well I could be wrong, but I think the passing on the street comes more from how people walk, rather than traffic direction. In older times, men would walk to the inside of women, so that if a person dumping waste out their window happens to dump it on them, it would soak the man and keep the lady safe. So therefore I would assume that you walk to the left of people so the two men would pass closest to one another, rather than vice versa. Just a guess, though.

[RandomGuy]

all i know is that the toilet spins the other way in australia ,lol

but thats a great ass question.