This new socially distanced walking

[Ultrasoft]

I'm just back from my run and it lovely to see people out with friends and family they won't have seen for ages. Lots of pairs out in the woods maintaining their 2m distance.

What's the etiquette when I come across them? They're roughly 2m apart which basically means they've placed themselves on either edge of the path. Do I run through the middle meaning none of us are 2m apart? Call out and ask them to move (feels rude), wait indefinitely until they move over?

I'm not personally too bothered, I've never been convinced that the risk of catching anything from a fleeting meeting outdoor was high and that seems to be the official advice now, since last night's news, but I'm keen not to offend.

[Redolent]

I’d just go through the middle.

[TwitterTwatterofTinyMinds]

Ideally on seeing you, or another walker/group approach they would go into single file on one side of the path, allowing you to pass on the other.

If they don't, and you can't go 'off road' to go around them off the path, then I'd go through the middle.

[PuppyMonkey]

I don’t know the official rules, but if the jogger can’t cross over or run on the road safely as a default, I’d say the pedestrians adapt to a single file protocol and you pass them a safe 2m distance away.

[Ultrasoft]

You might think that Puppy but my experience this morning would suggest that they're engrossed in their chat and oblivious to anyone else around them, which is understandable.

These are trails in the woods, so no road to run into and stepping off the path usually means into brambles, nettles and other undergrowth.

[TwitterTwatterofTinyMinds]

I agree, some are engrossed in catching up, some in my experience are bloody minded and won't move over. For the former I usually try a bit of an early warning 'Good morning' or even a cough/sigh/some kind of noise which isn't aggressive or cross sounding, to indicate I'm there.

For those who glare at me for having the audacity to be on the trail at the same time as them and their pal, then I think splitting them down the middle is fine - they could have moved, and Id have been perfectly happy to move to the other side so we could all pass at distance, but if they won't what else can you do?

[BarbaraofSeville]

Yes, have a good cough and they'll soon move over .

The polite thing for pairs or groups to do is to single file to allow others to pass on the other side of the path and in my experience, most do, I've been out walking most days. As I'm on my own, I'd usually step aside if I saw a family group approaching with little ones who might move around unpredictably. I know the risk of briefly passing someone closer than 2 m is virtually zero, but I think that's the right thing to do if you can.

But yes, some people are too engrossed in their companion or phones to do this, which is rude IMHO.

[Thisdressneedspockets]

Even before 2m walking, it's been a thing here with one person taking from their driveway, leaning on their wall, while wondering else is at the road edge of the pavement. I go through the middle. I'm not really convinced the split second I'm passing is much of a risk. If other people make an effort, I make an effort, but if they're not very bothered, then I'm not going to let it stress me

[ifonly4]

If your're approaching them from behind, I'd just shout something like excuse me or something else to alert them you're there. If I hadn't heard you, I'd quickly move in front or behind my friend.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

Do I run through the middle meaning none of us are 2m apart?

Not from behind. If you’re coming from behind you call “excuse me” to give them chance to move over. When I go walking with DH we walk side by side (obviously), moving to single file, and often off the path entirely, to pass people. We’re fast walkers and only ever overtake slow walkers when we can maintain distance. If there isn’t room to pass we wait.

Runners and cyclists (and fast walkers) coming up behind without any warning and passing without maintaining distance (often when we’re already single file) are incredibly selfish.