to assume dog walkers will give way to me and my pram when passing on a narrow pavement

[thebirthlyhallows]

I try to get out with DD for a walk everyday. I'm amazed at how often dog walkers will not give way to me and my pram and let me walk on the safe side of the pavement away from the road when passing.

Aibu to expect this?

I would never expect a pram to go into the road. But I would keep a dog well away from a road. A dog running into a road can harm their life and the life of those in the car. If a car veers into a pavement, no part of the pavement is safe.

The idea of a safe side is to do with women being sexually harassed from car drivers and splashes from puddles as cars drove through them. That is where the idea of a safe side originates.

Miaow I had you as a cat person there for a moment..

Aga You weren't really forced into mud while running, you chose to run in the mud because you didn't want to slow down

How else would I have got past the man then? Stopping and forcing him to walk over me? He and the dog would not move over so as to use only half the non-muddy path.

I don't see why you assume its a choice between not slowing down and not running in mud. It was actually a choice between having an eyeball to eyeball confrontation until one of us moved over. Man + dog plus space in between = 2 people can fit on the same path.

MrsDeVere I am quite old and was bought up with manners but have never heard the concept of 'safe side' of the pavement

Actually the idea of a safe side of the road or pavement is quite old and is behind the reason a person with a horse is meant to lead them to their inside, so that they can stop them going into traffic. I assume this is where it comes from. You are also told to pass left shoulder to left shoulder when on horseback.

Always think the safe side of the pavement is the side away from the road, like when Inwalk with children I always put myself to the kerb side closest to the road.

Didn't folk walk to the left when passing so that soldier swords wouldn't clash when passing?

I always walk with DS on the inside, DP would walk on the outside with me. It's an old fashioned thing about protecting the vulnerable isn't it?

I move to the outside for buggies, wheelchairs etc. If it were a narrow path where only one person could walk I'd expect the dog walker to go into the road and not the pushchair.

If it were a narrow path where only one person could walk I'd expect the dog walker to go into the road and not the pushchair

I'd expect any pedestrian to do that for any legitimate wheeled pavement user, as apart from safety, kerbs aren't a problem on foot. But that's not what the OPs DH was whining asking about.

YANBU OP - a person walking with their dog is a lot more manoeuvrable than a mother with a pushchair, so it makes sense for them to give way.

I have two dogs, and would always give way for the pushchair. It's just easier.

If OP is only talking about which side of the pavement she or the dog walkers are choosing, then yes that's a tad silly.

If we are talking about stepping to one side to let someone pass, well that's different.

Ah sorry, just read the thread properly.

I do consider the 'inside' of the pavement to be the 'safe side' for my dogs, or small children. But I really wouldn't think about it when passing by someone. You just pass by as quickly and easily as possible.

cobalt Didn't folk walk to the left when passing so that soldier swords wouldn't clash when passing?

Something like that I think. I also think its some kind of ancient courtesy to keep the vulnerable to the non traffic side, or something.

Maybe some dog people think their dogs need to be on the safe side just as much as children?!

My dog is convinced he's safer on the inside, walking by the fence.
he's terrified a passing vicious chihuahua will come and savage him otherwise.
It's easier to stop and wait out a passing pram/child with scooter than to try and drag him away from the safety of the fences.

People pass on the left because (I learnt as a child) most people are right-handed and so when going around on these new "roads" was potentially dangerous you kept your right side free for sword.

Think people galloping at each other on horses.

Also the reason you shake hands with the right, to show you are not reaching for a weapon.

This has little to do with this conversation though. I would hope that on a narrow / dangerous road all people would acknowledge and get by as best they can. As happens at a terrifying bit near us.

My brother, who is 5 years older than me, always insisted I walked on the safe side when I was a child. I always thought that was pretty sweet. I don't know whether he thought that up for himself or whether my dad taught him. These days, (we are old now) he still insists he walks on the outside. I know if a car mounted the pavement then there is no safe side really, but his old fashioned manners still make me smile.

Really? When pushing a pram/pushchair/tank like double I would generally stop and let whoever was coming towards me pass. With or without dog. And regardless of whether I was in danger of running over their toes or not. Cause really I was taking up more than my fair share of space.

YABU. It's a buggy, why should anyone 'give way'? It's not your pavement

I know it's mean but I got the giggles t the image of a runner being hit by an opening car door...

Blimey a new variation of bogus pram entitlement. Expecting pedestrians to part before you like the red sea is more novel, yet no less irritating and absurd thsn those who think they have priority over wheelchair users on the bus.

I would always give way to a parent and child / buggy, I would never, ever expect a parent and child to step off the pavement. The roads around here are really busy. I don't understand what the problem is? surely it's common sense? I would also give way to a wheelchair user or elderly person or some one carrying lots of bulky parcels.

Chottie I don't think anyone has expected OP to step off the pavement. The post mentions the "safe side" as in the side away from the road.