Or is DH regarding crossing the road?

[ParadiseLaundry]

Out today with DH and DS in buggy on the high street. We were waiting to cross a junction and the driver kindly stopped to let us cross.

I waved a thank you, and slightly ran to get across quicker.

DH waved and strolled at normal walking pace.

I was surprised at this and said that I think it's polite to run across so you are not holding the person up any longer than you need to when they have politely waited for you to cross the road. DH said he felt that waving a thank you was sufficient, there was no need to run.

Typing this all out it all sounds awfully trivial and like a British problem but genuinely interested in what other people think about this!

Eh?

Slow news day?

If you're out with children then cross safely, which would say no running (or rushing)

I would do the same as you but it really isn't a big deal!

This is such a British problem I hate when cars do this as I do feel inclined to do the embarrassing run-shuffle

You wanted him to run accross the road with your child in the stroller?

Even if someone has stopped out of politeness, safety first.

Isn't that just common sense?

Yes a very British problem. I think a brisk walk is ideal.

I wouldn't dash across,I don't think the driver would expect you to run across the road just to save a few seconds,but on the other hand, I wouldn't go at a snail's pace,as I've witnessed many times when I've been in a car that stops to let someone cross. If they've been considerate enough to stop and wave you across,I think they expect to have to wait a few seconds. Note to pedestrians;- it is polite to say thank you when a driver does this! I have witnessed so many people that don't.

should never run across a road. Also people shouldnt wave you across; lots of accidents happen when people overtake cars that have waved someone across and then hit the people crossing. So, no, dont run. If you are going to cross then make sure no one is overtaking the car. Just saying this as my son was hit this way.

I'm forever telling children not to run across the rosd in case they trip.

I would thank the driver and walk briskly across, I wouldn't run. Especially with children in tow

It's not a run though, it's one of those funny walks you do that make you feel like running and look like running strangely, but it's still walking. But with a weird waddle.

drivers often stop for me to cross with my huge elderly dog who then takes about five minutes to make it to the other side. It's like the Dom Joly sketch with the guy and the snail costume.

Isn't it a bit dangerous to stop and wave people across? Even if it's single lane traffic there might be a bike or motorbike coming up alongside unaware of your benevolent gesture.

'It's not a run though, it's one of those funny walks you do that make you feel like running and look like running strangely, but it's still walking. But with a weird waddle.'

100% this in regards to my 'run' across the road.

If I'm on my own I do a brisk walk and a wave. If I'm with the kids I stand like a bloody lollipop lady and let them cross.
However, when DS (now 11) was 3 nearly 4 we had to walk along a road with lots of side streets. Pretty much every time we walked it (twice a day each way) someone would stop and wave us across. One particular day he was on his balance bike and had ended up ahead of me (I was heavily pregnant so slow) and crossed in front of a car without me. Car had to screech to a stop. It Was frigging terrifying. Gave him a talking to, explained how dangerous it was and he said "But Mummy, cars always stop to let you cross..." because he'd seen it happen daily. So I personally think that it's kind of nice to let someone cross, it's not the greatest example to young kids.

Anyone who says the driver doesn't expect you too - they actually do, they just don't realise it (not sure if that makes sense?).

I think I always took it for granted that pedestrians in the UK do the special run-skip-waddle thing. I then spent a couple of years in the US and it drove me MAD that people would slowly wander across the road and maybe even stop part way to look at something. Totally oblivious to the fact that they were holding me up. That said, Americans are generally quite spatially unaware so other countries might be better. Thankfully I'm back in the land of the run-skip-waddle now.

The green cross code man wouldn't be happy with you.

I would have done the quick jog on my own but with kids i would make a point to walk. Same with red/green lights - always wait even if road clear when theres kids present.

The "brisk walk" as mentioned by PPs is exactly right. Running is too pathetically subservient, strolling is alpha male passive aggressive taking the piss.

I'm just going to leave this here:*
*
Sturry (n.,vb.)

A token run. Pedestrians who have chosen to cross a road immediately in front of an approaching vehicle generally give a little wave and break into a sturry. This gives the impression of hurrying without having any practical effect on their speed.

(I don't advocate running across roads though. A wave and a brisk walk is fine.)

Oh and the definition is from The Meaning of Liff by Douglas Adams.

I've not the faintest clue why, but this:

there was no need to run

Has made me laugh so bloody hard, I almost spat my Lucozade out

it's been a long day

If I've been considerate and stopped to let someone cross the road or walk through a car park etc, the least they can do is shift their arse a bit, rather than amble casually along without a care in the world. Get a bloody move on, you dozy pillock.