People who don't move out the way on the pavement

[EarwigO]

Is it just me or is this getting worse?
You're walking along, someone (or a group of people) come the other way, you both need to move slightly to pass without colliding. Only they don't.

It used to be a thing I noticed men doing - I got so annoyed with having to step into the gutter/press myself against a wall to avoid them, I stopped doing it and let them walk into me. At which point they invariably apologised!

But it seems to happen so much more frequently now, and not with men - usually a couple or a group of women.
Do they honestly not notice you? Not care? Just expect you to disappear out their way?

We walk single file as a couple to let others past.
However we expect they do similar, but most seem to think you've made way for them 🤔

Would they drive a car like that?

So you are the type of person the OP is referring to. You don't move to one side to pass someone without bumping them, you just "walk with purpose" and may collide with someone?

I always used to step aside, now I just plough through everyone like rugby player going for the try.

A few days ago DD and I were walking along after school pick up when another mum and small child came rushing towards us completely spread across the pavement. DD stepped into the road as I turned sideways to avoid. In a split second the arm of the small child's jumper got snagged on a pin on my bag and she was pulled slightly backwards. The mum stopped dead and started shouting full volume because she thought I'd grabbed her child by the arm. I was absolutely mortified, trying to untangle her kid and get mine out of the road while other parents turned round to stare like I was some kind of child snatcher! All because she'd been too fucking bloody minded to make room for anyone else. People are twats. Seems to just get worse all the time.

The only times I move out of the way is if a pram/pushchair/buggy/wheelchair is heading my way or a dog, I generally walk on the outside of the pavement. Otherwise I walk in a straight line and if people are 2 abreast, they have to move.
I do have to be careful when I go home because my door is round a blind corner.
When my ds was still in a buggy I always used to say "excuse me, coming through" loudly and not stop.

This made me laugh! But unfortunately,it is also something that I too frequently experience.

In this case, the council had blocked off the road, so I let them off just that one time

@CustardySergeant no - just if there's a group of people who think they have a right to inconvenience others because there are more of them

But what if the person you are walking towards is, like you, also determined to not give way because they are fed up with moving out of the way for entitled AHs? Mexican standoff!

I just simply say excuse me please, no big deal, happy to share the space, but don't get me started on pedestrians who cross the road whilst looking at their phones and wearing headphones

I live in a village with narrow pavements and am frequently forced into the road with my two small children by people going for a run with an empty buggy…

Pedestrianise the road and make more space for people - would be nice

I was walking in a crowded area. People coming in the opposite direction where fine but a man in front of me going in the same direction suddenly decided to stop, turn around and walk into me. Of course it was my fault for not knowing he as going to do this 🙄. I had a wall on one side and people coming from the other direction on the other, I'm sure he expected me to just vanish.

I’d feel the same way if I didn’t have to ask several times and people stop pretending they don’t see and hear me when I do ask or didn’t see me approaching and still thought to not move to the side so I don’t have to ask and interrupt a conversation.

I think people overall now are just more selfish and entitled. Basic manners are lacking.

"Mobile phone gazers are an increasing issue though. The worse ones are men who deliberately shoulder slam"

Those are just the worst. I nudge them back harder😡

I've noticed this too. It's since lockdown. I get it a lot when I run - when I am running towards people I move to the side and expect them to do the same, but they just don't, forcing me to either run REALLY close to them or out on the verge. I don't know why you wouldn't just move over a bit.

I've also noticed - again since lockdown - so many people walking and looking at their phones as they go. Especially in London. It's scary and I wonder how people aren't getting injured all over the place.

Sometimes I'm tempted to become Boudicca and put spikes onto the outside of my bag (I won't do it though of course).

Exactly this. I'm short and most men are head and shoulders taller. The amount of times I'm expected to change course by men who just don't seem to see me.

I now stop dead until they pass me, then I carry on. They always look a bit surprised their chosen path was blocked. It's that momentary look of confusion on their faces. I no longer get banged into though.

I take great enjoyment in clashing elbows with people who don't move, or giving them a firm clunk with my bag. Dopey twats.

@amylou8 those crazy times! I was walking along a very wide (completely empty) pavement during one lockdown (easily enough room for 6 people to walk abreast) & a lady with 2 dogs on the lead glared at me and dragged her dogs into the MIDDLE of the road to pass me (it was a 40 mph road and she was on a bend!) She walked down the centre of this road rather than pass me on a huge pavement 🤣🤣 absolutely mental. I called back to her 'I haven't got leprosy!' 🤣 what a moron

I'm not sure you come out of that story looking any better.

@SoupDragon I beg to differ. a) I didn't call her a moron. I just think she was a moron. b) I doubt she even heard my leprosy comment as she was 20 feet away from me. She endangered herself & the lives of her 2 dogs for no reason.

Annoys hell out of me, I've started when approaching them leading with my shoulder to make them move out of way.