[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >David Mack's answers interspersed with my original comment: > >>> but walking on a sidewalk baffles me. > >>As an anglophile you'll have to 'internalize' referring to the >>'sidewalk' as the 'pavement'. :-)
No good, I'm afraid. "Pavement" means the hard surfacing of the road, and so using that word can cause dangerous confusion. I suggest "footway" or "walkway". >> >Which side is correct, or even preferred? I suggest it should be the same side as the road traffic keeps to in the country concerned. I think such a rule would be very very useful, and that most people would support it. No need for enforcement - simple social pressure would do that. Note this seems to be the rule for two-track railways (although I'm sure someone will quickly provide a list of e.g. African countries where this isn't true). Walkways in London Tube stations are mostly "Keep Left", except where the traffic pattern makes this awkward (where there are often "Keep Right" signs). Unfortunately, though, it appears that a lot of Londoners or London visitors are illiterate. However, it is interesting how compliance gets more nearly universal during rush hours, when the commuters have little patience with violators as they just want to get to their (homes/desks), and walk very fast many swinging a rectangular offensive weapon. And, of course, on escalators one should stand on the right in every country (same like boats keep to the right in all waterways globally, subject to blue-flagging etc.), to allow those who wish to do so to pass by on the left (in the same direction, of course!). And keep your baggage to the right too! > >>Traditionally the gentleman walks on the side closest to the traffic, >>and the lady walks on the other side. Tsk! That's "closer". Few footways have more than two sides. >And, yes, even we colonists are aware of protecting our >ladies from splashes that can still come from the street traffic (our roads >are generally much worse than yours). Sexist, you colonists, then? Or merely on the pull? >When my wife inadvertently walks on the >side closest to the traffic, I'll say "carriages", we laugh and change >positions. What happens if one of you says "sausages"? Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
