Is there a concept of wrong-way walking on sidewalks?
2 Answers
Sidewalks are not subject to wrong-way walking issues. A sidewalk refers to a dedicated pedestrian passage separated by curbs, guardrails, or similar facilities, typically about four meters wide. Sidewalks are very common in urban areas, generally present alongside most streets. Relevant provisions regarding pedestrian walking in the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" are as follows: Article 47: Motor vehicles shall slow down when passing crosswalks and stop to yield to pedestrians crossing. When encountering pedestrians crossing roads without traffic signals, motor vehicles shall give way. Article 61: Pedestrians shall walk on sidewalks; where there are no sidewalks, they shall walk on the roadside. Article 62: Pedestrians crossing intersections or roads shall use crosswalks or pedestrian overpass facilities. At signalized crosswalks, pedestrians shall obey traffic signals. When crossing at unsignalized intersections or road sections without crosswalks or overpass facilities, pedestrians shall cross only after confirming safety. Article 63: Pedestrians shall not climb over or sit on road isolation facilities, nor hitch rides, forcibly stop vehicles, or engage in other acts that endanger road traffic safety. Article 65: When crossing railway crossings, pedestrians shall follow traffic signals or management personnel's instructions. In the absence of signals or personnel, they shall cross quickly only after confirming no approaching trains.
Over the years of walking on the streets, I've noticed that sidewalks themselves don't have regulations against walking in the opposite direction like vehicle lanes do. Pedestrians are free to choose their walking direction, but traffic regulations often suggest keeping to the right side. For example, according to China's road safety rules, pedestrians should walk on the right side of the road when there's no dedicated walkway. This is mainly for safety and order, reducing collisions between pedestrians or conflicts with bicycles and scooters sharing the space. In daily life, I think walking against the flow might increase the risk of bumping into oncoming pedestrians, especially during peak hours. Developing the habit of keeping to the right can make walking smoother, just like cars driving on the right to avoid accidents. I also feel that in urban planning, some places mark directional arrows on sidewalks to guide movement, but these aren't mandatory. Overall, this free design makes the pedestrian experience more humane, but paying attention to traffic signals when crossing the street is more crucial.
