"Households" walking two or three abreast when out

[drewd]

I am taking the opportunity to take daily walks to get fresh air and exercise. Where it?s possible to take a detour to avoid getting too close to people I do so. But sometimes it?s impossible to avoid staying on the path or pavement and I am getting frustrated by families walking two or three or four abreast and taking up all the space and not thinking about the fact that it would be safer for everyone if they all went single file when they see someone coming towards them. I have hung back on occasion in the hope that people will get the message. Sometimes they do, but very often they don?t. Please can people exercising as a household show some consideration for those of us on our own.

[Penguin68]

I walk with my wife but we tend to walk single file to allow easy passing - indeed we tend to walk about 10 ft apart as well, so that passers by can 'weave' through us. People will become more thoughtful I'm sure, and of course very young children will need to have their hands held often, thus creating a wider profile. At least with reduced traffic stepping off into the road when passing is that less risky!

[vic.ham]

Totally agree with you. I grew up in a large'walking family'and was taught to drop back into single file when others approached,in particular the elderly or someone with shopping.To be expected to step into the road by groups if walkers is a NO for me.

[KidKruger]

Best you can do is politely suggest how between you (both parties) you're going to manage the distance of 2m between persons. That way they're engaged from the start and have to work with you.

Failing that just stop moving and say you need 2m.

[malumbu]

Yes try talking to them, as they are probably not reading this thread. I've found most people oblige. Shouldn't do any harm reinforcing the message.

[NewWave]

drewd Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I am taking the opportunity to take daily walks to

> get fresh air and exercise. Where it?s possible to

> take a detour to avoid getting too close to people

> I do so. But sometimes it?s impossible to avoid

> staying on the path or pavement and I am getting

> frustrated by families walking two or three or

> four abreast and taking up all the space and not

> thinking about the fact that it would be safer for

> everyone if they all went single file when they

> see someone coming towards them. I have hung back

> on occasion in the hope that people will get the

> message. Sometimes they do, but very often they

> don?t. Please can people exercising as a

> household show some consideration for those of us

> on our own.

Yes I've noticed the same.

When out walking with my husband at the weekend we made a point of going single file when people were coming towards us-on one occasion a young couple walked towards totally unaware of the space around them despite us being single file they were still much nearer than the 2m not paying attention at all-we stepped back and waited in the entrance to a front garden which then got sniggers and dirty looks from the couple when I glanced behind me when we stepped back onto the pavement they were still looking over their shoulder sniggering and rolling eyes at us.

very annoying!

can't people just have spacial awareness and respect.

dont snigger and roll eyes at those older than you who are being rightfully cautious.

[drewd]

Well, I did hang back to show I needed space, as I explained in my OP. You have to get fairly close to people to communicate verbally on a road with traffic.

Edited to explain this was in reply to KidKruger.

[drewd]

Administrator, I am disappointed this post was moved to the lounge and not kept in the Covid 19 area. I didnt post just to have a "don?t you just hate it when.." type moan. It was to draw attention to the issue of people not giving sufficient space to passers by, which is a health risk in the current situation.

[drewd]

NewWave Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> drewd Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I am taking the opportunity to take daily walks

> to

> > get fresh air and exercise. Where it?s possible

> to

> > take a detour to avoid getting too close to

> people

> > I do so. But sometimes it?s impossible to avoid

> > staying on the path or pavement and I am

> getting

> > frustrated by families walking two or three or

> > four abreast and taking up all the space and

> not

> > thinking about the fact that it would be safer

> for

> > everyone if they all went single file when they

> > see someone coming towards them. I have hung

> back

> > on occasion in the hope that people will get

> the

> > message. Sometimes they do, but very often they

> > don?t. Please can people exercising as a

> > household show some consideration for those of

> us

> > on our own.

>

> Yes I've noticed the same.

> When out walking with my husband at the weekend we

> made a point of going single file when people were

> coming towards us-on one occasion a young couple

> walked towards totally unaware of the space around

> them despite us being single file they were still

> much nearer than the 2m not paying attention at

> all-we stepped back and waited in the entrance to

> a front garden which then got sniggers and dirty

> looks from the couple when I glanced behind me

> when we stepped back onto the pavement they were

> still looking over their shoulder sniggering and

> rolling eyes at us.

> very annoying!

> can't people just have spacial awareness and

> respect.

> dont snigger and roll eyes at those older than you

> who are being rightfully cautious.

That?s an unpleasant thing to have to deal with. I guess this situation is highlighting those whose who have grown accustomed to floating around oblivious to their surroundings.

[alice]

Sniggers I can deal with but a tight herd of blank faced runners rounding a narrow corner in the park was very unpleasant.

[JohnL]

Can't see why anyone would snigger - when on the stairs in my flat we wait for people to walk up single file.

Can only be people who (like flat earthers might deny the earth is round) deny this is an emergency IMHO.