Pedestrian rules

And it is still the law that drivers must yield to pedestrians who are crossing when turning into a side street:

That's interesting. I wish the drivers knew about this. I would just get honked at because the driver refused to slow down and give me the chance to cross.

Something I forgot to mention earlier is that in the UK, where the road is very narrow, drivers will drive up onto the pavement while turning or park with two wheels on the pavement.

So if you are walking along the pavement close to the road, you still have to keep an eye out for traffic.

Something I forgot to mention earlier is that in the UK, where the road is very narrow, drivers will drive up onto the pavement while turning or park with two wheels on the pavement.

So if you are walking along the pavement close to the road, you still have to keep an eye out for traffic.

Wowww thats nuts ! I already walk all over the place.. guess I'll have to get used to walking in a straight line from now on.

Something I forgot to mention earlier is that in the UK, where the road is very narrow, drivers will drive up onto the pavement while turning or park with two wheels on the pavement.

That is very, very rare.  Almost never happens.

Vicky

That is very, very rare.  Almost never happens.

Vicky

I see people parked with two wheels on the pavement every day here - there are several roads near me that are too narrow for people to park normally on so they go up onto the pavement. I haven't really seen anyone doing it when turning around lately though.

That is very, very rare.  Almost never happens.

Vicky

That happens in Bath all the time. I remember when I first moved there being surprised how people would just drive up onto the curb all the time and not get flat tires.

Cars parking with two wheels on the pavement are quite common but sweetpeach's post could give the impression that pedestrians are in constant danger of being mowed down by cars mounting the pavement which really isn't the case.

Its easy..pedestrians should have right of way but mostly they dont so dont even try it. Cross at recognised crossing points if at all possible and make sure traffic has definitely stopped b4 stepping out.

Ducking across lines of traffic needs care so keep an eye out.

Cars parking with two wheels on the pavement are quite common but sweetpeach's post could give the impression that pedestrians are in constant danger of being mowed down by cars mounting the pavement which really isn't the case.

It is probably not common in places like London where the roads can be "American-wide", but definitely common in other parts of UK. There are roads here where, if the cars were parked with all four wheels in the road, there wouldn't be enough room to drive through the street. There are roads near where I live where every car is parked with two wheels in the road and two wheels on the pavement because that is the only way to park without blocking every car that tries to pass through. 

It doesn't happen all the time, but if it's something you aren't used to, having someone drive up right next to you or behind you at all when you are on the pavement can be kind of shocking.

I don't live in London (which I wouldn't categorise as having wide roads at all) and, as I said, it is common to see cars parked half on the pavement.

All I said was that your post could give the impression that pedestrians have to spend all their time dodging cars which isn't really accurate.  If only to ease the worry of posters like elenas310.

I've seen the parking/waiting half on the sidewalk at times, too.  And on a couple of occasions, they edge on to the sidewalk when they are turning. 

A couple of times, yes.  All the time, frequently, or as a matter of course, no.

Vicky

The parking is frequent (I see it every week) - however, I am pretty sure it's a matter of people need to stop there short term, not parking for the day or the week, as I imagine they would get towed.  I'm in London (Fulham), the street is two-way, but a bit narrow.

But yes, for the most part, nobody is driving right up onto the sidewalk, I have only seen them edge onto it with turns those couple of times.

It is probably not common in places like London where the roads can be "American-wide", but definitely common in other parts of UK.

Uh, noo no nono no.

London? American-wide streets? Its the exact opposite. London is so ancient and has been left so unaltered since basically after the Great Fire in the 1600s (!) that no, the streets are mostly horrendously narrow.

There are parked cars on most roadways and yes, some of them have to be two wheels on pavements in some spots. You see that a lot around central and even not-so central London. It also depends on the particular district/borough. I'm in a spot in North London riddled with the most narrow lanes -- there is even a famous spot that is so protected for being historical that the two-way traffic throughway is one car wide and everyone has to employ a MASSIVE amount of etiquette just to all get through!

But drive out just a matter of three miles more northward, and you get to dual carriageways and wider streets some of which have more of an American width, yes. Outer London is hit and miss -- some wide roads, some still as narrow as they were in 1600 or "pick-a-year-it-ain't-changed"...

However, even with all the narrow stuff going on, no, it's pretty rare to see pedestrians having to dodge for their lives while cars are mounting pavements all over the place. It's misleading to say it's as bad as all that.

At the same time, as a pedestrian in a built up and heavily congested place like most of London is, you SHOULD be wary even if you have the right of way -- don't just dash out in the street, because if you have to cause a driver to slam on the brakes, there is usually going to be a stream of tailgating vehicles behind that one car and you will cause a wreck. Both drivers AND pedestrians really need to consider EACH OTHER because it goes both ways, the careless behavior.

Oh, yeah - I mean, when I'm walking, it's not like I go flying into the windows of a store because a car is trying to park.  Typically, they usually just edge onto the curb slowly (I imagine it can't be good for the car to do it quickly, anyway) so you'd have to be oblivious to miss it. 

In regards to everything else, I just try to cross on the lights or in the zebra crossings where I'm pretty confident that no car is going to hit me.  Although I was still in the street recently where the light had started to change, and a guy FLEW past me to the point of where my coat flapped, and that was scary. 

I'm always impressed by London cab drivers, though.  They navigate what looks like the narrowest streets, and so quickly.  I'd leave a bunch of banged up cars in my wake if I tried the same thing.