Quote:
Originally Posted by Gladys Turnip
My husband & I have noticed something when walking on multi-modal paths.
First off I'll mention that we always walk on the left side (ie, into traffic), and that our observation only applies if there are no carts coming from behind us (fyi, if there are carts coming from both directions at the same time, we simply step off the path onto the grass, ceding the right of way).
So, when there is a cart coming at us (and no other carts, bikes, or walkers anywhere around), our observation is this: When MEN are driving the oncoming cart, they pull way over to their left, giving us wide berth which provides us with a comfortable safety buffer. On the other hand, WOMEN do not do this and instead (inexplicably) generally hold to their current lane on the right side of the path.
Suffice to say we don't understand this phenomenon, and if anyone does, we'd love to hear the reasoning. But in any case, we walkers would like to thank those cart drivers who swing wide left when approaching walkers, and we'd like to ask more (all) of you to please do the same (when you can). Thank you.
|
Because men tend to err on the side of "mine is bigger" including how far over into the opposite lane they can go, whenever they have the excuse to do so. Women are confident enough to know that they're not going to hit the pedestrian, and have no need to prove otherwise to anyone.
Edited to add: the question was why do men swing SO far out away from the pedestrian, while women don't. I do pull as far away from the edge of the path if there's an oncoming pedestrian, while still being on "my side of the path." There's room for both of us, no need for me to cross over into the side of oncoming traffic. Unless I'm a man, in which case I'll do it to prove that my swing is bigger.