Pedestrian Etiquette
by Leigh K Cunninghamin Life in Singapore
1 Mar 2010 | 23 Comments
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I love living in Singapore, as everyone knows, and have practically nothing to complain about, except for one major gripe—pedestrian etiquette. Since I do not have a car (I don't need one plus they are horrendously expensive here), this affects me every day. There is no pedestrian etiquette in Singapore, as there is in Australia, and in case you are not familiar with the protocol, I'll explain. Sidewalks, or footpaths as we call them in Australia, are generally wide enough for two people to pass comfortably. If you are walking two or three abreast, pedestrian etiquette requires one or two members of your party to assume a single file during a passing maneuver ie while you are overtaking or when a pedestrian is on approach from the opposite direction. This is common courtesy, and in Australia, this is observed along with the customary cheery greeting to the passer-by. In Australia, Queensland in particular, if you approach someone on the street while out walking, a hello is expected, stranger or not. In Singapore, the natural citizens ie the non-expatriates, walk two, three or four abreast and never make way for someone coming in the opposite direction. They will drive you into the terrain either side of the sidewalk or if you do decide to maintain your rightful position, striding on your fair share of the concrete, someone will walk into you rather than surrender. Similarly, they will stand in the middle of the footpath, or aisle at the supermarket, and chat away on their phones, completely oblivious or uncaring that others are trying to pass. Understanding this behavior is a conundrum. Generally, Singaporeans are non-aggressive, polite individuals, who know and understand the importance of rules and procedures, for example, proper queue etiquette. There are queues to join a queue and there are queue officials who ensure proper order and conduct is observed at all times. Queue jumpers do not survive. I would therefore expect Singaporeans to similarly appreciate the importance of sidewalk etiquette. It might be explained by kiasu, which is a fear to lose out to others, and always wanting the upper hand. Kiasu, and it's partner, kiasi (fear of death) are widely used terms in the local vocabulary. As an example, "Look at him so kiasu pushing people away to get a seat on the bus first." If the government painted the sidewalk with a dotted line up the middle, there is a very good chance that behaviors would change since Singaporeans are conditioned to obey such ordinances, like those related to spitting, chewing gum, jaywalking etc. Is this the only solution? Must I write to the government to report this blemish on an otherwise almost-perfect society? What is the status of pedestrian etiquette in your hometown? How should one deal with poor pedestrian etiquette, in a lawful way?
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Comments (23)
Hi James, well I'm sorry to hear that it has denigrated to such an extent in Sydney. I must admit I haven't walked the CBD streets there for eight years, and going to work early and returning late meant I missed most of the traffic. It seems everyone today thinks more of their own presence rather than having any desire to live in harmony with others.
I did notice a big difference when we moved from Melbourne to Sydney in 1999. I'm not sure if it still holds true today but Melburnians were significantly more considerate in general, and I often witnessed strangers striking up a conversation on the tram about things going on around them. Not so in Sydney.
I'm originally from Rockhampton in Central Queensland, and even today when I return 'home', there is a high level of pedestrian etiquette and absolutely everyone who passes you on walks will smile and say good morning. It's considered rude not to.
So I think your assessment is right - there is most likely a cultural difference between city and country.
Regards
Leigh
3 Dec 2011, Leigh K Cunningham
Leigh,
Despite your glowing report on pedestrian manners here in Oz i am afraid that in Sydney residents have to be amongst the most ill mannered in the world. And as someone who frequently travels to London, New York and South East Asia this is saying something as all of these places are renowned for either bad manners/crowds.
I walk in the opposite direction to the majority of commuters on my journey to and from the University where I work each day, partly out of a desire to reduce my carbon footprint more than anything else. Driving my car would be the most direct route. Each day struggle to find just one opening to walk as it seems this so called practice of keeping left and deferring when in groups is all but dead. George Street and Pitt street are particularly bad. Each day is a battle of the wills and I have to push to make my way through the throng and there is certainly no evidence of the consideration for other pedestrians you speak of.
What is worse is when I almost always invariably am knocked or pushed by someone rudely asserting their right of way in the opposite direction I am often then made to feel as I am in the wrong. Today a woman ran into me whilst walking four across with three others who made no attempt to disband and walk as you suggest "in single file" If that wasn't bad enough I GOT GIVEN THE EVIL EYE
As for Australians greeting one and other in the street this is just plain wrong. Perhaps in rural areas but certainly not in the big cities like Sydney.
These issues are compounded by a ridiculous ineffectual government who has recently introduced cycling to inner city streets - this is all the while ignoring the fact that infrastructure development and concomitant community service education programs regarding pedestrian behavior have been non existent for MANY years.
3 Dec 2011, James McFarlane, N/A
It is the same in San Francisco, California, U.S. Not only that, you are walking on a nearly empty sidewalk with one other person coming from the opposite direction, and that person often veers dazedly right into your path.
29 Jan 2011, Nobody
very good to see this
10 Mar 2010, Dean J. Baker, http://deanjbaker.wordpress.com
It varies from place to place, and person to person. I moved to Colorado from New York (21 years ago), and for the most part, people are more friendly and polite here. That said, you can also be walking on a local bike/pedestrian path and get run over by the cyclists who don't think pedestrians have any business on the path. People are strange.
5 Mar 2010, Mary Winston
It varies. I am from Seattle where it is similar to Canada and Germany. Now in Brooklyn, polar opposite!
3 Mar 2010, Chris Brown, http://twitter.com/chrisrbrown
I fear pedestrian etiquette leaves much to be desired in most major cities. Well, at least the cities I've been to.
3 Mar 2010, Malik Toppins, http://twitter.com/MT43
It's not as good as when I was living in Canada, but it's tolerable in NJ and Philadelphia.
3 Mar 2010, Bilal, http://twitter.com/bilalacanada
Where I live, somebody will step aside into the gutter or the dirt so that others can all pass. And it's small town, so they nod. It's definitely more considerate in small towns. I mean, you wave at random cars, etc. You know everybody, or assume that you do.
3 Mar 2010, Mercedes M. Yardley , http://twitter.com/mercedesmy
It seems to me, that we, as a society, have become so preoccupied with ourselves we're no longer in touch with what's going on around us, and worse, a lot of people simply don't care that their actions are affecting someone else - that means nothing can change.
3 Mar 2010, Kat Walsh
Ah yes, Anne, the old stroller block! Encountered one of these just yesterday - it was pretty much parked, with baby in the middle of the aisle. Mother seemed oblivious, and I can sympathize as she probably hasn't had a lot of sleep and was not thinking clearly.
3 Mar 2010, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
Mobile phones cause so many bad habits it makes you wonder if we were better off withouth them. I'm tired of people chatting away in the supermarket blocking the cheese I'm trying to reach, then when you give them 'the look' it's as if you are the one with the problem ... maybe so, but they started it! :)
3 Mar 2010, Molly Hardwick
I used to get really frustrated at (mainly) women who either congregated to chat with prams and/or shopping trolleys in supermakket aisles & block them, until, sadly I became a mother & found myself doing it myself. In my defence, I do always assume single file to give way on footpaths.
3 Mar 2010, Anne Cook
Too true, Zoe. We used to be a polite lot with good manners and highly civilized but it seems to have all gone down the drain. Not sure when the decline began or how to stop it.
2 Mar 2010, Lucy Browne-Wilson
NYC pedestrians are generally 100% aggressive-no etiquette-it's purely survival of the fittest!
2 Mar 2010, Jane Bloom, http://twitter.com/oceanjane13
Pedestrian etiquette - at last! It's so annoying when people can't at least be courteous on the sidewalk. Next we'll have sidewalk rage.
2 Mar 2010, Louisa Carrington
Unfortunately this behaviour is not limited to Singapore. Here in the UK, it has become common for people of all ages to block aisles in supermarkets while they talk loudly and coarsely with their friends; or shout at their equally coarse children.
2 Mar 2010, Zoe Kirk-Robinson, http://www.zoerobinson.com
Agree with Becca - stand your ground - you're entitled to a half share of that sidewalk!
2 Mar 2010, Joshua Roebuck
Julie, women too, I'm sorry to say.
2 Mar 2010, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
Is it just guys being all macho and not giving way, or women too? I'm curious.
2 Mar 2010, Julie Russell
I don't understand the mentality - do these people drive on the wrong side of the road as well? If not, then maybe that is the solution - you do need a dotted white line up your sidewalks.
2 Mar 2010, Joshua Roebuck
I have occasionally encountered this. If it happened all the time, and I was expecting it, I'd stand my ground.
2 Mar 2010, Becca Rowland
It most definitely IS common courtesy!
2 Mar 2010, Alice Maynard