Stroller Walking and Traffic

[Anonymous]

This afternoon I took my DC out for a walk. We live in a residential neighborhood without sidewalks. The neigborhood has light traffic and we encountered about 8 cars within our 45 minute walk. I have always walked with the flow of traffic. My reasoning being that I walk in broad daylight and their aren't many cars. If we had more traffic I'd walk against the traffic pattern but I don't. So today an older gentleman stopped me and pointed out I should walk against the traffic for safety. So what say you DCUM?

[Anonymous]

I would walk against the traffic.

[Anonymous]

I'd walk against traffic, too.

http://www.dmv.state.va.us/safety/#programs/pedestrian/index.asp

[Anonymous]

You should always walk against traffic. You need to be facing the oncoming traffic so that you can react to anything that may happen.

[Anonymous]

walking = against traffic
bike riding = with traffic

In our neighborhood w/o sidewalks and rarely a car, we walk on the outside of the curves or in the middle of the road. The roads are a little windy and I don't feel comfortable being on the inside of the curve - more visable on the outside of the curve. I live in NOVA, inside the beltway.

[Anonymous]

Why would you walk "with the flow of traffic"?

[Anonymous]

MY 2c?

1. Pretty rude of someone to lecture you on the way you are walking--I'd be annoyed.

2. Write your city council and advocate for sidewalks!!

[Anonymous]

Why would you walk where there are no sidewalks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MY 2c?

1. Pretty rude of someone to lecture you on the way you are walking--I'd be annoyed.

2. Write your city council and advocate for sidewalks!!

+1

Though since you asked here, I'd walk against traffic. It's what I do when I'm in the parts of our neighborhood without sidewalks. Just feels safer, even though there's very little traffic.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I walk with the flow of traffic on my residential street because the neighborhood has wide streets and low traffic. The few times we did walk on the "major road" we walked against the traffic pattern in order to get to the busy street. The major road has sidewalks but you have to walk on a street without sidewalks in order to get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MY 2c?

1. Pretty rude of someone to lecture you on the way you are walking--I'd be annoyed.

2. Write your city council and advocate for sidewalks!!

It's rude for someone to be concerned for a baby whose parent is ignoring safety rules? Okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you walk where there are no sidewalks?

It's her neighborhood. I'm sure she doesn't want to be a shut-in with her kids. Many neighborhoods don't have sidewalks, but they typically have wide streets with little traffic. That being said, I would still walk against traffic.

[Anonymous]

For added safety, put those flashing lights cyclists have on the stroller. I've done this for DD's stroller. They're about $15 each from a bike shop. We walk in busy areas around dusk, and it makes it easier for cars to see us when we're crossing at crosswalks.

[Anonymous]

I like the idea of bike lights on the stroller, even in daytime. Just to make the conversation interesting, I hate it when people use their strollers like snowplows to push through a crowd of people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you walk where there are no sidewalks?

Really? My neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks so I'm supposed to drive and walk myself, child and dog somewhere else?