Australian Phenomenon!

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
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Hello everyone…

I have especially joined your fasinating website to share some crucial information in the ‘‘one shoe by the side of the road’’ phenomenon.

Many of my friends and I have spent many curious sunday afternoons pondering the un-solvable question as to why there is always one shoe by the side of the road!

It is a very common occurance here in Australia to see just one shoe by the side of the road and often in the middle of the road. It too, is always only one shoe. I live in Canberra, Australia’s capital and I see one shoe by the side of the road at least once every three weeks. Even so, many have tried but have failed, in finding a completely satisfying answer to the question.

Attemps to answer usually always end up back at the ‘road rage’ option…
One throws their shoe out the window in a fit of road rage…
But the most common shoe seen is a sneaker (runner)…
This road rage option would make sense if the most common shoe were a thong (flip flop)…because how does one remove a runner in time to throw it at a passing car…and have you ever seen someone do this?

Over here in Australia the question remains un-answered. I have always been entranced by the phenomenon that seems to have no satisfying answer. Recently I was challenged by an individual to prove that it is infact a phenomenon, as they are a ‘‘non shoe see’er’’. My search was fast and I ended up here with pages of proof that the ‘‘one shoe phenomenon’’ is infact a phenomenon that riddles man from all over the world.

Has anyone ever observed if it is mostly left shoes or right shoes?

Thankyou
Gemma

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Hi, Gemma, and welcome to the SDMB. I think the article you saw was Why do you always see just one shoe by the side of the road?

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Many afternoons. Canberra, you say.

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I have unintentionally contributed to this phenomenon…

I was on a four week road trip and on my travels I only camp, never stay at motels. I also bring everything I’ll need for the month except for perishables.

Here’s where I have to mention that I have a small, two door convertible. If you’ve ever read “The Number of the Beast” I do a packing job similar to what they did in the book – namely I stuff every nook and cranny. You’d be amazed at how many of these there are when you go looking for them.

Among the items I pack are a pair of backless, thick soled shoes that I can just slip into in the middle of the night when I have to go do what you do in the middle of the night.

I had been camping the previous night and when I pulled into a gas station I noticed that there was only one shoe. I always check my campsite before I leave so I know I had the shoe at that time, ergo, one shoe left behind on the road. I believe it was the left one.

How it happened is unique to convertibles. The compartment that the top folds into is a very useful area. I store cereal, towels, etc in it. The problem is that it’s not sealed on the sides. My shoe must have slipped through and fallen out of the bottom of my car.