# Direction of pedestrain traffic

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/direction-of-pedestrain-traffic/104143>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 17, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/direction-of-pedestrain-traffic/104143 "2002-04-17T14:51:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/direction-of-pedestrain-traffic/104143/1 "2002-04-17T14:51:13Z")

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OK, this is something I’ve been wondering about for the longest time. I’ve noticed, in general, pedestrians (at least in my little world) tend to mimic the flow of automobile traffic; that is, they keep to the right.

Is it the other way around in countries where cars drive on the left?

Just wondering.

- s.e.

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**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/direction-of-pedestrain-traffic/104143/2 "2002-04-17T15:34:29Z")

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My experience from walking around in London is that they walk on the right side of pavements. However, before Sweden shifted over to driving on the right side we kept to the left and there are still some places, at least in Stockholm railway and underground stations, where the pedestrian traffic flow is supposed to be on the left side.

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**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/direction-of-pedestrain-traffic/104143/3 "2002-04-17T15:38:49Z")

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i wish 🙂

[http://www.fistick.com/JPGS/crowd1.jpg](http://www.fistick.com/JPGS/crowd1.jpg)

> **[The Learning Network](https://www.nytimes.com/section/learning)**
>
> Teach and Learn With The Times: Resources for Bringing the World Into Your Classroom

[http://world.std.com/~ihp/cities99/countries/india/photos/bandrastreet.jpg](http://world.std.com/~ihp/cities99/countries/india/photos/bandrastreet.jpg)

[http://www.mumbai-central.com/album/78.jpg](http://www.mumbai-central.com/album/78.jpg)

here, cars drive on the left (mostly)… people walk anywhere…

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**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/direction-of-pedestrain-traffic/104143/4 "2002-04-17T16:40:05Z")

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I just spent a few minutes peering out of my London office window at the people walking down Moorgate. I could discern no pattern what so ever.