Pavements

Could pavements be made ‘one way systems’ so that say where a street has a pavement on either side of the road then pedestrians only walk on the left pavement, meaning those walking towards you are on the other side of the road.

Also to ban on pavement advertising boards and other street furniture to give pedestrians as much space as possible

Why the contribution is important

This would help keep people apart as everyone would be walking in the same direction, and less risk of people bumping into each other.
And it would give a little extra room for fast walkers to overtake slower people.

by Alan on May 05, 2020 at 08:03PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 2.5
Based on: 14 votes

Comments

  • Posted by CatrionaLaird May 05, 2020 at 20:16

    I think it Is unnecessary. We are adults and we can give one another a wide berth. There seems to be some indication that the virus is not very successful in respect of being airborne
    It is quite clear that people are becoming very afraid of catching the virus, to the detriment of their mental health, and this would exacerbate this fear.

  • Posted by scotjs May 05, 2020 at 20:21

    Isn't it in fact safer passing people than walking behind them continuously?

    If there is a road and four people with two people needing to go one way and two people needing to go another, then two people passing each other within a couple metres by just a second, on both sides of a road, is safer than two people following each other even by up to many metres for however many minutes, on both sides of a road.

    If the person ahead coughs or sneezes then you may not see it if you are following them, and the virus particles will remain there waiting for you.

    If they are coming in your direction and you see them cough or sneeze, you have warning and can hold your breath as you pass that area. That's what I do anyway.

    Since this virus I now don't like people being ahead of me and going in the same direction as me. I prefer people passing me coming from the opposite direction. But I do like the option of giving them a wide berth. On streets that may not be easy, and your suggestion would prevent that.

    I am not sure how to rate your suggestion so I am just sharing my thoughts here in a comment and leaving it for now.

  • Posted by KTID May 05, 2020 at 20:22

    Total agree, not difficult to walk with the traffic flow. Glad someone beat me to this idea

  • Posted by Robbie2005 May 05, 2020 at 20:44

    Not viable.

  • Posted by Debrastorr May 05, 2020 at 21:59

    This would be such a nuisance, especially for those with limited mobility.

    We simply need minimum 3m wide spaces outside e.g. shops to allow people to negotiate space properly.

    Take out parking.
    If necessary take out traffic lanes
    If necessary take out all traffic except buses.

  • Posted by Kenny36 May 05, 2020 at 23:47

    Never work with queues outside shops, people stopping to look in a shop window, take a phone call, check their phone, or just people walking at a different pace. Pavements are often less than 1m wide, so not many will maintain a 2m distance.

    You may get some people trying to keep themselves in the front to avoid being in behind someone else. If you have ever followed someone smoking or vaping, you can often smell it, which would suggest you could be close enough to be infected by a person in front.

  • Posted by Rhondamae May 06, 2020 at 08:17

    Some people just don't understand the etiquette on pavements. If my family and I line up one behind the other on one side of pavement it doesn't mean they don't have to move over too on the other side. They seem to think that creates more room for them to walk past side by side with not nearly enough social distancing. Also bicycles off pavements and children not allowed to cycle on ahead in middle of pavement.

  • Posted by Josh May 08, 2020 at 09:21

    Remove a percentage of parking, where possible all on the same side of a road, and a lane of traffic on wider roads and make the one way system for motor vehicles, not people.

    Redistribute the space to people walking, jogging, scooting, or riding a bike, as our streets can support far far more people moving in those ways than if everyone takes to their cars as soon as they’re allowed.

    If we don’t give the space back to people outside of cars, we’ll have gridlock in our cities and no room to exercise.

  • Posted by Scotland_is_flatlining May 10, 2020 at 14:12

    It would be a lot more practical if we were to adopt the approved 1m World Health Organisation distancing guidance.
Log in or register to add comments and rate ideas