"KEEP TO THE LEFT"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 26, 9 March 1942, Page 5

"KEEP TO THE LEFT"

CROWDS ON FOOTPATHS RULE NOT OBSERVED One of the simplest of traffic rules —that pedestrians should "keep to fhe left"—is the least obseiwed in Whakatane, not only on Friday AA'hen there are large numbers of shoppers in the main streets, but on every other day as Avell. It is a common experience' that it is far easier to make a journey on foot through the business areas of cities like Auckland or Wellington than to attempt the tortuous passage of the Strand Avhen shoppers arc in full cry. Disregard of this rule Avas particularly noticeable last Friday night, when, although there Avere not so many Friday night shoppers in the loAvn as usual, there Avas much more than the usual congestion on the footpaths. It did, JiowcA'er, draw pointed attention to the almost complete non-observance of a rule Avliich is designed for the comfort of all. One critic said: "If you try to keep to the left you get all the bumps," and this is quite a fair summary of the position. Offenders' Wiles It has been suggested that this congestion is indulged in because the helmet of a police officer on footpath control is so conspicuous that before he reached, a small "■crowd" the party breaks up and by the time he reaches the scene has either discrccth r moA'ed to the kerb or is engaged in the inspection of some bargain in the shop wincloav. Speedy passage along footpaths is not facilitated by meeting a pair of broad-beamed perambulators Avhose custodians do not apparently knoAA r their right hand from their left. And so the congestion grows and a difficult problem becomes more difficult. It appears that to effect an improvement it may be necessary for traffic officers to adopt sterner measures and hale persistent offenders before the court, which has powers to impose penalties for a deed which is just as much an offence as is the driA'ing of a motor car along the Avrong side of the roadway.

The reason for these s!oA T cnly habits is that there is little attempt to observe the "keep to the left" rule fit any time. It is not observed in side streets and not in the suburbs. If the habit Avere cultivatc-d in all streets it Avould make it easy at all times for a foot passenger to keep "on side." It Avould certainly make for easier Avalking in the darkened streets at night if one knew that the pedestrian heard approaching Avould not be met head-on on the side of the path Avhere he should not be Avalking.