How To Go Out In Public: An Instructional Series. Part 1: Walking in Public

Ever leave the house and see other people behaving ridiculously and wonder “did no one ever teach that person how to person?” Well, probably no, no one ever taught that person how to be a person or told them life rules and manners like some of us were told like how to cross the street, how to pay for things at a store or how to behave in places like the doctor’s office or at a store. 

It drives me bananas when I am driving in my car and see people just darting into traffic to cross the street or walking the wrong way IN the street for no particular reason. 

Here are some rules for walking in public:

1. Sidewalks: You should walk on the sidewalk if there is one instead of in the street where you could get hit by a car. If the road you are on has no sidewalk then according to PennDOT, you should walk as far to the side of the road as possible and always walk AGAINST traffic that way cars can see you and you can see them. 
2. Crossing the street: Always cross at a crosswalk and a stop light if there is one. Don’t go out into the middle of a street in traffic and try to dodge cars. Someone might not see you in time and you will get hit by a car! Always cross as quickly as you are able and get out of the roadway as fast as possible. 
3. If you need to cross and there is no light or crosswalk nearby, stay as far to the side of the road as possible and wait until traffic is clear both ways before crossing. Try not to cross at any hills or curves where you can’t see traffic both ways. 
4. If you are crossing where there is a crosswalk but no traffic lights then pedestrians do have the right-of-way but always watch for vehicles that are coming. 
5. Pedestrians have to follow traffic signals just like cars. Only cross when the light is green for you or the crossing signal is on, never on a red light or when the crossing signal says “don’t cross”. 
6. Don’t walk on people’s property that you don’t have permission to. Stay out of people’s lawns, gardens, driveways, porches, and backyards unless you have permission from the homeowner to be there. That is considered trespassing and you can get in trouble. 
7. It is illegal for pedestrians to walk on expressways or interstate highways. 
8. Avoid walking on train tracks, especially in locations where you can not get off the tracks should a train come. If crossing over train tracks then you should stop, look, and listen to be sure no trains are coming before crossing. Cross quickly and get off the tracks!
9. Pay attention to your surroundings. Keep your head up and look around you and don’t be focused on your phone or other people you’re walking with if you can’t also watch where you are walking. Not only do you risk attacks or theft, you also risk tripping and falling over items in the path you didn’t see or running into something and getting hurt. You also risk running into another person and injuring them. 
10. If you plan to be walking when it’s dark out try not to wear dark clothing. Wearing dark clothing makes it difficult to see you walking and you risk being hit by a car. 

Do you have any additional walking in public safety tips I forgot? Comment and let me know! what other “going out in public” tips I should research? 

https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/tips-pedestrian-safety

https://www.penndot.pa.gov/TravelInPA/Safety/TrafficSafetyAndDriverTopics/Pages/Pedestrian-Safety.aspx#:~:text=If%20no%20sidewalk%20is%20avai,surrounding%2C%20and%20never%20get%20distracted