this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2026
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[–] thfi@discuss.tchncs.de 30 points 2 weeks ago

normally Europeans keep to the right

This clearly demonstrates that, should the United Kingdom ever re-apply for membership in the European Union, not only will it have to adopt the Euro and the metric system, but also switch to right-hand traffic. 🙃

[–] Australis13@fedia.io 15 points 2 weeks ago

So why not implement signage?

Shared paths (pedestrians and bicycles) have clear directional markings here, which I expect would solve most of the problem.

[–] Wimopy@feddit.uk 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

As someone originally from Hungary: as a kid I was taught I should walk on the left (if there is no pavement), so I could see the cars I'd be sharing the side of the road with. So technically it should all be reversed everywhere.

Also there is no consistent walking side tendency anywhere, and just walking to/through the shops you'd know that. Brits might do a queue but see if you can predict which side they'll be walking on, and it's no different elsewhere.

[–] cjoll4@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Same in the U.S., I was always taught to walk/bicycle on the left side of the road if there wasn't a sidewalk in order to see approaching traffic.

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Dear all of of the United Kingdom:

You do not get to make jokes about imperial vs metric measurements while still clinging to MPH nation wide. The rest of the world thinks you're fucking stupid.

Further, the majority of the world walks and drives on the right. Figure it out.

Finally the 2nd floor of a building is floor 2. Not floor 1. This is not even up for debate, nobody agrees with the UK on this absurdity.

This has been a public service announcement.

[–] Australis13@fedia.io 2 points 1 week ago

Australia mostly follows the Brits with regards to floor numbering.

Some organisations follow the US standard, e.g. ANU: https://services.anu.edu.au/financial-management/assets/numbering-of-floors-and-rooms-in-new-buildings

But mostly we follow the Brits. Except for a heap of weird buildings on slopes, etc. where the ground floor is actually Floor 2 or something else...

[–] Flashheart@piefed.dk 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You walk so you are able to see oncoming traffic. 

If in doubt, just walk towards the light 😉

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Achievement unlocked: Get a British person so mad, they make an alt account to insult you

90% of gamers achieve this award

[–] anothermember@feddit.uk 0 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I've never heard of driving side ever applying to walking side. What happens in places like France or Sweden where trains run on the left and cars run on the right?

[–] flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyz 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The road traffic rules dominate. Driving and walking is on the right. Trains might be on the left but that doesn't influence walking at all. Trams are also on the right. And most metros.

[–] anothermember@feddit.uk 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyz 11 points 2 weeks ago

No none of it is a law, just implicit rules. The worst that could happen is someone annoyed saying "excuse me"

[–] Humanius@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It's not an explicit law. But if the majority of people follow the rule implicitely it still works quite well.

Here in the Netherlands walking flows in long corridors also usually tend to sort themselves to right-hand walking. It's more efficient than walking against the flow of traffic.

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It’s very prominent in Japan. Unless a passageway is explicitly marked otherwise, everything and everybody in Japan is suppose to pass on the left. Even ships in water lanes and taxiing aircraft pass on the left.

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 3 points 2 weeks ago

Huh? In driving, the slow lane is left and passing is on the right. On escalators (except in parts of Kansai), it's stand left and walk (pass) right. Even in subways and train stations, walking is generally left (though some stations swap this in some/all sections for whatever reason). There is signage about this, though people routinely ignore it.