RULE OF THE FOOTPATH

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 15, 17 January 1918, Page 4

RULE OF THE FOOTPATH

KEEP TO THE ?

At one time in the Wellington streets, on odd lamp-posts, might be seen notices "Spitting on the footpath strictly pro- | hibited. Pedestrians keep to the right." j One or two of the notices still remain, : but they are not strictly' heeded. JWel- ■ lington is probably no worse-than any I other city of the sami size in the matter o[ the observance of pavement rules, but i it is certtainly no better than the averI age. Some time ago the City Inspector ; (Mr. Jas. Doyle) suggested in one of his annual Teports that the footpath rule should be embodied in a by-law—at prei sent there is -none Mr. Doyle also advocated an effort to induce people to walk not more than two abreast in the busier streets The footpath rule, as generally accepted in New Zealand, is "keep to tho right,"' which is in conflict with the ruTo ■of the road "keep to the left." Some people are of opinion that it would be better if the two rules were in agreement as they are- on the Continent and in the Eastern States of America, but to alter the rule of the road would mea-a changing over the driving gear and seats in motors and other vehicles. To make the rule of the footpath "keep to tho left," is the only way in which uniformity could be obtained. At present, as it is plain to everyone, pedestrians are irery casual in their regard for any rule. They wander from right to left, and occupy the whole footpath or any part of it as they .choose, so that the pedestrian who is in a hurry must take to the woodblocks, where he is in danger himself and a nuisance to traffic. If the, rule were made fant and firm, and posted up for the information of the public its observance would become more general. In any case, however, it is considered by people well acquainted with the subject that traffic rules, whether for pedestrians or vehicles, are evolved to meet the needs of the case. If footpains are Jiarrow and there is much traffic people will soon learn to move in order as they do in larger cities. The same statement applies to vehicular traffic. Drivers become acquainted with rules and accustomed to regulation. Only in exceptional cases is a special rule necessary. Where a by-law is not necessary it is difficult to enforce it. -

Even necessary health and safety regulations are not always- respected as they should be. For example expectoration on footpaths is still fairly common, and failing action by the police, public disgust at the practice tloes little to check it. The frantic motor-cyclist, to he met with mainly on sftburban roads, is another offender over whom little control can be exercised, unless citizens . whose lives and limbs are endangered co-operate with the authorities by promptly reporting cases in which no regard is paid to speed-laws.