Groups
If you’re walking with a group (any more than one), it is natural that the barrage of people will not be single-filed one behind the other. In this scenario it is perfectly acceptable for your friends to be next to one another. However, if you have the poor fortune of being the individual on the left-most side, the onus will be on you to notice any on-coming pedestrians. Once noticed, it will be your task to properly time the following exercise. First and foremost, calm down; we don’t want strangers or friends thinking you’re mentally ill because you’re angry you can’t remember what you’ve read on Sidewalk Etiquette.
Calmly give yourself enough time to acknowledge the person coming toward you and slow down so that the bulk of your group will be a few steps ahead of you. Then you should effortlessly walk a step or two to the right allowing the on-coming pedestrian to pass by without having to step off of the sidewalk. Do not look for a ‘thank you’ or even a smile, it is expected that one human being would share a public sidewalk with another. If one does receive a “Thank you,” do not take it too seriously; do not even verbally reply. If anything, smile. A “You’re welcome” would be far too courteous in this day and age and a smile will justly acknowledge the person’s politeness and the whole ordeal will be completed.
Once the individual has passed by, you’re now given the choice to move back to the on-looker’s spot, or, to stay in the rear. I suggest that staying in the rear is your better option. Eventually you’ll have a comment to contribute to your friends; and, in order to better understand you, they will take a step back allowing you to now occupy the middle of the group and be heard. This will place someone else in the on-lookers position and rid you of any etiquette besides stepping on others’ feet. Please refrain from doing this, it not only shows poor etiquette, but implies you’re clumsy and oafish.
When a large group of people are approaching another, chaos is not abound. When both parties have read Sidewalk Etiquette, there will be an effortless and polite motion between both parties to allow pedestrians in one another’s path to pass by.
In this scenario it may not be solely upon the person to the left-most of the group’s responsibility to shift. It may be required that some or all members of the group shift to allow both parties to cross with equal space. If at any time a group of sidewalk opponents show’s little or no indications that they might shift out of the way, it is perfectly acceptable for you and your party to blithely bump into them as rudely as possible as long as it is followed by a polite “I’m sorry.” Strong sarcasm is the greatest tool when fighting those with solecisms. If the individual/party whom you have bumped glares in an angry or upset manner, feel free to lambaste them with loutish comments concerning their poor etiquette and do point them to the direction of this website. After all, it is only helpful to follow sidewalk etiquette when others are sentient of what is to be done in like-situations.
