Do you have to walk on the right sidewalk, just like cars have to drive in the right lane?

Question

Today I was walking on the left sidewalk, and a lady rudely told me that I was on the wrong side of the road. I was walking on the right side of the sidewalk like I was supposed to, but should I have been on the other sidewalk?

Answer 1

The lady is totally wrong, on top of being rude.  Sometimes people can't help but advertise their ignorance.

If you're on the sidewalk, you're not required to obey any traffic rules pertaining to vehicle traffic.  It's good manners to stick to the usual righthand side for your direction, but that isn't enforced.  How could it be?  Each sidewalk is a two-way path, directionality is not specified or implied.

If you're walking along the side of the road without a sidewalk, I was taught in Boy Scouts to walk on the edge opposite to the direction you're going, so you can see cars coming, but if you're on a bike you should be on the right along with the other wheeled traffic.

Answer 2

its not completely neccessary but its safer :)

Answer 3

i think its better to walk on the opposite side of the cars because then you can see the cars coming at you and you can make sure they dont run  you over.

Answer 4

No, you are not.

In fact, it's usually safer to walk on the opposite side.

Answer 5

I agree with Kaylie.

Some roads in New York like busy Ardsley Rd in Scarsdale in Westchester County, NY on S-curve does not have sidewalk or narrow sidewalk.

I agree that it's safer to walk on oncoming sidewalk or road (if there were no sidewalk)