Walk on the Right hand side

monosharp · 12-11-2009 04:23PM #1

http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/10/07/south-korea-government-says-to-walk-on-the-right-side/

So I'm living in Korea and the government have started pushing its new policy, walking on the right hand side.

After generations of doing the opposite, South Koreans will be directed to walk, go up and down stairs, and use escalators on the right-hand side beginning Oct. 1. Entrance signs will be flipped at airports and transit stations; newly installed arrows will guide the wayward.

South Korea has been a right-hand-drive nation since its first president, Syngman Rhee, ordered his people to do the opposite of their former colonizers, the Japanese.

But walking on the left is something that Koreans have done since before they can remember – for the simple reason it was what they were taught. The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs says it’s trying to bring the country in line with “global walking culture” as Korea endeavors to become an international business hub. But not all residents are so sure about the decision.

“It won’t be easy,” says Lee Pil-young, a parking lot attendant, adding that people will probably go up and down stairs whichever way they please. “I don’t think it’s helpful.”

The ministry is confident that walking on the right will bring an estimated increase in walking speed of 1.2- to 1.7-fold (in a land where “quickly, quickly!” is a mantra), and a 13 to 18 percent reduction of walkers’ “mental burdens.”

So on the advertisements on TV etc it says that Korea must start doing what the rest of the world does, i.e > Walk on the right hand side. :pac:

They are telling people here that walking on the right hand side and walking clockwise is the 'global' standard and walking on the right will make people happy.

Maybe big Brian should try this at home and make people happy ?

wudangclan · 12-11-2009 04:26PM

It's like them bloody foreigners ,walking on the right ,when they come here on hols ,making life difficult for us left-side walkers.
A right nuisance.

john-joe · 12-11-2009 04:26PM

Two threads about korea in ONE day, never knew it was so popular... :rolleyes:

admiralofthefleet · 12-11-2009 04:42PM

indeed

Captain Furball · 12-11-2009 04:43PM

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

indeed

lol

electrogrimey · 12-11-2009 04:43PM

I'd fully support this being brought it. I thought it was kind of an unwritten rule to walk on the right, especially on busy narrow bridges and such.

F*ck NAMA and public sector pay, this is the real issue.

NothingMan · 12-11-2009 04:48PM

Rest of the world.... Except Ireland! In no other country is it acceptable to have 2 or 3 people abreast on an escalator so people in a hurry can't walk by! I hate being stuck on a slow moving escalator behind some idiots who know i'm there and it's empty all the way to the bottom.

In London you'd probably be pushed down the stairs! In Germany they would just glower you down until you cried and confessed to every misdeed since you were born but in Ireland we just stand impatiently and then moan about it later on the interwebular hypernet!

electrogrimey · 12-11-2009 04:51PM

NothingMan wrote: »

Rest of the world.... Except Ireland! In no other country is it acceptable to have 2 or 3 people abreast on an escalator so people in a hurry can't walk by! I hate being stuck on a slow moving escalator behind some idiots who know i'm there and it's empty all the way to the bottom.

In London you'd probably be pushed down the stairs! In Germany they would just glower you down until you cried and confessed to every misdeed since you were born but in Ireland we just stand impatiently and then moan about it later on the interwebular hypernet!

I noticed this alright around Europe, and it's not just an unwritten thing, there are signs everywhere saying 'please stand on the right', in some ridiculous non-English language. "S'il vous plaît tenir à droite" = ridiculous gibberish.

CreepingDeath · 12-11-2009 04:57PM

Can't wait to see the chaos at revolving doors over there.

NothingMan · 12-11-2009 05:02PM

Maybe 2 Wongs will make a right!

who the fug · 12-11-2009 05:03PM

NothingMan wrote: »

In London you'd probably be pushed down the stairs!!

I never push, just barge my way through muttering about effing tourists

Don't even start me on them morans with bags on wheels blocking the platforms on the tube every morning

az2wp0sye65487 · 12-11-2009 05:10PM

NothingMan wrote: »

Maybe 2 Wongs will make a right!

Quote of the day!

mikemac · 12-11-2009 05:24PM

When I went to London I was warned about this.
And it works perfectly, people stand on the right and everyone else can rush past.

So why doesn't it work here?

WindSock · 12-11-2009 05:27PM

Factoid: The reason people drive and walk on the left stems back from times past when many had swords so they wouldn't clash when walking and on horses.

citizen_p · 12-11-2009 05:29PM

seriously....why....i dont walk n any particular side...i think this was some north korean deception

"you south koreans dont even walk on right side of street"
in kim jong il accent

Daroxtar · 12-11-2009 05:30PM

I walk on the left. It means my stronger right arm is in striking range earlier when i get near scumbags.

mud · 12-11-2009 05:31PM

WindSock wrote: »

Factoid: The reason people drive and walk on the left stems back from times past when many had swords so they wouldn't clash when walking and on horses.

I never knew that ^^^^^^^

I do however remember being screamed at to WALK ON THE LEFT OF THE STAIRS throughout my secondary school education

Good times! (not)

NothingMan · 12-11-2009 05:33PM

WindSock wrote: »

Factoid: The reason people drive and walk on the left stems back from times past when many had swords so they wouldn't clash when walking and on horses.

Ah Stephen Fry, I believe it was more so they had their right hand on the outside to defend themselves with said sword, or offer greetings to passers by. Now the whole world bar a few of us are just rude and defenceless.

mikemac · 12-11-2009 05:33PM

mud wrote: »

I never knew that ^^^^^^^

I do however remember being screamed at to WALK ON THE LEFT OF THE STAIRS throughout my secondary school education

Good times! (not)

I went to a Christian Brothers school and was screamed at to walk on the right, I still do to this day

WindSock wrote: »

Factoid: The reason people drive and walk on the left stems back from times past when many had swords so they wouldn't clash when walking and on horses.

True, also the reason why spiral stairs in castles were always clockwise, so the defender who was most likely right-handed had an advantage

dsmythy · 12-11-2009 05:33PM

I don't think we Irish would take well to being told how to walk.

Alessandra · 12-11-2009 05:34PM

I think it should be a world standard that people walk on the right. It works so well on the tube. The tourists etc can stand on the escalator while those with places to be can go past.
Nothing worse than people hogging the whole sodding footpath when you are in a hurry either.

artanevilla · 12-11-2009 05:34PM

We walk on the left in Ireland.

Alessandra · 12-11-2009 05:36PM

artanevilla wrote: »

We walk on the left in Ireland.

Do we? Last I checked everyone walked where they pleased.

mikemac · 12-11-2009 05:37PM

artanevilla wrote: »

We walk on the left in Ireland.

Nope, ever walk on a rural road without footpaths?
Rules of the road state you walk on the right and realy it's commen sense anyway.
You can see oncoming cars and stand in

So just carry on doing this in towns and on footpaths

Alessandra · 12-11-2009 05:40PM

Is the rule when walking on a road that you walk facing oncoming cars?

Naos · 12-11-2009 05:40PM

Steve Tyler will be licking his lips in anticipation of a lucrative advertisement deal.

electrogrimey · 12-11-2009 05:40PM

artanevilla wrote: »

We walk on the left in Ireland.

Sure...

NothingMan · 12-11-2009 05:42PM

Alessandra wrote: »

Is the rule when walking on a road that you walk facing oncoming cars?

Yep, unless you're approaching a right bend in the road and can't see the traffic, then you cross to the left until you're around the bend, then cross back. Ah my hill walking days weren't a complete waste.

artanevilla · 12-11-2009 05:47PM

electrogrimey wrote: »

Sure...

Sure they're all tourists!

The Davestator · 12-11-2009 05:48PM

:mad::mad:Why are people so lazy that as soon as they set foot on the escalator / travelator they just stop dead like feckin morons with a gormless lazy look on their inevitable fat heads oblivious to the rest of mankind waiting to pass them so we can continue with our lives. GRRRRR

*heads over the ranting & raving forum*

Irish Halo · 12-11-2009 05:49PM

Alessandra wrote: »

I think it should be a world standard that people walk on the right. It works so well on the tube. The tourists etc can stand on the escalator while those with places to be can go past.
Nothing worse than people hogging the whole sodding footpath when you are in a hurry either.

We stand on the right on the tube escalators, walk on the left.

Unless I have my left and right confused again

Walk on the Right hand side

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