Drive on the Left, Walk on the...?

     To walk on the left or to walk on the right, that is the question.... Cars drive on the left side of the road here in Hong Kong, a legacy of the Brits.  When I first arrived I assumed that pedestrians would walk on the left, as well.  But no.  After logging many hours walking on many streets I have concluded that there is not a pattern to taking one side or the other.  Lots of people,  narrow sidewalks--seems as if it would be good to have a sort of rule for choosing a side.

     This is somewhat surprising to me.  There seem to be so many other internalized rules for orderly behavior on Hong Kong sidewalks.  People don't litter in the neighborhoods I've walked through (nice change from Shenzhen).  Dog walkers seem to carry a newspaper to set down at the appropriate time behind Fido to take care of business.  I've seen only one phlegm-hawking spitter in the 3 1/2 weeks I've been here (an even nicer change from China), and that was a fairly well-groomed gawky teenage boy who looked as if he knew better and was trying out a rebellious persona just for fun.  It probably helps that there are posted signs with the fines, especially in parks, reminding people not to litter or spit and to clean up after their dogs. 

     One other internalized rule is that most people seem to wait for the green "walk" signal when crossing the street, even when you can see that there's no traffic coming.  There's good reason for this.  This city has lots of twisting, turning streets which makes it hard to see and hear vehicles that might be fast approaching the intersection where you're crossing against the light.  Also, Hong Kong has lots of visitors.  Newly arrived people can forget that motorists here drive on the left and they'll look the wrong way for approaching traffic.  Sometimes, though, people get impatient and cross on a red light (I have), and when one or two do it, some others seem to follow.  

     The Hong Kong police department is trying to train people to follow this crossing rule more consistently.  Today I saw 4 traffic officers in brown uniforms, each standing on a corner at the intersection closest to our apartment building.  Each had some brochures in hand.  When the light turned green and I crossed the street, the officer on that corner smiled at me and said "good morning" and offered me a brochure.  (Oh, those polite Hong Kong police again.)  I asked him if the officers on the corners were reminding people to wait for the green light before crossing the street.  Yes, indeed, that's why they were there.  He also told me that there's a maximum $HK2000 fine ($260) for violating this rule.  I think I will be more careful to comply.

     If you can train Hong Kongers to follow all these rules, it certainly seems as if you could train people to consistently walk on one side of the sidewalk or the other.  Oh, the luxury of living in a place where that's what you notice could use improving ....