On Tue, 6 Apr 2004 17:27:11 +0100, "Jack Taylor"
wrote:



Nevertheless it *was* always customary to keep left, even on the footpath.
It was taught to me by parents, grandparents and at school as being the
'polite' way to pass and for the reasons previously stated: that the
closest person to the traffic walks facing towards the traffic flow because
they are the one who can see approaching vehicles that may be fouling the
footpath and can then take appropriate avoiding action, rather than simply
being decked from behind!

And I repeat that where I came from (London) the very idea that there
was a 'right' side to walk would have been laughed out of court. I
NEVER heard such a thing, from parents, grandparents or school. It's
not that we were impolite - it never, ever, arose. I still think
you're imagining it!