City streets have always been crowded, but lately it feels like walking has become a high-stakes sport.
Are you dodging distracted pedestrians glued to their phones or sighing at couples blocking the footpath?
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor believes our walking manners have hit a new low—and he’s not holding back.
The Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nicholas Reece, sparked conversation last week over what he called a walking etiquette crisis. In an op-ed, he questioned why so many people were 'drifting diagonally like bishops on a chessboard' and described Melburnians as 'so engrossed in their phone they are oblivious to the bustling reality around them'.
His piece in The Age was titled 'Pedestrian etiquette in Melbourne has reached new lows. It's time for a "keep left" crackdown'.
Melbourne has a long history of trying to enforce walking rules. Arrows on footpaths once guided pedestrians to stick to the correct side, but these faded in the 1970s. The city's 'stick to the left' rule dates back to 1925, shortly after Sydney introduced the same measure in 1921.
Modern technology, however, has complicated the rules. Smartphones and headphones often distract walkers from their surroundings, creating collisions and slowing traffic flow.
Authorities have experimented with awareness campaigns to tackle the issue. In 2015, the Share Our Streets initiative distributed 12,000 tip cards to pedestrians at busy intersections, advising them to look up from their phones and obey traffic signals.
The Pedestrian Council of Australia followed in 2016 with a confronting commercial that depicted a woman so absorbed in her phone she was struck by traffic.
Pedestrian deaths across Australia have surged almost 50 per cent since 2021, according to recent nationwide road safety figures.
Safety tips for senior pedestrians
Always use marked crossings where possible
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
Avoid rushing - take time to assess traffic properly
Consider high-visibility clothing during dawn and dusk
If using a phone, step aside and stop walking first
Research has highlighted the scale of the problem. In 2022, Monash University found that 42 per cent of Melbourne phone users failed to check the road before crossing. In 2016, Mark Giancaspro from the University of Adelaide reported that one in three pedestrians used a mobile phone while crossing roads and argued for potential laws to prohibit phone use while walking.
The idea of fines is not unprecedented. Honolulu was the first city to penalise distracted pedestrians, issuing roughly $150 fines for those caught crossing streets while doomscrolling.
Honolulu's distracted walking fines
First offence: $15-35
Second offence within a year: $35-75
Third offence: $75-99
Only exception: Calling emergency services
A spokesperson for the Lord Mayor’s office confirmed his comments were 'intended to be a conversation-starter' and that no official plans existed to introduce fines in Melbourne—at least not yet.
What This Means For You
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece has raised concerns about a decline in pedestrian etiquette, noting that historical footpath arrows and the old ‘stick to the left’ rules, once meant to guide pedestrian flow, have largely faded from public practice.
Research highlights the safety risks this poses, with 42 per cent of phone users in Melbourne failing to check roads before crossing. Other cities, such as Honolulu, have already introduced fines for distracted walking, prompting debate about whether similar enforcement measures could work locally.
For older Australians, this is particularly relevant—navigating crowded footpaths safely is crucial, and any changes to pedestrian rules could directly affect daily routines, from walking to the shops to catching public transport. Are fines the solution, or is it time for a renewed focus on courtesy and awareness?
Have you ever found yourself dodging a phone-obsessed pedestrian and wondered if stricter rules could make city walking safer?
Seniors Discount Club
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