I have to agree that there are a lot of jay-walkers around these days, and a lot of discourteous pushing and shoving too.  Sometimes pedestrians on the pavement can be more menacing than anything on wheels in the road.

I walk with a cane but am I given a little berth, let alone a wide one?  You must be joking. 

But maybe these jostlers consider it’s time to put me out to grass – or maybe just simply in the gutter.

R.

Very insulting to say any Nationality or group is 'Ignorant'. Its like saying Irish nationals are ............. , how would you like such words about your country or people? I must say I love Irish culture, music, and people but I am trully disaponted someone from ireland would say this, very unhelpful & unfriendly. I am certain this is against Glocals policy.

It's something I've seen quite a lot, walking on the streets.

It seems that our world has become so selfish that people just don't give a damn about others.

It's not about insulting your own nationality but insulting all Swiss who do behave in a correct way. Besides, what "ignorance" has to do with "carelessness"?

You can always give your opinion but it seems you are not aware of non-violent communication.

Matt, your observation is unfortunately founded. I notice it everyday and this behaviour is totally incorrect.

However, this is something I noticed in many other cities in Europe as well. People push you and or walk on your feet on the bus and don't apologize.

Let's just try not to copycat these "ignorants"

Looks like it is the same everywhere, although maybe not in Vietnam (for those who know about the traffic on the roads (there is space for everyone) so there is on the pavement ;)...  but you have to know how to drive or "ride" there !

City people are rude. ;-). Here in the countryside we say hello as we cross paths with people. We give them the space we need. When hiking we move to the side to let people pass where it is narrow. There is no pushing or shoving.

:-)

If you don't want to be hassled by rude people go just one street down from the one you want to walk on. You'll find fewer people and get fewer opportunities to feel uncomfortable. Works in London, should work in Geneva. 

I noticed this within about a week of being here. Fortunately, I had spent time in Japan, which is even more systems-oriented than Switzerland (Dave G - cultural habits do exist, and there is no harm in identifying them so long as there is no malice).
What I have noticed: Like driving, people in Switzerland (or at least in Lausanne) tend to walk on the right side of the pavement. If you watch a not so busy street, you might notice a general trend. The funny part is that if you approach someone head on or even 75% to the left as they approach, the opposite party will very often make an adjustment to pass on the right (past your left shoulder), as opposed to reacting to the current situation and slipping past the right shoulder.
There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, but keep an eye on it and see what you notice.
As humans, we think we're so special, but we fall into habits very easily, and then consolidate our habits into one general pattern of existence, and the Swiss do tend to be quite rigid and linear. I think it's due to the dryness of the air (but I'm an acupuncturist and have weird views on things).
Further, being half Irish and half Indian, I will say never trust the Irish, they'll only try to con you (we talk a lot, but at least it'll be fun), and never work for the Indians, they'll only try to squeeze you!
 

Your ‘advice’ sounds good but do explain what I should do when I get hassled in the street where I live and I’m on my way home.

Thanks, R.

I wouldn’t say that Molly has been insulting.  Sarcastic yes, and cuttingly frank, but there’s no need to get uptight about that.

What does matters is that courtesy has been eclipsed by  devils who take the hind host.

R.

A deft thwack with your cane should do the trick, while a wry smile would denote your mental unexpectability and should get you off the hook from any unpleasant consequences.
Molly - are we being a wee bit dramatic, in line with a certain cultural stereotype?
And finally - Dave G - are you aware racism works in two directions? Why, exactly, would someone from Ireland be any LESS likely to make a (seemingly) derogatory comment about a certain cultural group? We're as bitter, assumptive and closed-minded as the next group of flesh-heaps, thank you very much. Even the Lonely Planet guide had to include a caution about coming across racial slurs while travelling in Ireland.

Choose the Words very wisely. You are living on their land and you are calling them ignorant makes you also... ...Go the country side and you will find how nice these people are.. This behavior is very common in almost all major cities. I have been to US, Canada, Japan, Especially Ireland. It was even worse.

Reply

I haven’t actually thwacked anyone --  yet.  It may come.  But I do wave my cane in the air, especially on zebra crossings.  As for wry smiles, I have no choice but to give them.  All the time, in fact, seeing as how they’re aka wrinkles.

I agree that prejudice isn’t one-sided.  Have you ever heard Africans talking about the Swiss and Geneva in particular?  And this in a city where they have well-paid jobs and live very comfortably, thank you.

We’re falling over backwards in our entanglement with political correctness. We’d do far better with a return to a genuine concern for others and natural courtesy instead.

R.

I've observed this behaviour a lot in Paris, where most people will bump into you even when you're standing still.  Apparently they assume you're the one that has to move, or perhaps they think you're a mirage.  It doesn't happen often to me in Geneva.

It certainly does to me!

R.

It's the ones who walk along texting and not even look where they are going that get me - I deliberately line them up and wait until they smack into me and give them an earful. Mind you I am talking world wide here apart from the US where I  found people most respectful.

And what about the Mums who text while trying simultaneously to keep an eye on an unsteady toddler and push a “Smart” sized baby cart?  And not jut in the street but in supermarkets too.

It seems to be an international trend, because if one ever dares to remonstrate, the (sometimes abusive) reply can be in any language at all – not so often in French though. 

i don't know if i have to giggle or to cry when I read this post.

Could the Obama administration please provide the Swiss population with some basic rules of circulation on the sidewalks? I am wondering if people coming from the right should have the priority as it is in the car traffic. Maybe the US could also sell us caps with signals to indicate when we want to turn on the left or on the right. 

All the best,

Well, making a few caps for Swiss jay-walkers could give the US economy a boost, I guess.  Perhaps Eveline could suggest it next time she has occasion to call the Pres.  Let’s hope she doesn’t go and spoil it all with a fit of the giggles though.   

Why all of a sudden do you pick on the Irish?  If you were Irish, maybe that would be excusable

I was told by a Swiss friend that you should walk on the the right in Switerland which is logical as the cars (but not the trains) drive on the right.  But it does not seem to work. 

So I treat the whole thing as a game.  I decide if I am going to give way or not.  If people are coming towards me and blocking the whole pavement I aim for the middle of the group and if a mixed group aim to create force my way through next to a female who tend to be more likely to give way.

Another rule: I never allow myself to be forced on to the pavement unless facing the oncoming traffic.

But this is not a Swiss problem - trying walking down Oxford Street in London.

When I worked in the City of London I did not face this problem except when I was training for thr Seven Sisters marathon walk and for about three weeks I walked in to work wearing my hiking gear - nobody gave way because I did not look as if i belonged in the City and I became invisible.

On the whole I have few problems in city centres. Those who refuse to give way are the same ones who quite happily et a door slam in your face as they precede you when entering a building   

Well, there are 3 points I've figured out for myself here:

1. Switzerland has never had these crowds in cities before, let alone the number of cars. It is relatively new and as the city population grew no one got the idea to give people an update on best practices of busy-city life. In rural areas there is never a problem as there is enough space for everybody, so when people move from villages to cities they just behave same way. That's why they do not seem to teach children to let peopple off the bus/tram before they get in (that's where they annoy me the most), it is not yet natural.

2. You can always say if the person drives a car, as drivers (from right-side driving countries) automaticaly take to the right when someone comes in front. So, for many coming from left-side driving countries it is a question of cultural adaptability. They just need to get it. Walk and drive on the right side. Easy.

3. And yes, there are arrogant ***** who think they are worth more street-space than you are and they can walk in zig zag and wherewhere they please. No pity here. If they walk straight in front of me when I am reasonably on the right side and the street in not busy with other zigzaggers, I let them walk and bump, and then I can just stop and stare in their eyes untill they get around (often I just can't be bothered though, let people deal with their creepy egos themselves)

My final word on this one.  Some have used this site for their traditional swiss bashing but remember that 30% of the population of Geneva is non Swiss plus during the day the number of people in the city centre is increased by fronaliers who may or may not be French and tourists who could be Swiss / foreign.

Outside office hours there is probably a 50/50 chance that the arrogant b..... is not a Swiss at all. 

Paul,

I am not picking on Irish, My comment was for Molly who is from Ireland. and I was replying to her comment that 'Swiss people are ignorant a lot of the time',

I said to me, what she said is offensive. And I asked what she would think if others picked on Irish and said they are Ignorant, how she would react.

Ah! Apologies then, scanned the comments very quickly without deep analysis

That's a good point also, all the people who are there during the day, plus all the tourists, it makes the city much busier.

As to the Swiss bashing, I am not here often enough to observe it, but there again, sometimes there are facts that can be observed and discussed, and sometimes there are those never happy ones, who do bash, and my usual response to those is - just go somewhere where they will feel better/happier/more secure/greener grass/brighter sunshine/whatever, just get out. I am still here and love it so far, and I see some "raisons d'être" for some things, that work much better here than in many other places, even if they take strange forms sometimes. Whatever works :)

" Or is it that the people really just think they are better than me and I should therefore defer to them? "

yeah, that must be it, so, deal with it !

( just kidding) OMG! you may take this personally.......it's my warped humor

Cor blarney.

I have a different problem which i never saw in the city of London.  People here walk toooooo slowly and can't walk straight.  When we are walking in the same direction, i will go on to the left hand side to pass them.  Just before i am about to pass, they will vere left, blocking my path, so i swerve right only to find they do the same.  Little old ladies with canes are the worst offenders.  (No personal offence meant to the prevoius poster).

Escalators make me furious.  Why do people suddenly stop walking the second they get on an escalator?  It's very annoying when the idiot in front suddenly stops and blocks your way.  And if they really are lazy, tired, not busy, or too just laid back to walk down the escalator, why can't they just stand on the right hand side, so that those of us with somewhere to go can pass them?

Totally agree, hve been here for a number of years but am always amazed how often people do this here. They expect other people to move out of their way and would not dream of giving way. They may not necessarily be swiss but i do find people in Geneva do not have the same sense of politeness as people living in other cantons. Go figure!