You’ve been walking on sidewalks all wrong! Etiquette guru William Hanson reveals how to use it correctly – including the big no-no in the group. Is it YOUR fault?

Before you hit the sidewalk today, a quick word: You’ve been walking on sidewalks all wrong.

A ridiculous idea? Well, according to etiquette guru William Hanson’s book “Just Good Manners,” you’ve been walking in the wrong group formation, failing to yield, and more importantly, failing to operate pedestrian crossings appropriately.

Scandalous.

But fear not, because William, a true Merlin of manners, has all the advice you need to make sure you don’t make a fool of yourself the next time you walk down the sidewalk.

NO WALKWAY PARTIES

Don’t think of the great British pavement as your personal party space.

William says: “In public, on the pavement or elsewhere, Brits do not like loud, disruptive bacchanalia (exuberance). The sidewalk is a public, shared space, and anything that makes others think you are not playing the game of consideration for your fellow human beings will irritate them.”

GROUP FORMATIONS

Avoid blocking sidewalks with group formations that are too wide, advises the Duke of Decency.

He writes: “If you’re in large groups, don’t walk in a horizontal line, thereby blocking the passage of others.” Instead, break up into smaller groups of two or three if it’s a wide sidewalk – and go ahead.

“If there are a lot of other people coming right toward you and the sidewalk is too narrow for you all to fit, the polite thing to do is to stop and let the other people pass.”

ALWAYS GIVE IN

Always assume that those who approach you are more important than you, emphasizes the emperor of etiquette.

He explains: “Automatically assuming that (those coming the other way) are more important than you is healthy and a good way to live a decent life.” Hopefully it stops for you too and leads to for both polite parties to let out a little laugh at how polite you all were and how successful you were as people.’

WEAVING

Walk in a straight line, says William, “instead of slaloming around and getting in everyone’s way.”

PRESS THE BUTTON!

William includes a “Note to Visitors to Britain” in his tome that reads: “If you’re standing at a pedestrian crossing, you’ll be standing there for an awfully long time if you haven’t pressed the button to cross.”

GO OUTSIDE

“If you know the person you are with will like your supposed protection, position yourself off the sidewalk,” says William, who explains that this rule dates back to a time when gentlemen were expected to protect women to protect against splashes from passing stagecoaches.

He adds: “Given a shift in gender norms and expectations, this rule can be applied in moderation and depends on your company.”

For more information from Mr. Hanson, please visit him TikTok And Instagram Profiles.

Good Manners Only – An Essential Guide to Courtesy, Charm, Grace and Decency (Penguin Random House), is now available. It is touted as “a witty and authoritative guide to British etiquette.”