Which visual cues, what type of person, makes you switch the side of the road?

I do not switch side of the road unless I am going that way. I do however switch the selector off “Safe”.
What makes me switch?
A person wandering erratically.
Someone carrying a tool or incongruous item like a golf club or bat.
A group of loud early 20s males of any color or ethnicity.

Like Ivory soap this area is “99 and 44/100%” white (and the other 0.56% are doctors) so any group of minorities are visitors from the city and (unfairly or not) are suspect.

We don’t have skin heads or “soccer fans” here but we do have the occasional face tattoo owner, no doubt regretting that drunken trip to Bangkok. They can’t cause trouble since they are so easy to ID in a police line up.

Anyone wearing a t-shirt or holding a sign that says “I’m a proud member of NRA.”

Also zombies.

Well, I was walking along the road one day, while in college. There were some young men behind me making comments and innuendo. I have no idea what they looked like, but I went to the other side of the road. I heard one of them say “Well, looks like we won’t be doing anything now,” or something like that.

Love the tags, @ragingloli!

Drunken football supporters possibly.

A large group of males who appear to be drunk. I would also be nervous if a group of rowdy skinheads (or similar) was heading my way and I’d try to avoid them. A large bunch of rowdy school kids or even kindergarten kids. Loud, noisy and possibly snotty and they get under your feet. I’d get out of the way.

Suspicious, and threatening behaviour, or irritating.

A policeman.

I can’t remember the last time I switched sides because of someone else walking on the same sidewalk. I was tempted recently because a person walking a dog plainly did not have control of it. But it was a small dog, and I just didn’t want to have to interact with the owner. In any event, I stayed, it yapped, and he apologized. Whatever.

This is a great big, busy city that never sleeps. I never feel safer than on its sidewalks.

I may be on alert and scan my surroundings for possible exits, etc. But the only time I’ve crossed the street to avoid someone was probably to avoid an ex. I’ve even dropped flat to the floor once. Straight-out-of-a-sitcom move.

I would probably more likely double back (in a hurry) if I really thought the situation was dangerous. Crossing the street only minimizes the contact.