Why won't people MOVE out of other people's way?

I was at the supermarket the day after lockdown. I found everyone very curtious, much like drivers on a narrow road holding back and allowing others to pass them then getting a friendly acknowledgement. All terribly civilized.

It was all very civilised on our dawn walks, only ever seeing a couple of dog walkers at a distance or passing the occasional person at a good distance. This morning, however, we were confronted by a young man running at speed towards us in the middle of the pavement. We wrongly assumed he would run onto the green but he just kept running straight at us. Luckily we had already begun to walk onto the grass or I think he would have run into us. We certainly didn’t have time to put a distance of 2 metres between us. If we meet him again, I will be tempted to trip him with my walking stick!

Maybe we are very lazy in Surrey but I have been out for a walk every day & have yet to see anyone else out- with the exception of a jogger 2 days ago. It's like a ghost town. Cars going past but no people walking. Mind you I am not walking near any shops. I see a bus every day but never anyone other then the driver on it.
It's quite surreal.

....and if you are shopping in Tescos, pick up what you need, stop faffing around and get out again as soon as you can. A couple shopping together (surely one of them could have waited in the car?) stood trolley side in blocking access to two milk cabinets for ages... take your milk and move on! We all need to be considerate to others.

Hurray for folk round here. We try to go out at a fairly empty time, morning or afternoon but this morning at 7:30 if a drone had been overhead it would have looked as if people were doing a dance. One couple or person crossed over to avoid us, so we crossed over to avoid the next person or couple. Weaving backwards and forwards across the road added .2 of a mile to our morning walk without any extra effort. A nice friendly hi or good morning-or still here then or stay safe as we passed safely brightened the day. It must be more difficult in a town, but at least there is less traffic on the road when you’re trying to cross over. Two things that cheered me up this morning- the photo and this.
twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/1244874321320906752

Just come back from a morning walk.
Have had a few weird looks because I have crossed the road or did a detour to avoid getting too close.
There are two types, those who look at you as if you are weird
and those who are cheery, appreciative and say 'morning'.
Keeping ones distance is surely such a small ask in order to keep everyone healthy and safe.

This epidemic has created a new social divide eg medics, nurses, volunteers who do shopping v. joggers who expel droplets all over you without making diversionary moves, blind-walking texters & those who have raided the supermarket shelves.

Teetime it was a one-way system adopted by the store yesterday where we were 'stuck' (and others behind and the people waiting to go in the entry route) because of the action of the two women. Where they just stopped was a blind spot for the security men so they didn't see it to react to it. Other people seemed to be considerate and we're obeying social distancing, they on the other hand made it impossible for others to go about their business.

I was saying to my daughter when walking outside and every now and then stepping into the road to keep distance from other people: " We may not get the virus but more likely run over by a car!"

Not just now, but always!
At the moment, it's not really a problem. When I go for my daily walk, if I do happen to meet anyone, they either move right over on the path, turning away or cross the road.
Funnily enough, with footpaths and the main road, there is a one way system for walking around the village that seems to have developed over the last few days so that you can do a circuit!

Use your voices, people!
Stand your ground and say politely, “two metres please!”

The OP's experience is what happened to me when I went for a walk in the park two days ago.
I am a bent white haired old lady who uses a stick for support when walking.

The grass was quite nice and dry so I did not mind moving on to the long grass so young persons could pass me at a safe distance. I think the problem is many people don't think of courtesy as use of the imagination and being aware of others' needs. For many people courtesy is simplistically obeying rules

I share CassieJ experience its all been very civilised here and lots of 'Good Mornings' although some people are reluctant to respond when we smile at them.
I do wish the supermarkets would institute a one-way system though.

I must admit everyone round here is really good at the social distancing. When I have been out for a walk and others are around I cross the road to avoid each other or they do it first. Everyone here has so far been really careful

Round here everyone avoids passers by by either crossing or standing aside. Just be harder in the crowded cities.

Beswitched, because children dart around and respond more quickly when a stranger asks them to do something than if a parent does.

As others have already highlighted we have all encountered, at the best of times, the path, pavement and shopping aisle hoggers and the abrupt stoppers who stand and chat or text oblivious (or inconsiderate) of others who need to get past. What I don't get is why people are still doing it because they are not exactly helping themselves stay safe either.
Today when coming out of a store a women was a little ahead of us (me & partner). Another woman she obviously knew spotted her, walked up to her and she stopped. The two stood close together and chatted meaning we (and then a couple of others) too had to stop. We had nowhere to go as the store had erected temporary barriers to create a safe route leaving the store. Despite requests to please move they only did so when they were ready. No other people could be let in or out of the store. These women then went their separate ways to their own cars. One of the women looked back at us with contempt. Young women? No, going by my own age I'd say both were in their mid to late 60s. Unbelievable!!

But that's the point Monica. Why should families have to be asked to give others space, any more than a single man should. They are being equally inconsiderate.

In our local butchers the other day, just me in the little shop. A man came in, I thought he would have remained outside until called in. But no, and he came quite near me looking at the cold meats in the fridge area. I quickly moved further to the raw meat section and said, “Do you mind, we’re supposed to keep 2 metres apart! The butcher quickly agreed with me, but the chap looked oblivious, and kept studying the meat.
Idiot!

Thinking about doing it isn't banned, though.

I think that's a bad idea Elegran some people have lost all reason and common sense over this, you may well open yourself up to abuse if you do that.
There have been instances of health care staff being assaulted as they go about their business as people accuse them of spreading the virus. This brings out the best and the worst in us.

Best way to get them to move away is to put your elbow up to your mouth, then have a good cough. Mutter to yourself "Must get some paracetamol." They may curse you, but they'll keep away! They may not worry about giving the virus to you, but if they think you are giving it to them, that is different.

Love it shysal! That’s really effective - and shows how far two metres actually is.

A friend said she was at her allotment yesterday and another person came over to chat and stood close. My friend politely asked her to step back and the other woman took umbrage.
As my mother was fond of saying "Some people haven't got the sense they were born with"

Perhaps we should each have one of these. I see he has a grabber for reaching.
digg.com/video/coronavirus-social-distancing-space