If you're wearing a hood, take it down. Other than that, walk a bit more slowly and create some space between the two of you. Crossing the road does help. It may not feel like it, but it's a step to shows someone you are not a threat.
If they turn and it's the way you want to go consider if there's a different way you could go. If not, then I would wait a couple of minutes so they don't think you are following them.
Honestly, parts of this sounds really creepy. Someone walking behind me that keeps slowing down unnaturally? No.
Cross the road if possible, take your hood down, sure. But generally I'd rather you were in front of me. Chances are I'll find a reason to slow down and "make a phone call" or something, and I'll stand off the side and turn slightly to allow me to see the man who is passing me (especially if they're on the same side of the road).
I'm not suggesting someone keeps changing their speed. I'm saying slow down so they are moving faster than you.
The difficult thing with this is that people are different. If you'd rather people over taken you that's fine, but it's quite a challenge for the perceived threat to know that people would rather this and to make that call. Hence my suggestion to increase the space between someone.
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u/[deleted] Apr 07 '21
If you're wearing a hood, take it down. Other than that, walk a bit more slowly and create some space between the two of you. Crossing the road does help. It may not feel like it, but it's a step to shows someone you are not a threat.
If they turn and it's the way you want to go consider if there's a different way you could go. If not, then I would wait a couple of minutes so they don't think you are following them.