A pedestrian is a person travelling on foot, whether walking or running. In modern times, the term usually refers to someone walking on a road or pavement, but this was not the case historically.[citation needed]
The meaning of pedestrian is displayed with the morphemes ped- ('foot') and -ian ('characteristic of').[1] This word is derived from the Latin term pedester ('going on foot') and was first used (in English language) during the 18th century.[2] It was originally used, and can still be used today, as an adjective meaning plain or dull.[3] However, in this article it takes on its noun form and refers to someone who walks.
The word pedestrian may have been used in middle French in the Recueil des Croniques et Anchiennes Istories de la Grant Bretaigne, à présent nommé Engleterre.[4]
In California the definition of a pedestrian has been broadened to include anyone on any human powered vehicle that is not a bicycle, as well as people operating self-propelled wheelchairs by reason of physical disability.[5] In some communities, those travelling using tiny wheels such as roller skates, skateboards, and scooters, as well as wheelchair users[6] are also included as pedestrians.
