Passersby

Passers-by are people who pass by a particular location, typically moving through public space on foot, though the term can also include travelers such as cyclists who move through a place without stopping. The phrase is commonly used in both British and American English, with the hyphenated form passers-by and the more compact passersby both widely accepted.

In common usage, passers-by are a subset of pedestrians who do not stop or linger at a given spot. They are often contrasted with residents, workers, shoppers, or visitors who may pause or remain in a specific area. The term frequently appears in journalism, urban descriptions, and literary writing to convey the fleeting, anonymous presence of people within a city.

From an urban design perspective, the movement and density of passers-by influence the planning of sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, signage, and street furniture. Understanding pass-by rates helps determine pedestrian safety measures, crowd management, and how public spaces accommodate flow during peak times or events. Weather, time of day, and local activity can substantially affect passers-by patterns.

In culture and art, passers-by are common subjects in street photography and narrative scenes, highlighting urban textures, social interactions, and the pace of city life. Privacy and consent considerations remain important when documenting or displaying images of passers-by.

See also: Pedestrian, Bystander, Street photography, Urban design, Pedestrian safety.