While most people assume that it is possible to look where they are going and walk in that single direction, it is rare for the unguided hiker (walker, runner, etc.) to stay the course.
Many people who are lost in the wilderness are found very close to their original starting point and one theory is that they have unconsciously walked in a circular direction.
This English summary of Simone Kosog's article in Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin is a fascinating description of the dominant leg and the implications it has on our actions.
It convinces hikers like me to always want to carry a compass and take constant bearings when hiking. It also makes me want to walk through the cashier line when I walk into the supermarket...just to see what happens.
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Interesting article! I'll quote the section you refer to:
"Most or our supermarkets are organized the same way: entrance is on the right, the cashier on the left. Studies have shown that customers tend to feel slightly stressed - increased cardiac pulse, elevated blood pressure, slightly faster walking pace - and buy less when they have to walk in the opposite direction."
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