Sidewalk Etiquette
This was made in jest and is full of unfair generalizations…enjoy!
Since starting work downtown last year, I have been baffled at the omission of sidewalk etiquette. I have proudly lived in the area for most of my years, but for some reason there is general confusion on which side to walk on. There are obstacles (read: people) that may toss this rule to the wayside. Just a few examples:
The Power Packs: During the lunch hour rush, groups of people like to walk together. I understand the pack mentality; it has been around for years. But when 3-4 business people are bogarting the entire sidewalk, they are not leaving me with enough space to continue my stride. I am a fairly diplomatic person – give a little, take a little – but should one have to step in the snow and wait while this clan goes on a Panini hunt?
Languid Lovers: I personally approve of simple forms of PDA; the thought of showcasing your admiration for another human being via the clasping of hands is charming. My issue is when they actually make eye contact with you before the inevitable pass, and they choose not to adjust their conjoined swagger to make room for the fellow pedestrian.
Truffle Shuffle: (I have always wanted to use the phrase Truffle Shuffle in conversation, a la Chunk from The Goonies) This is the person who at initial glance is following the rules; they appear aware of the invisible line that splits the sidewalk in two. Their head is upright and confident, and then BAM! A diversion! (This could be in the realm of another person, a loud noise, etc.) They cross the center line. It sounds innocent enough, right? But now an awkward dance ensues, insincere glances of apology are exchanged and both are left clumsily stumbling back to their positions.
Meandering Mommas/Daddys: As a mother myself, I like to think that I am conscious of the space around me when I have my kids in tow. Although my children are past the stroller age, I noticed a disturbing trend of Cadillac-sized strollers that unavoidably take up 15% more than the allotted sidewalk lane. A simple solution would be to stop for a brief moment, while letting others circumvent your adorable child on wheels.
Bikers: A bike is a vehicle. Vehicles belong on the road. ‘Nuff said.
I hope we can all realize the errors we may have inadvertently made in sidewalk etiquette. I do offer one tip: STAY ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE. This is for the betterment of our community and my mood.
drrent said:
(warning, since original post was “tounge in cheek” so is my response)
One of my personal pet peeves is when driving down the street, and there is some kind of blockage and the only way around it is up on the sidewalk, that pedestrians don’t understand the short term changes of sidewalk etiquette rules once a vehicle becomes involved.
Pedestrians truly need to understand I wouldn’t be driving on the sidewalk unless it was truly necessary and by all rights, as I have size in my favor, I should rightfully have the right of way.
However, I do conceed that driving the posted speed limit while up on the sidewalk is probably not appropriate and I am willing to settle on 60-70% of the posted street speed.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:22 am #
Dino Corvino said:
I like truffle shuffle…I am trying to say SUPER DUPER more often.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:30 am #
katie said:
Dear Kari,
I am consistently drawn to walk on the left side per Japan or Hong Kong. Should I force myself to switch sides here in the U.S.? Or is it permissible to stick with my Far Eastern suavities, perhaps preserving my life the next time I hit the more heavily trodden sidewalks of Asia? Is it okay to inconvenience a handful of Midwesterners to keep my standing, literally, abroad?
Please advise.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:20 am #
Dino Corvino said:
Katie,
I remember when I showed up in Asia for the first time, and the left walking. Dear God I nearly died. I was seriously jet lagged, and just freaked out, nearly yelling at this little people.
I think as that is a culture that promotes walking more, you should go with those standards.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:28 am #
drrent said:
Katie…
I think part of it is so that when I do jump up on the sidewalk with the vehicle, most people would actually like to see me coming than just be bumped or run over from behind. By walking on the right side of the sidewalk, you should see me coming and have ample oppurtunity to get out of my way.
Because Japan and Hong Kong (as well as the UK) drive on the left, walking on the left makes sense so that you can also get out of the way for those drivers in those countries who need to epand the “lane of travel” from time to time.
I don’t think of this as a pedestrian vs pedestrian issue, I see it as a pedestrian vs get out of my way if I am driving issue, and that is much easier for you to help me with if you see me coming.
(if I am driving on the sidewalk, I would be very close to buildings and I think it would be rude of me to have to honk my horn as it might disturb those people inside)
February 6th, 2008 at 9:33 am #
browt0199 said:
I to tend to agree with your thoughts on the subject, but I do have one disagreement as a mother with a very difficult stroller why do I have to be the one to stop and wait for you to pass me? I do understand that during the winter when sidewalk space is limited, it is easier for me to stop, but what about during the summer is it to much to ask that you just walk around me?? I tend to have a very aggressive tendency and most people are forced to walk around me anyway.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:34 am #
chrisf said:
When in Rome….. When you are in Asia, you walk on the same side as them, when in Wausau, you walk on the same side as us.
Also working downtown, my favorite is the old ladies or groups of “soccer moms” window browsing and assuming that everyone in town wants to walk around them. Instead of them getting closer together towards the windows to talk and allowing pedestrian flow around them.
The Power Pack thing is hilarious. I usually find them to be men, aged 25-40, long black jackets walking as if it’s my pleasure to move to the side for them. A few “excuse you” phrases and they usually get the hint.
“Excuse you”, putting the blame on them for blocking flow, can be a quite powerful comment.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:50 am #
Tom Neal said:
At a charity event here, I approached a doorway where two guys were standing and talking and I wished to get through the door to the next room. I humbly said, “Excuse me” to one guy and he looked at me and said, “What?” I had to explain to him that I needed access through the door he was standing in, which seemed to surprise the hell out of him.
Similarly at public events where there are self-serve food or beverage tables, ever notice how people stand blithely in front of the table, jabbering away? Talk about self absorption. Don’t get between me and my potential meal!
Ever prepare to exit an elevator only to bump into someone barging in as soon as the door opens?
Ever have someone stand uncomfortably close to you when there’s plenty of extra space available?
Ever been driving and someone steals your right of way and nearly collides with you as they enter the intersection you’re driving through? You look at them questioningly and they’re looking at you and mouthing off angrily as if you did something wrong by existing in their path or surprising them awake?
One of my faves was at the Y … I was walking up the stairs and this lady comes rushing down the hall and ascends hurriedly behind me until she’s about up my butt. At the top of the stairs I opened the door and stepped aside to let her through. She looked at me like, “What the freak are you doing?” I just smiled and said, “You’re in more of a hurry than me.” And she stood there, hans on hips and refused to go through, like I was the world’s biggest jerk, and was causing her further delay with my stupid show of manners. What the heck!
February 6th, 2008 at 10:50 am #
Andy Laub said:
The absolute worst for me is The Mall™. I don’t have issues within the stores themselves, nor am I in a hurry when in those stores, generally. But as soon as I get to the common space, all bets are off; I want out. And then…. 4 people, window shopping, side-by-side. Way to go. Then it’s between shuffling along behind them or slaloming the Sunglass Hut to pass them on the other side.
February 6th, 2008 at 11:51 am #
Boogenstein said:
Maybe I am just rude but I have a tendency to glare at them and then accidentally bump in to them if the glare didn’t work. My Wife tels me that I shouldn’t think out loud on these occasions but it never stops me. I figure that there are few enough people in this place so, given enough training, they should learn to get the hell out of my way!
February 6th, 2008 at 8:18 pm #
Barry Liss said:
witty Kari - nice post…how about the Markie-Shark - the dude in the big city who’s lookin for a mark to rip off…or the Amsterdam Shuffle - the way the ‘Johns’ emerge from the door after patronizing a lady in the red light district…
Barry
February 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am #
Tom Neal said:
Of course, there’s the “dum-de-dum” ultra-casual stroller who’s walking at about 33% of normal speed, sort of rocking side to side, seemingly deep in thought (or devoid of the same) and naturally occupying the very center of the walkway so as to prevent anyone from passing unobtrusively. “Dum-de-dum-de-doh-de-doh, I’m walkin’ here very slow. Got no particular place to go. Dum-de-dum-de-doh-de-doh.”
February 7th, 2008 at 4:00 pm #
iclarkz said:
The dum-de-dohs are even worse when they whistle . . .
And as very recent stroller-pusher myself, I feel I can say that the two chatting moms side by side, each with strollers (or god forbid, one or both of them have a double side-by-side stroller) are a formidable sight. And they are often sleep deprived and carrying coffee. . .
February 7th, 2008 at 7:44 pm #
Melissa Sullivan said:
I agree with nearly everything here, but I have to stick up for my fellow stroller-pushing moms. If you encounter us on a sidewalk (or a narrow store aisle for that matter) and we’re in your path, just go around. And keep your dirty looks to yourself. We already know we’re a nuisance, and we’re not happy about it either.
It was but a year ago that every time I left the house, I had to push a 40 pound 3-year-old and a 35 pound 2-year-old (a future starting linebacker for your Green Bay Packers) around town in a 20 pound double stroller. It is one of those front/back seaters (not a side-by-side) and it corners for you-know-what. I seriously got a wicked case of tennis elbow from trying to maneuver that thing, and it took almost a year to heal.
Thankfully, my daughter can walk most places now, so we only need a single stroller to contain my son, lest he decide to indulge his whims and dart into traffic. But even with just one kid in a stroller, it’s mighty difficult to corral my 4-year-old and steer the stroller simultaneously. Not only do I have to keep the stroller to the side so the rest of you can get by, but I have to keep my daughter walking nicely by my side as opposed to her preferred ambulatory method of ballet dancing and sashaying down the middle of the street/aisle. This usually requires pushing the stroller one-handed (not good for the old tennis elbow, that’s for sure!), while holding my daughter’s hand.
Things get even more precarious in stores, when I have to keep the stroller and my daughter out of the middle of the aisle for pedestrians, but I can’t put the stroller close enough to the shelves that my son can grab things or clear a row of glass knick-knacks with one swipe of his arm.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pm #