Comments on: Sidewalk Etiquette http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/ A pop culture blog by Mormons but not about Mormonism Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:26:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Pris http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17228 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:57:32 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17228 How can those respective intentions be communicated? It’s a conundrum worthy of great minds. Solutions?

Headphones. They don’t even need to be working (Plausible Deniability).

]]> By: Susan M http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17227 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:19:03 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17227 I seem to remember people on bikes yelling “LEFT!” meaning they were going to pass you on your left. You could try that.

]]> By: Bruce Rogers http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17226 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 15:48:30 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17226 With the increase of trails for walking, hiking and biking, a number of ‘rules’ have been suggested, similar to those suggested above for sidewalks. One topic is how to signal to a person that you wish to pass them. You might say, “Excuse me, please” or “Passing, please”. Have some of you seen posted rules on trails?
Bruce Rogers
Cedar Falls, IA

]]> By: Susan M http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17225 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 14:46:12 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17225 The biggest problem I remember having to deal with on the sidewalks when I worked in downtown Seattle (Pioneer Square) was stepping over or around the homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk, and avoiding the rats in the bushes.

But I guess I wasn’t out walking around during peak hours.

]]> By: Rusty http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17224 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 02:29:25 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17224 For me, the toughest issue in sidewalk etiquette is this: you see someone you know, but are not great friends with, approaching. One of you wants to nod and keep walking, the other wants to stop and chat. How can those respective intentions be communicated? It’s a conundrum worthy of great minds. Solutions?

Greg, that’s hilarious! It is so, so true. I don’t have a solution. I just play it by ear, react to their reaction. If they don’t see me then I will act like I don’t see them. What’s worse is when you get down to the subway waiting for your train and you see someone you kinda know and then you’re obligated to talk with them, stand with them on the train the whole way into the city (or whatever). Funny stuff.

]]> By: Greg http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17223 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 01:14:26 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17223 Rusty, where do you stand on spitting? I generally say it’s fine if you aim for a gutter or tree, as long as there’s no hocking.

One of the biggest sidewalk problems is at an intersection. People on both sides line up along the width of the sidewalk, rather than the depth. Then when the light changes and people start across the crosswalk, it’s mayhem. You’ve got to remember the keep right rule even when you’re waiting for a light to change.

Another issue is umbrellas. When walking on an urban sidewalk, no one needs a golfing umbrella. Use one of those black $3 jobs that you can manuever out of the way. If you see a pending umbrella collision, lift up your umbrella early so the other can pass below.

Also, pit bulls and other mean dogs should not be on public sidewalks. Keep them in your yard, with your rusted out El Camino.

For me, the toughest issue in sidewalk etiquette is this: you see someone you know, but are not great friends with, approaching. One of you wants to nod and keep walking, the other wants to stop and chat. How can those respective intentions be communicated? It’s a conundrum worthy of great minds. Solutions?

]]> By: Elisabeth http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17222 Thu, 20 Apr 2006 23:55:14 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17222 Also, when people (tourists) congregate on the sidewalks taking pictures, chatting, and blocking everyone else’s path in the process. I’m not sure about NYC, but the sidewalks in Boston are very narrow. I’ve had too many close calls ducking into traffic to avoid the gaggle of tourists straight ahead.

]]> By: Jennifer http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17221 Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:37:10 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17221 Can we apply this to shopping carts & grocery stores as well?

Nothing drives me nuts faster than the person parked in the middle of the aisle.

Except that person parked in the middle of the aisle with a passle of kids doing their best to cause (or have) a nuclear meltdown.

]]> By: krunkymunky http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17220 Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:59:58 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17220 along the lines of comment 5, keep moving when you pass through a revolving door. the people behind you don’t want to have to shove you anymore than they want to get smushed by the giant panel of metal and glass you both went through.

]]> By: Tom http://kulturblog.com/2006/04/20/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17219 Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:57:34 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2006/04/sidewalk-etiquette/#comment-17219 I do not apologize for using a double wide stroller. They are significantly more compactible than the double deep ones and, crucially, you can get ‘em cheap.

That Phil & Teds stroller that you link to looks like cruel and unusual punishment for the poor kid in the back. Kids should be able to see where they’re going.

I don’t walk on the streets of New York and I don’t plan to any time soon. So I don’t know if I would abandon my double wide (actually, the current oldest has grown out of strollers, so right now it wouldn’t be an issue) if I did. I would definitely take into account traffic disruption, but that might not be the deciding factor.

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