Readers Write: Why Can’t We All Just Walk Along?
Dear Philebrity,Pedestrians in Philly are freakin’ me out, yo!
Allstate says we’re #1 when it comes to reckless driving, but we’re probably even worse when it comes to walking. Sidewalks aren’t even all that crowded, yet every day as I walk to and from work, at lunch, at night, etc, man oh man: some serious perfidious perambulation!
I’m hoping you can maybe devote some space to increasing awareness about the following pedestrian unpleasantnesses. Please do what you can to keep clueless walkers from inciting serious sidewalk rage . . .
Well, right on. We got a live one here, but read on, people, for this man speaketh the truth. After the jump, the rest of his letter and how YOU can be a part of the SOLUTION!
First, most sidewalks in town aren’t so wide, so try not to walk three across when walking with more than two people. And when walking with two people on Pine Street, say, try not to keep an entire human shoulderwidth between you and your friend, especially if either of thine asses are extra-wide. (25% of Philly is overweight or obese, so peeps should definitely be thinking about getting more pedestrian time, but only if they know how to move in synch with other moving parts of the city.)
Second (this one can be dangerous!): when coming out of a shop on South Street, for example, look both ways and merge into traffic. Don’t just cluelessly cut in front of other people. And if you do cut someone off, say “excuse me” or “sorry” or something which indicates that you’re a considerate member of society.
In general, keep in mind that pedestrians walking straight on a sidewalk, as on a highway, have right of way, especially if a particular pedestrian is bigger and walking faster.
Also, when walking on a sidewalk with a good deal of traffic, you can’t just cut in front of someone just because you suddenly want to be on the other side of the street. Always look both ways, same as driving. And if you inadvertantly cut someone off, simply say “sorry” or “excuse me” and move on.
I realize this all sounds pretty simple and stuff, but my god every day people are cluelessly, selfishly, recklessly walking the sidewalks of this oft-phucked city.
The main thing people need to think about is that they’re not alone on the sidewalks. Way too often people need to be reminded that “Other people are on the sidewalk, yo!” And I’m not talking about Patriotic tourists. All this applies even to the overly tattooed Philadelphian pedestrians on South Street, Old City, Center City, everywhere!
It is my hope that a site as righteous as Philebrity can help stop the rampantly reckless pedestrianship of Philadelphia.
With very kind regards and limited hope,
Lee
A couple of things: It’s very funny to read this letter imagining that its writer is three feet tall. But more importantly, Lee touches on some key points here on walking in the city. For too long, too many have walked like fools, and it’s time we draw up some kind of rule sheet for how best to walk in this, America’s fifth most walkable city. Are you in? Then what else did Lee miss? Let us know in the comments, and in a few days, we’ll compile your recommendations for Philebrity’s Guide To Walking Like You Know What You’re Doing. Until then, walk on!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Lee needs a hobby.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:14 am
No way, Lee is onto something here. People in this city do not know how to walk properly. I would add to his list, groups of people, all walking side by side, and moving very slowly so no one can get by, and: just stopping in the middle of a crowded, moving sidewalk.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I love harassing/screaming at folks who jaywalk when I have the right of way on my bike. It is amazing how indignant people appear when you try to bike through intersection when you have a green and they have a red. I circumvent that indignation with a cautionary, “Jaywalker!”
After seeing a close friend take a nasty spill on his bike when a pedestrian carelessly walked into the middle of the road 20 feet away from the nearest crosswalk - I have resolved myself to just plow into the dumbass rather than swerve dangerously. It’s gonna hurt them, but at least I’m not a bus and they can learn their lesson.
Walk hard, Philly.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
We have moving sidewalks in Philly? No wonder we have a weight problem. If someone stopped in a moving sidewalk, wouldn’t the person keep moving?
I’m picturing Lee as an 8 foot tall speed-walking power career type with “places to go.” Oh, but the places Lee goes when he’s power walking among the average sized casual walkers leads him to power tripping all over the place and causing significant property damage. Lee just needs better walking insurance.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Oops! I meant to say, a moving crowd/oncoming traffic on a sidewalk. Though some people act like we already have moving sidewalks. The other thing I hate: people who can’t eat and walk at the same time. Of course none of this is an issue on a non-crowded sidewalk.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I don’t really understand this entry. The Philadelphia I know has no problem with fat pedestrians who don’t know how to walk.
We’re all extremely thin and travel via Segways, scooters, or skateboards.
Oh, and sometimes we use levitation as a means of transportation.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Walking while texting.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
i feel this pedestrian rage on the daily. seriously where are these people going? i wish i had time for a leisurely stroll side-by-side-by-side too but i just don’t. and yes, impaler, i’m one of those pesky “places to go” people.
it essentially comes down to ignorance, i’ve decided. and most of the people walking around this city are very very ignorant.
OH, and also i’d like to teach the people of philadelphia how to walk with umbrellas too. no one seems to know that either, and on rainy days i walk in fear of getting my eyes poked out by all the low umbrellas.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I’ll, BD. admit the umbrella thing is annoying, but I think that’s more of a product of all the narrow sidewalks and scaffolding in town.
Ah, my pet peeve, groups of two or more who decide to stop and talk right in the middle of scaffolding underpass or other temporary walk way.
But really, bike rage is understandable because if your a cyclist or in the path of a reckless cyclist, you could really get hurt. Cars and motorcycles, there could be some serious bank account hemorrhaging at the least in the event of a mishap. I want to see some documentation of “dangerous” or “irresponsible” behavior that could cause serious medical or property damage in a pedestrian on pedestrian or pedestrian on structure mishap. I can understand the irritation, but to turn that irritation into a rant cum manifesto for publication … that’s a bit Andy Rooney. Soluble fiber is the real solution to cranky pants. Drink a smoothie.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Jeez. Its the tourists that have no fucking clue how to walk.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
…oh and the suburbanites too.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:28 am
i think that peds need to act a little more scared when they see you biking down the street. when i’m up on the sidewalk for whatever reason, they just walk as if i’m going to stop and not hit them if they get in my way. but i’ll hit them all right.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
don’t even get me started about Asians but I’d rather have them walking than driving