In My Day, Sidewalks Were For WALKING...
@danishcanadian (28954)
Canada
November 8, 2011 7:10pm CST
...not for standing around like a statue. LOL
Do people stop their cars in the middle of intersections to talk on the phone, fix their makeup, or chat with the person (on or off the phone) in the next vehicle? If not, why would people do that on sidewalks?
For those outside of Canada and the USA, we turned our clocks back an hour, this past Saturday, so it now gets dark an hour earlier. I left the cafe at 6:30, and started walking towards the crosswalk. There were two guys just standing there in the middle of the sidewalk talking, not too far from the cafe. I am legally blind, and they were dressed in dark clothing, so I walked right into them. I nicely suggested that they might enjoy a more comfortable atmosphere where they could sit down, and perhaps a cup of coffee would be in order, and I kept going. They seemed to take the hint, and headed for the cafe.
It would have been a different story if they were actually walking down the sidewalk. They would have been moving, and I probably wouldn't have walked right into them.
WHY do people block sidewalks like that? Do you ever run into this problem?
9 people like this
20 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
9 Nov 11
In the city where my husband works, people do park their car in the middle of the street to talk to someone. It really makes me mad because here I am, driving down the street and have to stop because these people are so rude..
As for sidewalks, I wouldn't know, because where I live, there are no sidewalks, but I feel but sidewalks and streets are made for going from one place to another, not to stop and chat...
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
9 Nov 11
Hi Hatley, it's amazing how you pop up out of no where...
The streets where these people stop are back city streets, but still, it blocks others from passing and in some areas, it is not so safe so honk or make a commotion about it, if you know what I mean..
The streets where these people stop are back city streets, but still, it blocks others from passing and in some areas, it is not so safe so honk or make a commotion about it, if you know what I mean..
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
20 Nov 11
Personally I think there are many people out there that have been known to do this. I am sure there are people actually on here, just like those who do not notice a ligbt change when driving a car while at the stoplight because they were putting on makeup or texting someone. Personally in most states here in the US it is illegal to text or talk and drive on a cellphone, but many continue to do it.
Maybe just like on the roads, they need a spot along side the road or sidewalks where if you are trying to talk on the phone, or text someone please be courteous and not block other people's ways. Would make everyone's day go a lot better for sure.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
12 Nov 11
well I would be doing the same talking on the sidewalk, I can't talk in the middle of the street. I don't always have money for a coffee and if the conversation is rather quick I wouldn't be going into a cafe in the first place.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
19 Nov 11
oh yea.i live in a tourist hellhole.
they're like stupid cows,you want to moo at them.
but y'know what..i don't even have as much problem with them as the a**holes that ride their bikes on the sidewalk,which is totally illegal,but the cops are too lazy to enforce it.it's gonna take some old lady getting run down by a speeding sidewalk rider before something is done,probably.
but y'know what..i don't even have as much problem with them as the a**holes that ride their bikes on the sidewalk,which is totally illegal,but the cops are too lazy to enforce it.it's gonna take some old lady getting run down by a speeding sidewalk rider before something is done,probably.
@moonchild1au (6237)
• Australia
15 Nov 11
what I hate is when the path is really wide & everyone strings across it walking & don't move over when they see people coming in the opposite direction...here is australia, most footpaths have the same rules as the road...but no one seems to do that!
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
9 Nov 11
Last week, I ran into a store to use the ATM... there was a couple standing right in front of it and talking to a store employee who happened to be their friend. And they were talking and talking, not using the ATM but not moving away from it either. I spoke up and they finally shut up and got down to using the machine.
(Normally, I'm a patient person, but I had someone waiting on me outside who isn't.)
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
9 Nov 11
Hmmm. So, if 2 people coming from opposite directions meet on the sidewalk, you think they should have to leave the sidewalk to talk? When I was a kid, there were no sidewalks where we lived. Even where I live now, there are some neighborhoods with them and some without. It's quite normal for someone to walk past our house when we're on the porch, and they stay on the sidewalk to talk.
@megamatt (14290)
• United States
9 Nov 11
It does bug me when people stand in the middle of the sidewalk. Granted, it really only bothers me when they stand there for an extended period of time right in the middle of the sidewalk like a statue. If you stand there for a brief moment, then there are going to be a lot of times where its fine. If you remain there for an extended amount of time, it becomes more of a problem and the longer that you stand there, the problem does increase a little bit.
I think that if they correct their stance when I ask them to move, then fine. However, when they look at you strangely, like you're the one in the wrong, like you're supposed to walk around you, then I have a bit more of a problem with them. There are just a lot of times where I am walking and my momentum is just stalled. So yeah, sidewalks are made for walking. Take a break for a brief moment but if you're socializing, then take it out of the way.
@Rosa26 (2616)
• United States
9 Nov 11
I think that those people do that because they don't have respect for the others either for themselves,it bothers me a lot when they block the sidewalk is like they are owner of the world and we have to ask for permission to them to use their territory,not knowing that the sidewalk is to walk all the citizens of a country.
@Triple0 (1904)
• Australia
9 Nov 11
Yes! All the time and I get pretty frustrated too. I don't get why people prefer to stand in the middle of the side walk and just start having conversation. That's why chairs were invented! Why can't people just sit down on a public seat or sit in the park or a local cafe like you said, it's not that hard! I really get annoyed with people who do that and especially if they're slow walkers. If they stand there, I can still move around them but when they're walking as a big group, i just have to lag behind them too. What's even worse are couples holding hands and extending like a meter apart. One time, I wanted to just crawl under their hand holding or just break their hand holding and barge through. 
But yes, people really need to take their conversations off the sidewalk.
But yes, people really need to take their conversations off the sidewalk. 
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
9 Nov 11
and yes a lot of times, and I am even the one putting down my head because I don't want to interrupt them
I feel like I'm more of a disturbance for them when in fact they're the down disturbing me for blocking my way
I feel like I'm more of a disturbance for them when in fact they're the down disturbing me for blocking my way
@mommyzhuuraan (217)
• United Kingdom
9 Nov 11
I, too, am legally blind, and I have definitely had similar things happen here and there. I think it happens blind or not, but of course if you don't see well, obstaces like that which are not normally there are a pain! I usually travel with a cane, so people know I can't see them, but they often still don't bother to pay attention. The sad thing is, even with my limited vision, I usually see people coming and move out of their way before they see me, despite their full sight! They simply aren't paying attention!
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
9 Nov 11
No, not on the sidewalks. Most people are walking and walking briskly while they talk if they are on the sidewalk. Now on the other hand, in the stores, Wal Mart, the grocery store, the thrift shops, I get to hear more conversation than I ever wanted and I am not even in them.I also have seen people cruise Main Street, windows down and talking or shooting the bull up and down for hours, especially in the summer. I am glad for you if those guys took the hint.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
9 Nov 11
I have this happen at a crowded supermarket. people just stop in the middle of the aisle or worse , they walk away from ther cart. The cart is in the middle!
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
9 Nov 11
I've had to stop behind people who are wandering down the middle of parking lot drives. Or people that stop in the middle of aisles of stores, and have their cart on one side and them holding it and reaching for something on the other... and it is quite bad enough when a child walks along looking the other direction, at least they have the excuse of not really knowing better, but ADULTS?
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
9 Nov 11
Hi Danish,
We have a lot of that here why I live as well. In our downtown area, we have a lot of teens that stand around in groups on the sidewalk. To their credit, they do seem to move out of the way for those who pass by. I tend to run into this issue more in the grocery store which I find irritating as well.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
9 Nov 11
Out here in Calif...they just loiter on the sidewalks all the time. Corners mostly. Can't cross the street! I don't know why they do that as there are better more comfortable places for them to collect, but for some reason sidewalks are their fav place! It gets dark down here at 5pm. I hate that. An hour or so later I am thinking...its been dark for a while..must be bedtime and I look at my watch and it is only 6:30pm! THen the evening drags on for what seems to be forever! Don't mind getting light at 6am, but this dark at 5 really sucks!
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
9 Nov 11
Well, just for that reason ALONE people shouldn't be blocking sidewalks! I'm also viisually impaired, and if I'm not careful, I'll run into a slender pole. And it's not only for us blind folks, I see in my city many people in wheelchairs/scooters trying to get around. Some people are just ignorant, I mean three teenagers in a row (straight across) walk, taking up the entire sidewalk, and people have to move aside for them. I know I did it many times, like step onto the grass or curb. People just don't care.
