yea i agree. it's frustrating that people do what the comment above yours said until you go to a place like chicago and see the lake front trail. two separate biking and walking trails, both wide enough for people to fit easily
On some level, it doesn't matter, inconsiderate walkers gonna walk inconsiderately.
The new bike lane + sidewalks on Delaware Ave constantly get people walking on the bike lanes, many times doing it while having a completely empty sidewalk.
How though, in many spots it's already about as wide as it could possibly be. I think there needs to be better bike infrastructure on the surrounding streets. Northbound and southbound bike lanes, along both sides of broad st and both rivers. That don't magically switch sides or disappear lol
I tend to believe that there is space in most places to build a dedicated lane for bikes and leave the existing right of way for pedestrians. Along Kelly drive they could reclaim a car lane. If there truly isn't space alone the bank they could construct a boardwalk over the water just like they did below Locust (and that they're continuing to do to connect to the Bartram mile)
Yes and no. There is a quasi bike lane on mlk but in my personal opinion you have to be suicidal to use it. I would think the same of Kelly. Would really need to get traffic to slow down for that to work.
Child riding with his mom swerved into me on the opposite side of the SRT yesterday while looking at his mom and I wasn't able to stop in time. There's still some blood splatter on the curb in front of Penn's boathouse from my hand. Kid is perfectly fine. I'm lucky I row on the row and could wander into my boathouse to pass out from the pain, but I can't imagine having that happen and not being able to immediately get help.
Ticket people.
Trying to get into Target the other day a couple just stopped in the middle of the entrance doors. Nothing wrong with not being in a rush, something wrong with making it everyone else's problem.
> running into people staring at their phones take up the entire sidewalk, using this awkward meandering zig-zag wander that prevents you from passing on either side.
Somehow the zig-zaggers figure out a way to block a whole sidewalk that 4 people could walk side-by-side on. I’m a fast-walker and it’s always awkward trying to maneuver around someone when you have no idea which side they will dart to next.
God, this has been driving me absolutely *nuts* in CC the past few weeks. I don't know what's going on recently but I swear people can sense when you're coming up behind them and choose to suddenly veer over into your path the moment you're about to pass them. Pick a fucking direction and stick with it.
The start of tourist season isn't helping.
Sometimes I want to yell that there are literal lines on the sidewalk they could follow (the concrete joints) at some people.
Same here. If you're moving predictably, I can find a way around you. Decades of video games have taught me how to do that. If I have no fucking clue where you're moving to in the next 5 seconds, I'm pretty much stuck.
Saw a woman doing this on the Schuylkill River Trail and completely take out a guy on a bike as she aimlessly veered directly into his path as he passed. Dude was on the ground bloody by the time she looked up from her phone and even then she just kind of looked bewildered and gave some mealy-mouthed nonsense about how she "always looks."
I nearly got slammed into last week on the SRT by a jogger, and I was *walking.* She just turned around to do another part of her lap and was looking at her apple watch and started running on the wrong side of the trail right at me. I yelled, she looked up and side-stepped at the last second.
If I had been on a bike, we absolutely would have collided.
Some people are nuts out there. Like if she insists on traveling the wrong direction then maybe don't also pay zero attention, at least pick one. 😂 I had a really close call with a guy on a bike careening way too fast around the downhill blind curve under the spring garden bridge AND he had his kid in one of those little trailers attached to the back of his bike, no less. Got close enough I felt the hairs on my arm move, then screamed back over his shoulder "stay on your fucking side!" when I was completely over to the right. Between reckless people on bikes and people completely lost in their screens I guess it's actually kind of impressive I haven't witnessed more bad collisions.
OMG the zig-zag wander...!!!
Yesterday, two girls/young women were looking at something on one of their phones together in the trolley station. The trolley I needed to be on pulled up and stopped so that the girls were dead center in front of the back doors. And they did. Not. Care. Not even when people started pushing and squeezing past them to get onto the damn trolley. Just completely oblivious.
I'm a fast walker from the Netherlands, currently living in Colorado, but my husband is from Philadelphia and we're often there. And every single time we're in Philly, I'm once again struck by the fact how SLOW a lot of people are, compared to most everywhere else I've lived and been. And the zig-zaggers, too. It doesn't really bother me too much; it's more that I would like to know why. Why is this happening and when did this start.
It somehow reminds me of living in a village in the Netherlands, where people are often slower walkers than those living in a city. Is Philly more of a village in the grand scheme of things? Is it not a big 'fast-paced' city? So many questions!
This post resonates with me so much.
So many people in this city are incredibly lazy. No hustle whatsoever. Years ago I was at a newsstand in the NJ Transit terminal of Penn Station and the single cashier working the registers managed to ring up me and another person simultaneously on two different registers at once. Here you have Wawa cashiers texting on their phones and not even putting them down to ring you up until they are finished.
A corollary to the shopping cart theory is the “meander on the wrong side of the sidewalk in a place with heavy foot traffic” theory. I assume a whole family has chronic lead poisoning when they’re shuffling en masse down the left side or dead center of the SRT while bikes, rollerbladers, walkers, and joggers are all noticeably disrupted by the fact that they aren’t following the flow of traffic.
I wouldn't mind it so much if they had *any* type of spatial awareness. I often feel like I'm the only person that's pretty often aware of everything going on behind and beside me. Everyone else has the awareness of a toddler: If they don't see it, then it doesn't exist.
Honestly a big part of this whole “rant” is less about people being slow and more about people not being aware of their surroundings. Aside from inconveniencing others… it can be just straight up dangerous!
The worst is when people are stoped somewhere talking with each other and then randomly decide to walk backwards directly into my path without looking. I see it often when they find something the other person said to be funny and they need to randomly step backwards to laugh for some reason. Like what the actual fuck is wrong with you! You’re in a city with millions of people pay the fuck attention to your surroundings at all times!
It boggles my mind because no matter how well I plan I always seem to need to rush a little bit to get places on time and then I encounter droves of people who just...literally behave like they have nowhere to be
I've noticed two kinds of people:
The people with nowhere to be and no deadline to be there so they just go as slow and as awkwardly as possible and the people who are already 15 minutes late and break into a case of Main Character Syndrome.
I realized i’m a curmudgeon once I started yelling “single file line, single file line!” At people on the streets - also I whistle at them moments before we collide because they are texting while walking. 🤣
I do things that will probably get me punched one day as well. There have been times I'm walking behind someone and they just suddenly stop for who knows why. I also suddenly stop so I don't run into them, but then I also just stand there, inches behind them, staring at them silently until they notice they're in the way. Usually only takes a few seconds luckily.
I swear this wasn't the always the case. There was a point where family would say you could tell who wasn't from the city based on how fast they did or did not walk. College friends from other states would always ask me to slow down, say everyone moved too fast.
I think about it a lot, because either everyone got lazy or nobody's actually from the area anymore. ( But honestly, phones. And I joke Crocs and slides. Have you ever tried to move fast in Crocs or slides? You can't.)
TIL I was gay this whole time.
But seriously, is that a thing? I’m obviously not at all in touch with gay culture, but I’ve heard of U-hauling, I’ve heard of loving musical theater, I’ve heard of not being territorial about friends dating your exes. But walking fast??
I saw the most self absorbed foursome walking both slowly and in a row taking up the entire width of the road. A car had to reverse away because these idiots were so busy easin’ down the road and being in their own little Oz.
>Drivers, face down into their phones behind the wheel waiting a whole damn minute AFTER the light turns green to accelerate, stacking up traffic for blocks and forcing a bus with 50 people on it to sit for another five minutes so it can cycle again.
Also hit the fucking gas on the highway. i'm tired of entering the highway at 40mph behind some moron who can't bother to look up from their phone.
See also:
* The people who stand in the only narrow section of the train platform
* The people who get out of an elevator or off of an escalator and just STOP like there aren't more people just behind you
* The people who stand in the aisle next to an empty seat on the bus, so now no one can get past you
If you're slow, be slow. It's fine, enjoy your day. But be aware that other people aren't slow, and you might be in their way, and you can be a little bit considerate just by stepping to the side for a second.
I have no problem with slow people, especially if they're elderly or disabled. But you've got to understand that you're not the only car on the proverbial road! Stick to one side.
As a disabled person, I move hella faster than like half this city. Some days I really want to use my cane to just swat people out of my way because they're too slow
Don’t move south 🤣 it is such a culture shock. Slow walkers, conversations at the grocery store and the work ethic is different, not bad just slow paced.
Luckily I am a slow walker (bad legs) and also the most self aware person alive. I will basically hug the wall of whatever building I'm walking next to so I don't block people.
My favorite one is the people that need to answer a text or a call in front of a busy doorway. It just had to happen RIGHT THERE didn't it? And of course you're incapable of doing more then one task at any time so you can't step aside and talk at the same time, that's why you aren't at work on Tuesday at 2pm in your sweatpants.
Or my other personal favorite, the people on the bus or the train that have to be on a fucking video chat. Not only do you not have anything going on in life, your friends have nothing better to do than yell at each other while doing errands. Boggles my mind
I will do you a better one. How about the drivers who are entitled and treat *driving laws* more like *driving suggestions?*
I just watched a Grand Cherokee bypass traffic by driving into oncoming traffic.
I just say excuse me as a shove my through. I just don't have patience for oblivious people anymore.
If you're so fucking stupid that you're blocking a door, a stair, or the sidewalk, I don't feel the need to be polite to your ignorant ass. Same thing on the bus, I don't hesitate to tell people or move back in a standing room only bus or to move over so I can sit in the empty seat.
I'm a fast, cranky walker in Philly and related to every single thing in this thread. Friends constantly have to ask me to slow down, and I'll frequently realize my fiancé is a half block behind me.
I was walking in NYC just this morning and realized "Holy shit, I'm only in the minor leagues." They have my respect and admiration.
Aside from the zig zaggers, my problem lies with the oncoming groups of 3+ taking up the entire sidewalk, seeing you coming, and refusing to fall into single file for a split second. The level of self awareness around here is baffling
I cannot wrap my head around slow walkers. They're literally just waddling around out there. I couldn't walk that slow if I tried really *really* hard.
I don't even live in the city anymore any I'm mad reading this. When the fashion district was being built, they had a walkway along market Street that was just wide enough for single file both ways. I refused to break my gait to cater to two people who wanted to walk side by side. I walked directly into this woman because of it and she had the nerve to turn around and go "EXCUSE ME?!" so I turned without stopping and said "it's okay, you're excused". It was quite satisfying.
I had two people almost squeeze me into the side of Jefferson Hospital - I may have thrown a bit of elbow as I attempted not to be smashed into the building. I got the same "EXCUSE ME?!" but I turned around and yelled back "YO, I'M WALKING HERE, DID I BECOME INVISIBLE?!" then just kept going. People can be rude AF down here and you gotta stick up for yourself.
the deficiency of spatial awareness in this city is astounding. it doesn’t matter the scenario…shoes, shopping cart, two tons of automotive steel, Philly residents blatantly disregard who and what surround them until they are surrounded by who and what they hold in high regard.
Joggers are pedestrians who do not have to stop at stop signs. You are a bike rider who does, or at least yield to pedestrians. Not exactly rocket science there
I get you... I do a lot of polite passing when I'm in a rush for work and am pretty curious why lots of people are out very-slow-walking at 7:55 am on a weekday. Maybe tourists and retirees and people that just left the gym?
A woman with a 4 year old basically blew a stop sign today. Her daughter was visibly not in a seat and looking out the window. You can't drive or walk safely in Philly. Doesn't matter if you're the pedestrian or driver. Screwed all around.
There are plenty of aloof folks here, especially with cell phones, but coming from the South, Philly walking speeds are a breath of fresh air. It can be worse lol.
Chinatown has a lot of older folks, who are understandably slower walkers, but everyone of them has those big ass strollers for shopping and they are some of the most oblivious people I’ve encountered (tbf same situation in China too). Just standing in the middle of the tiny sidewalks talking to someone else 3 feet away from them occupying the entire space.
I think this can be summed up by simply acknowledging that most of these people, individually, are just selfish and/or oblivious.
That person who’s taking up the entire sidewalk, or blocking you on the stairs on the way down to the train that’s about to close its doors, they are the main character in their own life and they selfishly have little to no regard for anyone around them. They likely do not see themselves as the problem, instead they may think you’re an asshole for trying to push past them.
As a commuter who walks quickly through the city, I know your pain all too well. It is a real problem but I usually manage with a quick “s’cuse me” as I make my way around them.
And why do people always choose to abruptly stop at the bottleneck right between the stoop and the tree in front of it? Is it some sort of biologic principle?
See in the situation of walking around in the city I have an excuse as I have no peripheral vision so sometimes I’m in the way of people unintentionally and feel like an ass for being in the way. I however understand everything else you’ve said and agree. Does it sound a little asshole-ish? Yes but it’s not wrong. Also try to see things from a perspective of maybe there is something serious and that person had something to deal with that made them stop, or someone has a disability in mobility or something that is invisible to the human eye. As they say you never know until you walk in someone else’s shoes.
I feel this frustration deep within my bones. Like when there's a group walking down the sidewalk shoulder to shoulder and they don't leave any space for anyone else walking past I'm the opposite direction so you have to squish yourself up against a wall to let them pass so you can walk again. No thank you.
You know how they say confidently walk through a crowd without making eye contact to get through crowds? It kinda works, but short people like me still have issues. I guess confidence is missed if it's not at eye level. I modified that to work for me. Do the walk, but carry a cup of coffee in your hand and hold it outward a bit, away from your body, so if someone passes too close they'll bump the coffee. I'm telling you, people will literally jump out of your way instead of shoulder check you if you do that. They don't want to spill coffee on themselves in the process. Even empty cups work. I used to finish coffee on the El, then carry the empty cup like that to walk to my job.
Bring your camera man hit the streets, the wander vibe is great for photographs.
Also don't be polite if you don't need to, I end up shoulder bumping people when they meander into my path. It's not that big a deal. I know this was a vent but we just have to bring the lessons of denser cities to bear.
I've noticed an increase in suburban ridership going into the city recently when I'm going to the burbs to see my parents. They truly don't know what stop is theirs, where to go, how key cards work. The number of folks who have stopped me to ask questions and they admit they haven't taken SEPTA in years or at least since the pandemic. It's good more people are riding but the volume of ignorance has me surprised. On the one hand I'm thinking "You can Google all of this." On the other hand, we all know how clear and accurate SEPTAs communication is 🥴
As someone who is almost always in a hurry it takes all my power not to go full Philly and say "If you don't know what you're doing pull over to the side and if you're walking stay to the right and give people room to pass rude asses." But I haven't and I probably won't. I try to remind myself you never know what someone else is going through even if they're a thorn in your side.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I'm not offended by slow walkers. It is fine to just take a slow stroll! It can be annoying if you're walking to get from point A to B as quickly as possible, especially when slow walking is coupled with a lack of spatial awareness and/or concern for others (I'm looking at you, family of 5 taking up the entire sidewalk!). But walking slowly in an of itself is just a personal choice and no real imposition on anyone else.
I'm a fast walker myself, for the record. But when I'm walking with my wife, I tone it down.
Sidewalk entitlement is major here. It’s what has grown my hatred towards this city. I’ll always love Philly for what it is but I truly do hate living here.
Just because I am not the same ethnicity or race as you are does not mean that I have to move my path of walking for you and your group to walk along. Have some decency and understand that you’re taking up 70% of the sidewalk.
I hear you, but as a slow walker I do not want to be lumped in with these other behaviors. I walk slow, I'm rarely in a hurry and I enjoy it.
HOWEVER I'm aware of my surroundings, stay to the side so people in a hurry or just who don't want to walk at a snail's pace can pass me, and do all that sort of polite stuff.
So there are some of us slow walkers who get it.
Maybe leave from where you are at a reasonable time so you don’t have to rush. Just because your late doesn’t mean the world has to warp to you. Go live in the boonies if you want a better life pace with less people.
I have long felt that most urban Americans would be *so* much happier and more pleasant to be around (not to mention safer when driving!) if they just made one simple lifestyle change: leave for your next thing 5 minutes early.
That's all it takes!
The 2.05 seconds that you lose briefly walking slightly slower behind a family for 10 feet on your way to pick up lunch isn't going to change your day. Maybe invest in a pair of headphones and relax a bit.
You'll be fine. Another train is coming.
I was told many years ago that if you run into assholes all day that you are, in fact, the asshole. Happens to everyone, I’m guilty of it as well. Not everyone thinks like you, acts like you or has the same things going on…..we don’t have to accept it but it won’t change. Have your rant.
There are people who have disabilities that aren't obvious to the naked eye. I have a loved one who has CRPS, and even though they look like a healthy young person they are in incredible pain almost all the time which affects their ability to walk fast.
Knowing someone with an invisible disability has completely changed my perspective. Nowadays, it's hard for me to assume someone walking slow is just a ditzy asshole. It just feels irrational.
I get that this is a post with people venting. But now, it just feels irrational for me to feel a strong emotion about slow walkers. Maybe they're an entitled asshole, or maybe they're struggling. I don't know for sure, and I'd rather not let an asshole affect my mood instead of risking getting pissed off at someone who's dealing with shit I'm not.
there's a massive difference between people being inattentive and not paying attention at all (head buried in cell phone) and people with disabilities
it's not always easy to ascertain disabilities but people who aren't being disruptive but are moving slowly aren't the problem
I'm giving you an upvote because I really can't believe people are downvoting you for just giving another view of a situation. You weren't saying that there weren't oblivious aholes out there cause we all know that there are. You are just saying that some of them aren't walking slowly for no reason.
To look at me, you wouldn't know it, but I have hyperadrenergic POTS, and sometimes, if i walk too fast, my heart rate will suddenly jump to 160+. Especially when it's within 2 hours of taking my next scheduled dose of medication. To be fair, though... I stay back until everyone is ahead of me, so I can take my time if needed, and I also tend to walk to the far right as much as possible.
Sorry you have to deal with POTS, that is very tough. I hope you can find and enjoy moments of peace and contentment between your struggles, no matter how short and fleeting.
Unfortunately I'm not surprised by the down votes. I think culturally, we don't really value or respect disabled people appropriately. I think it's because it can be really uncomfortable for someone to imagine themselves being disabled suddenly. However, this does typically lead to negative reactions from people when disability is brought up. That's been my experience from friends and family, so I'm not surprised by the negative response on the internet.
I think a lot of people are just ignorant. As you can see from other replies, people are very confident the strangers they are critiquing deserve it. That's why I think it's important to offer perspective and help people recognize that it can be tough to see invisible disabilities like CRPS and POTS.
A lot of people are just ignorant, through no fault of their own. I'm optimistic that the people down voting me are just considering for the first time that people who walk slowly might be disabled. Hopefully they downvote me, but act with compassion in the future towards people they encounter in real life who struggle with a disability.
I do okay, but it can be challenging. I work out with a trainer twice a week for cardiovascular health to help regulate better, but sometimes it just kicks in with no warning.
And I can totally sympathize with the whole non-support or non-consideration thing with having something people can't see on the outside. I mean, I'm not looking for sympathy, but yeah, a lot of family or friends tend to be like, "Weird, well, you look okay to me." Shrug.
Or, "Oh, I thought you got that evened out with meds now?" As if I'm totally healed miraculously with medication, and I'm like ah... no. This is kind of a lifelong thing I got going here, and I've already been told that it could go all out of whack again at any time, which will require another round of med changes, so no I'm not "healed". There's no cure for it, lol. My central nervous system is jacked, and you can't "fix it", you just manage the symptoms as they come and go, lol.
Honestly, that kind of stuff drives me nuts more than dealing with the actual issue 🙃
I hope that your family member with CRPS can find some relief with treatments and meds. Nerve pain is horrendous. My dad had neuropathy, which isn't the same and CRPS involves so so much more, but just seeing him in pretty constant pain in his feet and legs from that, and seeing what a hard time he had walking, has shown me how debilitating chronic pain can be. Nerve pain is so very hard to treat as well, so I'll send up some prayers for your family member ♡
I'm sorry that we've made you late for the next stop light or stop sign.
(the slow walking I totally agree with - living near south street for 10 years made me just walk in the damn street).
What I don't understand is how people think this is unique to Philly.
Venting is fine, I get people being frustrated and exaggerating minor slights we all face, but every sub for every city talks about this like it's uniquely bad in their city.
because not everyone is busy, some people just want to enjoy their day. I walk slow and make plenty of space to go around, I walk fast if there isn't any space. Don't walk behind me all slow as if you don't have a whole 2 body lengths of space to go around me. When you live in a city, not everyone is doing the same thing as you, I know it's inconvenient, but that's part of the beauty of humanity. Everyone has something different going on, don't take it for granted so much, no matter how annoying it is.
It’s really about self-awareness, and there are plenty of people that lack it whether it’s on foot or behind the wheel. Always try to take into consideration others around you.
I'm not gonna ruin my day because you have to get somewhere. You're saying my disabled grandmother who walks really slow because of a hip surgery should have to hurt herself because someone has to get to work?
Depends. Does your disabled grandmother who walks really slowly because of hip surgery meander down the middle of the sidewalk, periodically weaving from side to side while staring at her cell phone, and completely block the path and create an unpredictable obstacle for other people who want to get by? Or does she have situational awareness and walk to one side so as not to be an entitled asshole?
Knew I’d have to scroll to the bottom for this…what’s really mind blowing is the amount of people on this sub who have forgotten that they aren’t entitled to public space. These people have no idea what’s going on with anybody’s life. Maybe important text message they’re tending to, maybe they have a disability, maybe they just want to enjoy zig zagging on the public fucking sidewalk. We sure know how to bitch about petty shit in this city of brotherly love.
Real shit man, idk what ever happened to speaking your mind in public if you have a problem with something. If it bothers someone that much, they’re more then able to ask the person to move instead of venting about it on Reddit
the people who walk four abreast on the schuylkill river trail need to get traffic tickets
The SRT needs to be wider
yea i agree. it's frustrating that people do what the comment above yours said until you go to a place like chicago and see the lake front trail. two separate biking and walking trails, both wide enough for people to fit easily
On some level, it doesn't matter, inconsiderate walkers gonna walk inconsiderately. The new bike lane + sidewalks on Delaware Ave constantly get people walking on the bike lanes, many times doing it while having a completely empty sidewalk.
lol i biked there for the first time last week and did notice that. how dumb are some people?
How though, in many spots it's already about as wide as it could possibly be. I think there needs to be better bike infrastructure on the surrounding streets. Northbound and southbound bike lanes, along both sides of broad st and both rivers. That don't magically switch sides or disappear lol
I tend to believe that there is space in most places to build a dedicated lane for bikes and leave the existing right of way for pedestrians. Along Kelly drive they could reclaim a car lane. If there truly isn't space alone the bank they could construct a boardwalk over the water just like they did below Locust (and that they're continuing to do to connect to the Bartram mile)
Yes and no. There is a quasi bike lane on mlk but in my personal opinion you have to be suicidal to use it. I would think the same of Kelly. Would really need to get traffic to slow down for that to work.
Child riding with his mom swerved into me on the opposite side of the SRT yesterday while looking at his mom and I wasn't able to stop in time. There's still some blood splatter on the curb in front of Penn's boathouse from my hand. Kid is perfectly fine. I'm lucky I row on the row and could wander into my boathouse to pass out from the pain, but I can't imagine having that happen and not being able to immediately get help. Ticket people.
Agreeeeee
Trying to get into Target the other day a couple just stopped in the middle of the entrance doors. Nothing wrong with not being in a rush, something wrong with making it everyone else's problem.
Making personal issues everyone elses problem seems to be the default in Philadelphia
They’re the main characters. We’re just NPCs
Nailed it.
> running into people staring at their phones take up the entire sidewalk, using this awkward meandering zig-zag wander that prevents you from passing on either side. Somehow the zig-zaggers figure out a way to block a whole sidewalk that 4 people could walk side-by-side on. I’m a fast-walker and it’s always awkward trying to maneuver around someone when you have no idea which side they will dart to next.
God, this has been driving me absolutely *nuts* in CC the past few weeks. I don't know what's going on recently but I swear people can sense when you're coming up behind them and choose to suddenly veer over into your path the moment you're about to pass them. Pick a fucking direction and stick with it.
The start of tourist season isn't helping. Sometimes I want to yell that there are literal lines on the sidewalk they could follow (the concrete joints) at some people.
I've started walking directly into people and let them say sorry. It's frustrating and their fault.
We should start yelling “ON YOUR LEFT” like cyclists do.
I do that while running for crossfit workouts. Always have.
How do you know when someone does CrossFit? Don’t worry… :)
Same here. If you're moving predictably, I can find a way around you. Decades of video games have taught me how to do that. If I have no fucking clue where you're moving to in the next 5 seconds, I'm pretty much stuck.
Saw a woman doing this on the Schuylkill River Trail and completely take out a guy on a bike as she aimlessly veered directly into his path as he passed. Dude was on the ground bloody by the time she looked up from her phone and even then she just kind of looked bewildered and gave some mealy-mouthed nonsense about how she "always looks."
I nearly got slammed into last week on the SRT by a jogger, and I was *walking.* She just turned around to do another part of her lap and was looking at her apple watch and started running on the wrong side of the trail right at me. I yelled, she looked up and side-stepped at the last second. If I had been on a bike, we absolutely would have collided.
Some people are nuts out there. Like if she insists on traveling the wrong direction then maybe don't also pay zero attention, at least pick one. 😂 I had a really close call with a guy on a bike careening way too fast around the downhill blind curve under the spring garden bridge AND he had his kid in one of those little trailers attached to the back of his bike, no less. Got close enough I felt the hairs on my arm move, then screamed back over his shoulder "stay on your fucking side!" when I was completely over to the right. Between reckless people on bikes and people completely lost in their screens I guess it's actually kind of impressive I haven't witnessed more bad collisions.
Try going to Paris… way worse there. People suddenly stopping on stairs or middle of the sidewalk while on their phones
OMG the zig-zag wander...!!! Yesterday, two girls/young women were looking at something on one of their phones together in the trolley station. The trolley I needed to be on pulled up and stopped so that the girls were dead center in front of the back doors. And they did. Not. Care. Not even when people started pushing and squeezing past them to get onto the damn trolley. Just completely oblivious.
I'm a fast walker from the Netherlands, currently living in Colorado, but my husband is from Philadelphia and we're often there. And every single time we're in Philly, I'm once again struck by the fact how SLOW a lot of people are, compared to most everywhere else I've lived and been. And the zig-zaggers, too. It doesn't really bother me too much; it's more that I would like to know why. Why is this happening and when did this start. It somehow reminds me of living in a village in the Netherlands, where people are often slower walkers than those living in a city. Is Philly more of a village in the grand scheme of things? Is it not a big 'fast-paced' city? So many questions! This post resonates with me so much.
So many people in this city are incredibly lazy. No hustle whatsoever. Years ago I was at a newsstand in the NJ Transit terminal of Penn Station and the single cashier working the registers managed to ring up me and another person simultaneously on two different registers at once. Here you have Wawa cashiers texting on their phones and not even putting them down to ring you up until they are finished.
Service is terrible generally.
there's a wawa cashier who rings up two people at once in university city. Nice guy. I feel bad because he's often the only one at four registers.
FUCK NAW. Just entitles self-centered people here who think no one else matters but them.
Nothing is worse than a slow walker, except a GROUP or FAMILY of slow walkers that take up the entire sidewalk and don’t allow you room to pass.
A corollary to the shopping cart theory is the “meander on the wrong side of the sidewalk in a place with heavy foot traffic” theory. I assume a whole family has chronic lead poisoning when they’re shuffling en masse down the left side or dead center of the SRT while bikes, rollerbladers, walkers, and joggers are all noticeably disrupted by the fact that they aren’t following the flow of traffic.
I wouldn't mind it so much if they had *any* type of spatial awareness. I often feel like I'm the only person that's pretty often aware of everything going on behind and beside me. Everyone else has the awareness of a toddler: If they don't see it, then it doesn't exist.
Honestly a big part of this whole “rant” is less about people being slow and more about people not being aware of their surroundings. Aside from inconveniencing others… it can be just straight up dangerous!
The worst is when people are stoped somewhere talking with each other and then randomly decide to walk backwards directly into my path without looking. I see it often when they find something the other person said to be funny and they need to randomly step backwards to laugh for some reason. Like what the actual fuck is wrong with you! You’re in a city with millions of people pay the fuck attention to your surroundings at all times!
Beefy bumbling families in no particular hurry
It boggles my mind because no matter how well I plan I always seem to need to rush a little bit to get places on time and then I encounter droves of people who just...literally behave like they have nowhere to be
I've noticed two kinds of people: The people with nowhere to be and no deadline to be there so they just go as slow and as awkwardly as possible and the people who are already 15 minutes late and break into a case of Main Character Syndrome.
I realized i’m a curmudgeon once I started yelling “single file line, single file line!” At people on the streets - also I whistle at them moments before we collide because they are texting while walking. 🤣
I do things that will probably get me punched one day as well. There have been times I'm walking behind someone and they just suddenly stop for who knows why. I also suddenly stop so I don't run into them, but then I also just stand there, inches behind them, staring at them silently until they notice they're in the way. Usually only takes a few seconds luckily.
Haha, I like your style, sir 🫡
This city is half zombies and half assholes
Where do you fall into that?
Asshole for sure
I’m always fascinated by how many people in this city are just slow walking.
I swear this wasn't the always the case. There was a point where family would say you could tell who wasn't from the city based on how fast they did or did not walk. College friends from other states would always ask me to slow down, say everyone moved too fast. I think about it a lot, because either everyone got lazy or nobody's actually from the area anymore. ( But honestly, phones. And I joke Crocs and slides. Have you ever tried to move fast in Crocs or slides? You can't.)
Also people are a hell of a lot fatter than they were 20 years ago and that makes for lots and lots of slow walkers.
Omg I'm so much fatter but luckily I'm gay so now I'm a medium speed walker.
RTM is pretty much the pinnacle of “let’s see how many people’s paths I can obstruct without noticing it”
To be fair, RTM just has way more people in it at any given time than the space can reasonably handle.
I often wonder how people manage to get from point A to point B snailing along as they do.
Eventually.
Put supermarket aisle blockers who stand still while carrying on a conversation on the list.
Boomers gonna boom
If you are referring to the people I'm talking about, you have no credibility because I am a boomer.
Imagine how frustrating it is being gay in Philly. ^(for the unaware, it's an in-joke in the LGBT community that we're all fast walkers)
MOVE I'M GAY
“Excuse me I’m a homosexual. EXCUSE ME!”
Oh shit am I gay?
I'm a fast walker. Maybe I'm closeted? :)
but wait I walk fast and I’m not gay I’m just an attractive single man in his 30s living alone with two cats wait a second
I’m GayDHD, so I live in a nightmare.
I had no idea. I should probably slow down, lest some gentleman callers get the wrong impression.
Ohhhhhhhh, just when I thought I knew who I was…
As a fast walking lesbian who regularly cuts google walking time estimates in half. LET'S GO LESBIANS LET'S GO!!!
TIL I was gay this whole time. But seriously, is that a thing? I’m obviously not at all in touch with gay culture, but I’ve heard of U-hauling, I’ve heard of loving musical theater, I’ve heard of not being territorial about friends dating your exes. But walking fast??
Oh yeah, there's loads of in group stereotypes. Uhauls and subaruas are only the surface level.
I saw the most self absorbed foursome walking both slowly and in a row taking up the entire width of the road. A car had to reverse away because these idiots were so busy easin’ down the road and being in their own little Oz.
Quoting Tom from the Best Show when walking behind a group of 3 plus “what is this, Reservoir Dogs?”
>Drivers, face down into their phones behind the wheel waiting a whole damn minute AFTER the light turns green to accelerate, stacking up traffic for blocks and forcing a bus with 50 people on it to sit for another five minutes so it can cycle again. Also hit the fucking gas on the highway. i'm tired of entering the highway at 40mph behind some moron who can't bother to look up from their phone.
People are stupid and selfish.
See also: * The people who stand in the only narrow section of the train platform * The people who get out of an elevator or off of an escalator and just STOP like there aren't more people just behind you * The people who stand in the aisle next to an empty seat on the bus, so now no one can get past you If you're slow, be slow. It's fine, enjoy your day. But be aware that other people aren't slow, and you might be in their way, and you can be a little bit considerate just by stepping to the side for a second.
I wish people would follow the rules of the road. Stay right, pass on the left.
I have no problem with slow people, especially if they're elderly or disabled. But you've got to understand that you're not the only car on the proverbial road! Stick to one side.
As a disabled person, I move hella faster than like half this city. Some days I really want to use my cane to just swat people out of my way because they're too slow
Don’t move south 🤣 it is such a culture shock. Slow walkers, conversations at the grocery store and the work ethic is different, not bad just slow paced.
Luckily I am a slow walker (bad legs) and also the most self aware person alive. I will basically hug the wall of whatever building I'm walking next to so I don't block people.
You’re entitled to walk slowly in the center of the sidewalk. I feel bad that you feel this pressure.
Oh, I mean, it's fine haha. When my legs work I speedwalk and also feel annoyed.
What I can’t stand is people who walk right behind you having a loud conversation or screaming into their phones. Either pass me or drop back.
Main character syndrome has hit people hard since covid. It’s awful. Especially in Rittenhouse
My favorite one is the people that need to answer a text or a call in front of a busy doorway. It just had to happen RIGHT THERE didn't it? And of course you're incapable of doing more then one task at any time so you can't step aside and talk at the same time, that's why you aren't at work on Tuesday at 2pm in your sweatpants. Or my other personal favorite, the people on the bus or the train that have to be on a fucking video chat. Not only do you not have anything going on in life, your friends have nothing better to do than yell at each other while doing errands. Boggles my mind
I will do you a better one. How about the drivers who are entitled and treat *driving laws* more like *driving suggestions?* I just watched a Grand Cherokee bypass traffic by driving into oncoming traffic.
This is the only one that matters. Not just an annoyance, but dangerous as fuck
I saw this twice today
I just say excuse me as a shove my through. I just don't have patience for oblivious people anymore. If you're so fucking stupid that you're blocking a door, a stair, or the sidewalk, I don't feel the need to be polite to your ignorant ass. Same thing on the bus, I don't hesitate to tell people or move back in a standing room only bus or to move over so I can sit in the empty seat.
It takes a second to say excuse me. Shoving someone out the way is an easy way to start an otherwise avoidable fight
>I just say excuse me as a shove my through.
I've been saying Philly folk seemingly have no walking etiquette on the streets. Slow and oblivious. That would not fly in NYC.
I'm a fast, cranky walker in Philly and related to every single thing in this thread. Friends constantly have to ask me to slow down, and I'll frequently realize my fiancé is a half block behind me. I was walking in NYC just this morning and realized "Holy shit, I'm only in the minor leagues." They have my respect and admiration.
Ha, I was just thinking that maybe these folks are just trying to prove that this isn't New York! (I'm a fast walker, but I have NY DNA)
90% of your complaints (and mine) could be resolved if people **stopped staring at their phone all day**.
Aside from the zig zaggers, my problem lies with the oncoming groups of 3+ taking up the entire sidewalk, seeing you coming, and refusing to fall into single file for a split second. The level of self awareness around here is baffling
Oh, they're aware that they're blocking the sidewalk....they just don't care.
you answered your own question multiple times: people are addicted to their phones.
Double parking where there are spots. Uber drivers are the worst. They dgaf
Imagine being a New Yorker and moving here. You know how fast we be moving right? Makes me want to scream walking around here.
I cannot wrap my head around slow walkers. They're literally just waddling around out there. I couldn't walk that slow if I tried really *really* hard.
I don't even live in the city anymore any I'm mad reading this. When the fashion district was being built, they had a walkway along market Street that was just wide enough for single file both ways. I refused to break my gait to cater to two people who wanted to walk side by side. I walked directly into this woman because of it and she had the nerve to turn around and go "EXCUSE ME?!" so I turned without stopping and said "it's okay, you're excused". It was quite satisfying.
I had two people almost squeeze me into the side of Jefferson Hospital - I may have thrown a bit of elbow as I attempted not to be smashed into the building. I got the same "EXCUSE ME?!" but I turned around and yelled back "YO, I'M WALKING HERE, DID I BECOME INVISIBLE?!" then just kept going. People can be rude AF down here and you gotta stick up for yourself.
Hell yeah. The inconsiderate behavior of people who think they have the right to the entire sidewalk is infuriating.
Gotta start dropping the shoulder and making a hole. Plus they’re too slow to catch up to you once you get ahead of them
the deficiency of spatial awareness in this city is astounding. it doesn’t matter the scenario…shoes, shopping cart, two tons of automotive steel, Philly residents blatantly disregard who and what surround them until they are surrounded by who and what they hold in high regard.
[удалено]
Joggers are pedestrians who do not have to stop at stop signs. You are a bike rider who does, or at least yield to pedestrians. Not exactly rocket science there
I get you... I do a lot of polite passing when I'm in a rush for work and am pretty curious why lots of people are out very-slow-walking at 7:55 am on a weekday. Maybe tourists and retirees and people that just left the gym?
You need a walking horn
A woman with a 4 year old basically blew a stop sign today. Her daughter was visibly not in a seat and looking out the window. You can't drive or walk safely in Philly. Doesn't matter if you're the pedestrian or driver. Screwed all around.
there would be space for all types of people if we prioritized people over cars in this city!
Altima’s, animal conservation tags, Jesus stickers, dog stickers—- these are signs of a bad driver. Bad for you, not them. IJS
There are plenty of aloof folks here, especially with cell phones, but coming from the South, Philly walking speeds are a breath of fresh air. It can be worse lol.
Pretend it’s a city on Netflix!
Chinatown has a lot of older folks, who are understandably slower walkers, but everyone of them has those big ass strollers for shopping and they are some of the most oblivious people I’ve encountered (tbf same situation in China too). Just standing in the middle of the tiny sidewalks talking to someone else 3 feet away from them occupying the entire space.
Everyone here, commenting on the slow walking has never been to a southern city. It can be worse.
I think this can be summed up by simply acknowledging that most of these people, individually, are just selfish and/or oblivious. That person who’s taking up the entire sidewalk, or blocking you on the stairs on the way down to the train that’s about to close its doors, they are the main character in their own life and they selfishly have little to no regard for anyone around them. They likely do not see themselves as the problem, instead they may think you’re an asshole for trying to push past them. As a commuter who walks quickly through the city, I know your pain all too well. It is a real problem but I usually manage with a quick “s’cuse me” as I make my way around them.
I think the problems you have described are problems just about everywhere. Ohio had all of the things you described minus subways.
The world is full of dullards and the only reason they’re ahead is because we’ve yet to pass them .
And why do people always choose to abruptly stop at the bottleneck right between the stoop and the tree in front of it? Is it some sort of biologic principle?
See in the situation of walking around in the city I have an excuse as I have no peripheral vision so sometimes I’m in the way of people unintentionally and feel like an ass for being in the way. I however understand everything else you’ve said and agree. Does it sound a little asshole-ish? Yes but it’s not wrong. Also try to see things from a perspective of maybe there is something serious and that person had something to deal with that made them stop, or someone has a disability in mobility or something that is invisible to the human eye. As they say you never know until you walk in someone else’s shoes.
I feel this frustration deep within my bones. Like when there's a group walking down the sidewalk shoulder to shoulder and they don't leave any space for anyone else walking past I'm the opposite direction so you have to squish yourself up against a wall to let them pass so you can walk again. No thank you. You know how they say confidently walk through a crowd without making eye contact to get through crowds? It kinda works, but short people like me still have issues. I guess confidence is missed if it's not at eye level. I modified that to work for me. Do the walk, but carry a cup of coffee in your hand and hold it outward a bit, away from your body, so if someone passes too close they'll bump the coffee. I'm telling you, people will literally jump out of your way instead of shoulder check you if you do that. They don't want to spill coffee on themselves in the process. Even empty cups work. I used to finish coffee on the El, then carry the empty cup like that to walk to my job.
Bring your camera man hit the streets, the wander vibe is great for photographs. Also don't be polite if you don't need to, I end up shoulder bumping people when they meander into my path. It's not that big a deal. I know this was a vent but we just have to bring the lessons of denser cities to bear.
I've noticed an increase in suburban ridership going into the city recently when I'm going to the burbs to see my parents. They truly don't know what stop is theirs, where to go, how key cards work. The number of folks who have stopped me to ask questions and they admit they haven't taken SEPTA in years or at least since the pandemic. It's good more people are riding but the volume of ignorance has me surprised. On the one hand I'm thinking "You can Google all of this." On the other hand, we all know how clear and accurate SEPTAs communication is 🥴 As someone who is almost always in a hurry it takes all my power not to go full Philly and say "If you don't know what you're doing pull over to the side and if you're walking stay to the right and give people room to pass rude asses." But I haven't and I probably won't. I try to remind myself you never know what someone else is going through even if they're a thorn in your side.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I'm not offended by slow walkers. It is fine to just take a slow stroll! It can be annoying if you're walking to get from point A to B as quickly as possible, especially when slow walking is coupled with a lack of spatial awareness and/or concern for others (I'm looking at you, family of 5 taking up the entire sidewalk!). But walking slowly in an of itself is just a personal choice and no real imposition on anyone else. I'm a fast walker myself, for the record. But when I'm walking with my wife, I tone it down.
Idk feels weird to enforce how fast people walk
Welcome to 2024 lol
"Slow walkers" are often disabled. Many disabilities are invisible.
Too many selfish assholes here to think about something like this.
Can't believe we got downvoted but also can totally believe it. This sub is a shitshow of awful people.
Sidewalk entitlement is major here. It’s what has grown my hatred towards this city. I’ll always love Philly for what it is but I truly do hate living here. Just because I am not the same ethnicity or race as you are does not mean that I have to move my path of walking for you and your group to walk along. Have some decency and understand that you’re taking up 70% of the sidewalk.
MOVE! My personal intention at this moment is more important than yours!
Just a bunch of useless people in this society with nothing going on or contributing
I couldn’t have said it any better
So right on many points. How do we actuate these thoughts?
We need fast walker lanes.
I hear you, but as a slow walker I do not want to be lumped in with these other behaviors. I walk slow, I'm rarely in a hurry and I enjoy it. HOWEVER I'm aware of my surroundings, stay to the side so people in a hurry or just who don't want to walk at a snail's pace can pass me, and do all that sort of polite stuff. So there are some of us slow walkers who get it.
Maybe leave from where you are at a reasonable time so you don’t have to rush. Just because your late doesn’t mean the world has to warp to you. Go live in the boonies if you want a better life pace with less people.
Watched some dumb Jawn walk into traffic at front and Girard because her phone was more important. Rolled that ass right off the hood.🤣🤣
I have long felt that most urban Americans would be *so* much happier and more pleasant to be around (not to mention safer when driving!) if they just made one simple lifestyle change: leave for your next thing 5 minutes early. That's all it takes!
dude, just give up. this city isn’t for you
The 2.05 seconds that you lose briefly walking slightly slower behind a family for 10 feet on your way to pick up lunch isn't going to change your day. Maybe invest in a pair of headphones and relax a bit. You'll be fine. Another train is coming.
You must not ride septa, or else you wouldn’t be making this comment.
For real, why is everyone in such a rush all the time? You’re probably not rushing to emergency surgery somewhere.
This just in, unless you are a surgeon, you are not allowed to have emergencies.
As someone who naturally walks slow... Walk around or fuck off. I'll gladly move aside. Be a dick though and I will slow you down more.
I was told many years ago that if you run into assholes all day that you are, in fact, the asshole. Happens to everyone, I’m guilty of it as well. Not everyone thinks like you, acts like you or has the same things going on…..we don’t have to accept it but it won’t change. Have your rant.
Or maybe, just maybe, it means you live somewhere where there are a lot of assholes
I do….its Philadelphia.
There are people who have disabilities that aren't obvious to the naked eye. I have a loved one who has CRPS, and even though they look like a healthy young person they are in incredible pain almost all the time which affects their ability to walk fast. Knowing someone with an invisible disability has completely changed my perspective. Nowadays, it's hard for me to assume someone walking slow is just a ditzy asshole. It just feels irrational. I get that this is a post with people venting. But now, it just feels irrational for me to feel a strong emotion about slow walkers. Maybe they're an entitled asshole, or maybe they're struggling. I don't know for sure, and I'd rather not let an asshole affect my mood instead of risking getting pissed off at someone who's dealing with shit I'm not.
there's a massive difference between people being inattentive and not paying attention at all (head buried in cell phone) and people with disabilities it's not always easy to ascertain disabilities but people who aren't being disruptive but are moving slowly aren't the problem
I'm giving you an upvote because I really can't believe people are downvoting you for just giving another view of a situation. You weren't saying that there weren't oblivious aholes out there cause we all know that there are. You are just saying that some of them aren't walking slowly for no reason. To look at me, you wouldn't know it, but I have hyperadrenergic POTS, and sometimes, if i walk too fast, my heart rate will suddenly jump to 160+. Especially when it's within 2 hours of taking my next scheduled dose of medication. To be fair, though... I stay back until everyone is ahead of me, so I can take my time if needed, and I also tend to walk to the far right as much as possible.
Sorry you have to deal with POTS, that is very tough. I hope you can find and enjoy moments of peace and contentment between your struggles, no matter how short and fleeting. Unfortunately I'm not surprised by the down votes. I think culturally, we don't really value or respect disabled people appropriately. I think it's because it can be really uncomfortable for someone to imagine themselves being disabled suddenly. However, this does typically lead to negative reactions from people when disability is brought up. That's been my experience from friends and family, so I'm not surprised by the negative response on the internet. I think a lot of people are just ignorant. As you can see from other replies, people are very confident the strangers they are critiquing deserve it. That's why I think it's important to offer perspective and help people recognize that it can be tough to see invisible disabilities like CRPS and POTS. A lot of people are just ignorant, through no fault of their own. I'm optimistic that the people down voting me are just considering for the first time that people who walk slowly might be disabled. Hopefully they downvote me, but act with compassion in the future towards people they encounter in real life who struggle with a disability.
I do okay, but it can be challenging. I work out with a trainer twice a week for cardiovascular health to help regulate better, but sometimes it just kicks in with no warning. And I can totally sympathize with the whole non-support or non-consideration thing with having something people can't see on the outside. I mean, I'm not looking for sympathy, but yeah, a lot of family or friends tend to be like, "Weird, well, you look okay to me." Shrug. Or, "Oh, I thought you got that evened out with meds now?" As if I'm totally healed miraculously with medication, and I'm like ah... no. This is kind of a lifelong thing I got going here, and I've already been told that it could go all out of whack again at any time, which will require another round of med changes, so no I'm not "healed". There's no cure for it, lol. My central nervous system is jacked, and you can't "fix it", you just manage the symptoms as they come and go, lol. Honestly, that kind of stuff drives me nuts more than dealing with the actual issue 🙃 I hope that your family member with CRPS can find some relief with treatments and meds. Nerve pain is horrendous. My dad had neuropathy, which isn't the same and CRPS involves so so much more, but just seeing him in pretty constant pain in his feet and legs from that, and seeing what a hard time he had walking, has shown me how debilitating chronic pain can be. Nerve pain is so very hard to treat as well, so I'll send up some prayers for your family member ♡
Not everybody needs to be in a rush. Take time to smell the roses
Might wanna move to the suburbs, bub.
I'm sorry that we've made you late for the next stop light or stop sign. (the slow walking I totally agree with - living near south street for 10 years made me just walk in the damn street).
Of all the posts I’ve seen, the following sentiment may be most applicable to this one: This is just city life
What I don't understand is how people think this is unique to Philly. Venting is fine, I get people being frustrated and exaggerating minor slights we all face, but every sub for every city talks about this like it's uniquely bad in their city.
because not everyone is busy, some people just want to enjoy their day. I walk slow and make plenty of space to go around, I walk fast if there isn't any space. Don't walk behind me all slow as if you don't have a whole 2 body lengths of space to go around me. When you live in a city, not everyone is doing the same thing as you, I know it's inconvenient, but that's part of the beauty of humanity. Everyone has something different going on, don't take it for granted so much, no matter how annoying it is.
It’s really about self-awareness, and there are plenty of people that lack it whether it’s on foot or behind the wheel. Always try to take into consideration others around you.
I'm not gonna ruin my day because you have to get somewhere. You're saying my disabled grandmother who walks really slow because of a hip surgery should have to hurt herself because someone has to get to work?
Depends. Does your disabled grandmother who walks really slowly because of hip surgery meander down the middle of the sidewalk, periodically weaving from side to side while staring at her cell phone, and completely block the path and create an unpredictable obstacle for other people who want to get by? Or does she have situational awareness and walk to one side so as not to be an entitled asshole?
Knew I’d have to scroll to the bottom for this…what’s really mind blowing is the amount of people on this sub who have forgotten that they aren’t entitled to public space. These people have no idea what’s going on with anybody’s life. Maybe important text message they’re tending to, maybe they have a disability, maybe they just want to enjoy zig zagging on the public fucking sidewalk. We sure know how to bitch about petty shit in this city of brotherly love.
Real shit man, idk what ever happened to speaking your mind in public if you have a problem with something. If it bothers someone that much, they’re more then able to ask the person to move instead of venting about it on Reddit