Comments on: The curse of slow-walking people https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/ Travel stories that won't change the world Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:28:52 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jose https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-67864 Jose Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:18:22 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-67864 I am a US citizen studying in the UK and I am glad to find other people who live here that feel as I do. I am a hiker and I usually walk 15-20 mi a day and maintain a brisk 3.5 mph stride. Being raised in a small town with ample streets it is odd for me to walk in big cities anywhere. Especially here in York where I want to get to the uni quickly which ends up taking an hour! I also feel awkward walking too fast because then I get too close to people in front or have to dart around them (then they look at you funny). But alas I agree with you Andy, the best solution is to breathe deep and slow down to join the masses. So now I do the opposite, I walk around very slowly with my camera and smile at people wlaking by so they'll treat me nice for being a tourist :) I am a US citizen studying in the UK and I am glad to find other people who live here that feel as I do. I am a hiker and I usually walk 15-20 mi a day and maintain a brisk 3.5 mph stride. Being raised in a small town with ample streets it is odd for me to walk in big cities anywhere. Especially here in York where I want to get to the uni quickly which ends up taking an hour! I also feel awkward walking too fast because then I get too close to people in front or have to dart around them (then they look at you funny). But alas I agree with you Andy, the best solution is to breathe deep and slow down to join the masses. So now I do the opposite, I walk around very slowly with my camera and smile at people wlaking by so they’ll treat me nice for being a tourist :)

]]> By: Abi https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-31653 Abi Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:50:39 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-31653 This discussion takes on whole new dimensions in Andalucia where walking itself is held with some suspicion and walking quickly has never been witnessed. Also, the rules of the pavement are completely different. Whoever got there first, got there first. Why should they move? Ever? You get used to it. Then you start doing it... This discussion takes on whole new dimensions in Andalucia where walking itself is held with some suspicion and walking quickly has never been witnessed. Also, the rules of the pavement are completely different. Whoever got there first, got there first. Why should they move? Ever?

You get used to it. Then you start doing it…

]]> By: Paul https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-31652 Paul Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:04:25 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-31652 I'm totally the same and its crowdsurfing all the way. I’m totally the same and its crowdsurfing all the way.

]]> By: Luke https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-21963 Luke Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:15:52 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-21963 @Marianne Schwab - nice tip, I will be adopting this one immediately. Sadly I fear with my bad luck I will be looking up, and fall victim to the infamous 'gap' we are always being told to 'mind' :) @Marianne Schwab – nice tip, I will be adopting this one immediately. Sadly I fear with my bad luck I will be looking up, and fall victim to the infamous ‘gap’ we are always being told to ‘mind’

:)

]]> By: Marianne Schwab https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-21953 Marianne Schwab Mon, 20 Sep 2010 22:26:39 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-21953 @TravelEditor just RT'd this article! It's fantastic and I love that you've written it as I also get frustrated by "slow walkers!" After years of living in NYC and negotiating pedestrian traffic, I have one observation and one tip I'd like to share with you and your readers. The Observation: People walk they way they drive. They'll pull out in front of you with out signaling (and even though there's no one behind you) and then go 5mph under the posted speed limit. The Tip: Never establish eye contact with people when you're walking toward them (I either look up or look at the ground). If you do establish eye contact, people expect YOU to move out of THEIR way. If you don't "see them" it's like Moses parting the waters of the Red Sea. They miraculously walk around you. Use this tip in big cities and at theme parks (no "staff" required). @TravelEditor just RT’d this article! It’s fantastic and I love that you’ve written it as I also get frustrated by “slow walkers!” After years of living in NYC and negotiating pedestrian traffic, I have one observation and one tip I’d like to share with you and your readers. The Observation: People walk they way they drive. They’ll pull out in front of you with out signaling (and even though there’s no one behind you) and then go 5mph under the posted speed limit. The Tip: Never establish eye contact with people when you’re walking toward them (I either look up or look at the ground). If you do establish eye contact, people expect YOU to move out of THEIR way. If you don’t “see them” it’s like Moses parting the waters of the Red Sea. They miraculously walk around you. Use this tip in big cities and at theme parks (no “staff” required).

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-13705 Andy Jarosz Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:41:18 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-13705 Thank you Luke and Sam for venting your spleens on here. You've both hit on a particular point - trying to catch a train when you've only moments to spare and people just blocking the width of escalators or pavements, not moving anywhere and with no regard to causing an obstruction to others. Mini-tasers perhaps? Thank you Luke and Sam for venting your spleens on here. You’ve both hit on a particular point – trying to catch a train when you’ve only moments to spare and people just blocking the width of escalators or pavements, not moving anywhere and with no regard to causing an obstruction to others. Mini-tasers perhaps?

]]> By: Sam https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-13702 Sam Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:55:12 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-13702 It is the most annoying thing in the world. That's an exaggeration, but I share your annoyance. I'm actually quite short and have little legs but like to walk fast as I am actually walking somewhere with a purpose like to get to a meeting, to the station, to my train at the station and through the park to get to a friends house. It amazes me how people shuffle and stop suddenly with the biggest suitcase in the world or how they walk side by side taking up the entire path. Or when they come towards you taking up the entire path and don't move. Yes, I which to get run over by a bus. OK rant over, this post obviously made me want to vent! It is the most annoying thing in the world. That’s an exaggeration, but I share your annoyance. I’m actually quite short and have little legs but like to walk fast as I am actually walking somewhere with a purpose like to get to a meeting, to the station, to my train at the station and through the park to get to a friends house. It amazes me how people shuffle and stop suddenly with the biggest suitcase in the world or how they walk side by side taking up the entire path. Or when they come towards you taking up the entire path and don’t move. Yes, I which to get run over by a bus. OK rant over, this post obviously made me want to vent!

]]> By: Luke https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-13694 Luke Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:08:44 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-13694 I commute from Chalfont and Latimer (metropolitan line) to Richmond, this takes me to Marylebone, Waterloo and on to Richmond, so it's a long slog. This wouldn't be a bad route as I am active, love running and the gym, but the slow people are what makes it interminable, the lack of urgency isn't the problem, it's the lack of awareness of other people that DO have urgency, the longer it takes between stations can mean an extra 30 - 40 minutes on my already long day. solution? Slow walkers keep to the SIDE of ANYWHERE you are walking, and if you are with a group of slow walkers, DON'T WALK NEXT TO EACH OTHER in BRITISH BULLDOG style wall off slowness. Please people, keep to the side and let the people who want to get to their destination this century jet past :) I commute from Chalfont and Latimer (metropolitan line) to Richmond, this takes me to Marylebone, Waterloo and on to Richmond, so it’s a long slog. This wouldn’t be a bad route as I am active, love running and the gym, but the slow people are what makes it interminable, the lack of urgency isn’t the problem, it’s the lack of awareness of other people that DO have urgency, the longer it takes between stations can mean an extra 30 – 40 minutes on my already long day. solution? Slow walkers keep to the SIDE of ANYWHERE you are walking, and if you are with a group of slow walkers, DON’T WALK NEXT TO EACH OTHER in BRITISH BULLDOG style wall off slowness. Please people, keep to the side and let the people who want to get to their destination this century jet past :)

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-11933 Andy Jarosz Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:08:47 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-11933 Happy to give you an outlet for your frustration Anthony ;-) Happy to give you an outlet for your frustration Anthony ;-)

]]> By: Anthony https://www.501places.com/2010/06/the-curse-of-slow-walking-people/#comment-11920 Anthony Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:31:18 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3103#comment-11920 YES! I'm not alone! I think the most irritating of all has to be the indecisive pedestrian who sees you coming, even looks you straight in the eye, has ample time to evaluate your speed and trajectory and still manages to toddle straight into you! Arrggh! *grinds teeth* If you don't know where you're going then park yourself up against a wall or anywhere that's out of the way and *then* figure it out, just get out of my way! YES! I’m not alone! I think the most irritating of all has to be the indecisive pedestrian who sees you coming, even looks you straight in the eye, has ample time to evaluate your speed and trajectory and still manages to toddle straight into you! Arrggh! *grinds teeth* If you don’t know where you’re going then park yourself up against a wall or anywhere that’s out of the way and *then* figure it out, just get out of my way!

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