Bert Archer has written an interesting article in the Globe and Mail‘s Toronto section about the ins and outs of sidewalk etiquette.
He points out that it is becoming more of an issue as our sidewalks get more crowded:
Until recently, sidewalk etiquette wasn’t an issue in Toronto. Urban sprawl made sure that our congestion was limited to the Gardiner and the Don Valley Parkway and that our mostly narrow sidewalks were sufficient for the number of people who used them.
Ever since the current condo boom began a decade ago, our downtown has been straining under the foot traffic — and so has our civility. As the city core gets more crowded, and adds more and more amenities to draw us out onto the streets, we need to adapt.
To me, of course, it is great that we even have to think about this problem — it is a sign of a successful city that there are lots of people on the sidewalk. I was actually excited when I first encountered the term “pedlock” to describe the situation in New York’s Times Square. It also means that pedestrian issues are starting to be taken seriously.
But it does also mean that we have to think about how we behave on the sidewalks a little more consciously, to make sure they continue to be welcoming, safe and easy to use.
Archer ends his article with a few basic sidewalk etiquette pointers. I provided a couple of suggestions to this list, but I would love to have our readers add their own insights. What are key issues for you regarding sidewalk etiquette? Do you have a suggestion for some guideline we should follow in a particular situation? Do you have a positive or negative experience that demonstrates a particular lesson?
I’d like to end on a positive note — with one area in which sidewalk etiquette has hugely improved over recent decades: dog owners stooping and scooping. When I was a kid, you had to always be looking at the sidewalk to avoid dog droppings when you walked. It’s simply not the case any more — I can walk confident that there will not be dog-do waiting for me on the sidewalk, despite living in a neighbourhood with lots of dogs. It shows that elements of sidewalk etiquette can become second nature to almost everyone if we make a concerted effort about it.
photo by Adam Krawesky
21 comments
I’m currently in hong kong in one of the most dense neighbourhoods in the world and I assure you there is absolutly no sidewalk etiquette. The local government have put arrows in certain areas to promote walking in one direction on one side and the opposite direction on the other side (like a road). But this goes completely unregarded as people here seem to never have even heard of walking in a straight line. Although they certainly have a much better public transit system than we do and for that they get bonus points.
1. People who suddenly stop in the middle of a busy sidewalk. If you need to tie your shoe or read your map, turn and walk to the side.
2. People who can’t walk in a straight line.
3. Groups of people who block an entire sidewalk. Also goes for couples who insist on holding hands while walking three feet apart. There are also a few rare individuals who find the perfect center of a narrow sidewalk, making it impossible to pass without bumping them.
Ahhh. Thanks, I feel better now.
The tyranny of couples insisting on holding hands will be the downfall of pedestrian civilization. Let go! It’s so much public-relationship-insecurity.
Bicycles on sidewalks.
I know that the drivers in this city are dangerous to bicycles, but riding on the sidewalk just terrorizes the pedestrians. It’s hard to know which is worse: people taking open sidewalks too quickly (the hill down Bay south of Bloor is a prime spot for that) and risking wiping people out if things suddenly get dense; or cyclists trying to slowly navigate, say, Yonge Street around Dundas and weave through clumps of pedestrians while trying to keep enough speed to not fall over.
The obvious solution would be to have decent bike lanes in this city – but honestly when is *that* going to really happen? – but until then, maybe try to find an alternate route or *gasp* walk your bike when it gets heavy.
Recently at Yonge and College, I saw a cluster of about 10 people block the pedestrians who wanted to cross south or east. We had no choice but to go around them. They could have moved closer to the building so as not to obstruct us.
Clusters form also in the middle of a sidewalk and we have to walk around them. Why can’t they move closer to a building or the curb?
Then there’s elevators and escalators–particularly at the Eaton Centre for the latter. Don’t get me started.
Thanks for raising another cool topic everyone! I’m going to play a bit of devil’s advocate here. To me, some of this discussion sounds a bit like cranky grandpa grumbling about the declining morals of today’s youth. I’m all for promoting healthy public etiquette, but in some cases defining good etiquette depends on who you’re talking to. I’m a bit uneasy when we suggest regulating (whether formally or informally) unobstructed flow. Are sidewalks simply meant to be efficient conduits of pedestrian trips? To me this attitude sounds like the jogger barking at Bert Archer to get out of the way. Why should pedestrians have to walk in a straight line? Should we really be assigning roles whenever we walk in groups? Can’t I hold my girlfriend’s hand without worrying whether the space between us is within the prescribed limits? Pedestrians aren’t cars and I don’t think they should ever be expected to behave like them. As Jim Walker said, I think systems like London’s proposed fast and slow lanes are a tad ridiculous. People will always be stopping in the middle of sidewalks, for example, which William Whyte is famous for documenting around New York’s “small urban spaces” (a fun read for anyone interested in the topic). If we find ourselves getting upset with other people in our way, maybe we need to stop for a minute and think about our own etiquette as we barrel down the sidewalk. The sidewalk is a complex locus of interests and accomodating these interests requires adequate space, so I propose that the bigger issue that our frustrations with etiquette hint at, is whether Toronto’s street designs are sufficiently supportive of pedestrian needs. I would argue that in many cases they aren’t (particularly around construction sites and intersections) and often take second place to other interests (e.g. efficient automobile flow).
One of my peeves is people who smoke while walking in a crowd. (I smoke. I don’t do this.)
The other is when people “change lanes” without looking over their shoulder — there may be a bigger, faster pedestrian coming up on the side.
And, pedestrians who try to overtake slower pedestrians in front of them by walking on the road — check your blindspot cuz cyclists are hugging the curb. I can’t think of the number of near misses I’ve had on my bike.
And spitters. Ew. Ew. Ew. Especially if there’s a wind blowing. Ew. Ew. Ew.
Dylan,
I think it’s all context. My comments were all based on situations where I was probably in a hurry…you only remember the times that piss you off, right?
I know that on a sidewalk near St. Lawrence Market on a Sunday none of the things I listed above would bother me. However, if I’m walking from to my office on a Monday morning and someone stops short in the middle of the narrow Yonge Street sidewalk, I’ll probably bump them just to make a point while cursing their entire lineage under my breath.
“Never step on the earth around a street tree.”
What earth? He must have meant ‘cement blocks.’
Anyway. Spitters, people who gesture wildly, people who slow down because they’re on the phone, people who open maps while walking, groups of three or four who must walk abreast, tour groups who inevitably gather on corners and leave no room for traffic, the MuchMusic crowds who make that sidewalk completely useless, dog-walkers with loooong leashes, short people with extra-large umbrellas who don’t raise them so you can pass, parents with dual strollers that are wide instead of long, motorized wheelchair-ists who feel the need to go super-fast, and H&M for putting speakers on busy-busy Queen Street for a week… you’re all on notice.
Dylan P hit in on the head — we can’t examine the intricacies of the sidewalk like we do with roads and cars. But there has to be simple etiquette rules we all follow: walk to the right when another pedestrian is oncoming, if you want to stop and gawk move to the edge of the sidewalk, etc). But there is a simple answer to almost everyone’s concerns/peeves: wider sidewalks.
At some point we really have to begin the process that reprioritizes the amount of land dedicated to cars, bikes, and pedestrians. When cars need more space they usually get it, but when the latter two modes expand, there is rarely any reward to be seen. In 2005, This can be done to great effect in areas that already support the latter two modes of transit.
Hopefully the Walk21 conference here in Toronto this October will give Toronto a shot in the arm and make it plainly clear how vital pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is to a urban centre that wants to compete on the world stage.
Yeah, wider sidewalks would be awesome. I really notice the difference walking along Dundas by the Art Gallery since the the south side of the street has been under construction. That stretch on the north gets so conjested by taking both sidewalks of traffic.
Other pet peeves
-People leaving buildings without looking both ways first, espcially when just striding out looking off to the side or backwards.
-People talking on cell phones while waiting outside a building who walk around in erratic patterns, forwards, backwards, twirling, twirling…
-A-frames and advertising masquerading as street furniture on busy sidewalks
-People, who when bumping into friends on the street, don’t move off to the side, but just talk wherever they stop, whether or not it’s a good spot.
On College Street: Sandwich Boards out on the sidewalk in front of railed sidewalk patios, intentionally reducing the sidewalk flow to a virtual choke-point. These things really irk me bad. They oughtta be a law or something. Grr.
>>V. Barch
There is a law — Chapter 693 of the Toronto Municipal code requires A-frame signs to have a permit. It also requires the signs to display a permit identifier, so it’s easy to identify the illegal sandwich boards.
You can read the law here:
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_693.pdf
If you want to complain about a particular sign, contact Municipal Licensing & Standards: http://www.toronto.ca/licensing/key_contacts.htm
I just wish more people would respect the “stay on the right side” rule….
Also I get big problems with about 5 people walking side by side, taking up the entire sidewalk, at a slow pace. At least move with the flow…
Heather Ann – I wonder will MuchMusic have to pay Adam Vaughan’s sidewalk tax? As for H&M, they really seem to be going for the annoyance factor, given their advertising campaign on several dubious signs.
People who use their giant strollers (usually with little innocent babies inside!) like they are parting the red sea are dangerous self-centred maniacs.
I certainly don’t ride on the sidewalk, but I also don’t like to push my bike on the sidewalk. If I am forced to do so, then I try to chose a less busy alternate route. If cyclists are frightened and therefore ride on the sidewalk they MUST stop and give way to pedestrians. But, there is no excuse for riding on the sidewalk on Yonge st for example. Just lock and walk!
And, If I see people with maps, I always ask them if I can help them find something! that’ll get those pesky tourists/students on their way 😉
Cities like Bangkok or Tokyo are extremely difficult to apply the “rules of the road” approach.
However, in Toronto the “rules of the road” approach would work perfectly and oftentimes does, with the few exceptions mentioned. But, one exception not mentioned is the beleif in “Whose territory” we are walking on.
I have found that here in Toronto are a few who will not apply the “rules of the road” approach when approaching a person of color. Those few, in an attempt to hold their ground are faced with a stiff elbow to the gut or having to dodge an elow to the eye, when there is a sudden itch on the back of the head.
You see, this should be addressed internally. We all should ask ourselves, “why can’t we all apply the ‘rules of the road’ approach to make the sidewalk experience convinent for everyone?” “Can’t I make even the slightest of effort to make this a smooth transition, even for people of color?” I think we can.
I’m a cyclist, and I like to adhere to common ettiquette when riding my bike…I ride on the sidewalk ever since a lady knocked me over with her car.
I was curious if Toronto would strictly enforce a cyclist to bike on the road…
If they did I would simply sell my bike and never pedal again.
I’ve seen the way these people drive, and without a proper biking lane, I refuse to go on the road.
More information would be helpful though.
Aloha_Joe_Pineapple.hotmail
Fred, if you’re too scared to ride your bike on the sidewalk, then yes, I suggest you sell your bike and buy a Metropass. Bicycles are vehicles that belong on the road. I am a cyclist and pedestrian. When I’m on my bike, I’m on the road. When I’m on the sidewalk, I often feel terrorized by cyclists who think they can and SHOULD have it both ways. It’s a nuisance and a safety hazard.
Cheers.
Sidewalk etiquette truly means showing courtesy in tight spots. If you see that the person walking towards you will have to walk straight into a snowbank/garbage bin/sign post, etc to give you room to pass, then show some respect, stop and move aside so they can get past. Then keep on going. Trust me, it will put a smile on your face and theirs.
Arrows, signs and designated sidewalk space won’t work. People are too stuck in their own worlds to follow rules as stringent as that. We must start educating children at a young age on how to behave in public, this will reduce this problem.
Actually the real problem with a certain type of people walking on the sidewalk is they will move INTO your way on purpose just to make you walk out of the way. (ie you are walking on the right and they are walking on the left coming towards your direction but with space on their side). I always move out of the way even if it means I have to walk on the left side (which you shouldnt have to do –walking on the right is common sense). I see it in the faces of these pinheads–they get an ego rush from making people move out of their way. I
It used to bother me and then it occured to me: what a powerless loser this type of ‘person’ must be inorder to have to act this way and get an ego boost from something so silly, from being a nuisance to others on a sidewalk! Seriously, if you get an ego boost from purposely walking into people who are not even in your way so as to make them move out of your new path: you are a real loser and I feel sorry for you.
Usually its younger aged male losers or snotty types. These are the very scum of society I am convinced. To the good people out there –just give them the right of way (even if you have the right of way) –trust me –these morons have nothing else in their lives.
Also: the most dangerous people are the ones on bikes ON the sidewalk who are zooming up from behind you –if you veered even an inch to their side (remember you cant see them they are coming up from behind you) they can hit you. These too are scum of the earth.
Finally JOGGERS –aka people who dont understand that in cardiac activity your lungs absorb 5 times deepr the pollutants in the air when you jog on a sidewalk beside a busy conventon street or road. Sidewalks are for walking get a treadmill or jog in the park you have absolutely no right to jog on a sidewalk it is not made for that.