Is it just me or have you noticed people do not hustle across the street anymore? I started to notice it a few years back and lately, it’s been driving me crazy. Seriously. Maybe it’s a generational thing… maybe we’ve gotten lazier as a society. But I don’t get it.
I’ll be in the parking lot pulling out of a grocery store and someone will be crossing the street. They will take their sweet time. I’m not talking adorable little old ladies, either. I’m hoping as I age, if my pace slows, people will be understanding. I’m talking youth. It seems the younger, the slower {2-year-olds don’t count in this scenario either!}. That’s such an odd thing for me to wrap my brain around because the iGeneration has grown up in a digital, fast-paced world. Everything is instant or 24-hours or drive-thrus. So why do they walk so slow?
I have to admit, I’m a fast walker. I like to get from point A to point B as fast as possible. I’m all about the destination. That is especially true if I’m in a crosswalk or parking lot. But no one else around me seems to share my hustle. And I can’t just fault the youth of today. People my age are guilty, too. It’s like they are taking their time to stop and smell the roses—IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET!
Speaking of stopping and smelling the roses, I’m all about it. I think long leisurely walk can be great. Exploring new cities slowly is also great. Maintaining that slow pace while inconveniencing other is not great.
Am I the only one who thinks this way? Or am I the only one who’s noticed this? Do you think people are becoming lazier or just not being considerate? Or do you think slow and steady is always best?
~Mavis
Beks says
Part of the reason I hate crowds is because people walk so slowly. I absolutely can’t stand it.
emmab says
I have noticed this also, they almost have the attitude that I am a pedestrain, you have to wait for me so I will take my sweet time. drives me up the wall.
JaDell says
It seems like people feel entitled. I don’t get it either.
Cathy Lynch says
I thought it was just me noticing how screaming slow the walk across the street .
G says
How about people stopping to gab with carts in the middle of main aisles. This drives me nuts especially when its older people who should know better. If you are going to stop to have a conversation can you not move out of the normal flow of traffic???
Brianna says
This is the primary reason why I will not shop at our military Commissary. They get those motorized carts with the huge baskets and stop in the middle of the aisles and if you say “excuse me” to get past they pretend they don’t hear and don’t care. It is worth my time and lack of frustration with 3 little kids to go to Kroger and pay the sales tax and higher prices. This drives me absolutely bonkers. It also drives me bonkers when people continuously circle a parking lot hoping for the “best” spot. It is easier to park where nobody will ding your car and walk 50 extra steps and stretch your legs more. I use to breastfeed my kids in the car before going in a store and I would see the same cars circling a parking lot over and over again. What a time waster!
Janet says
It drives me crazy when people circle the parking lot as well. On the other hand I do think it is important to recognize that people with disabilities who drive those motorized carts may also have poor hearing. Majority of people that I have encountered in these car The vast majority of people whom I have encountered in these carts have been very considerate.
Cindy says
Yes this is a daily occurance and I dont understand it. PLUS no one seems to LOOK both ways…they just slowly march in front of moving vehicles. Parking lots, streets..they just step on out and then s l o w l y proceed. WHY?????
Erin says
I completely agree with you! People frequently ask my 30-something self why I walk so fast to get places. I say, “I am not walking fast; I am walking with purpose and urgency. The faster I can get to where I am going, the less I waste other people’s time around me.” Most people still look at me baffled but hey, they asked, and I shared my truth. On the flip side, my friends and I made up a game about how many points people are worth should they ever get knocked down as they cross the street. The more capable they are of getting across the street quickly (but in reality, they walk really, really slowly), the more points they are worth. It’s demented, but it’s fun to discuss!
Chris says
Walking with purpose – that is exactly what I have told my kids as littles and as teens! They get it now that they are driving. Why in the world anybody would think dawdling in a crosswalk is safe, much less acceptable is beyond me.
AmyWW says
Yes! I’ve noticed this too. It makes me crazy. It makes me want to lay on the horn and inch forward until I’m right up against them all the while revving the engine. I think this slowly strolling across the street or parking lot is a symptom of the rampant sense of entitlement plaguing our society. Or maybe it’s a sign I’m getting old and crotchety. I do need to lighten up and take it easy, in either case.
Monica says
I totally agree! This drives me crazy!
Heidi says
I completely agree and I really believe that it is not being considerate towards others. If someone stops for me when I am walking, I hustle and wave thank you.
Bridget p. says
I have noticed this too! At my daughter’s high school the kids would just step onto the crosswalk without looking both ways and casually stroll across! It got so bad that they finally have crossing guards now to help stop the craziness!
Trish says
In London you bust a move to get across the street cause they will hit you and its not totally illegal, I do wish it was that way here. And Hello! cars are bigger so I make a point to get out of the way as fast a possible! and not to mention drivers are paying less attention….
Sarah says
Come on now… In this get rich quick era where people will sue at the drop of the hat for millions so they don’t have to work again, is it any surprise? LOL. Maybe not exactly what they are thinking, but darn sure if you hit them, a lawyer or someone will convince them they can!
Gwen Chenelle says
The parking lot at the local community college! There is a sign posted in the cross walk – illegal to drive through if someone is in the cross walk – so everyone takes their sweet time and the cross walk is almost never empty! I’ve waited 5-10 minutes for every straggler to stroll on by!
Ginger says
I’m a fast walker and very courteous as a pedestrian (I gave up my car 14 months ago in favor of walking everywhere), however I kind of think that everyone complaining about slow walkers are kind of forgetting the fact that they are sitting in a nice warm (or cool depending on season) vehicle and perhaps they are being in too much of a rush to get to their destination. It’s a privilege to drive. I think it’s important to be able to see it from both sides.
Holly G says
This reminded me that, in addition to the “slow crossers”, I keep noticing the “I’m waiting in the Fire Lane” people. They drop someone off for a ‘quick’ trip into the grocery and sit there idling in the red zone. When you try to get into the store, you have to walk around their car and when you try to drive from the store you have to head into oncoming traffic to get around them. There! my last complaining before my New Year’s resolution kicks in.
Jenny says
It drives me nuts!!! Knees to chest people, knees to chest when you are crossing the street!
Seikojin says
I have been a pedestrian my whole life. I chose not to drive. Too expensive and Chevrolegs work more reliably than honda and goodyear. 🙂
In my 30+ years of walking, I have noticed that many people (drivers as well as walkers) commit the following oddities:
1. Using a device while in a t-bone zone.
2. Looking down in a t-bone zone.
3. Slowing down in a t-bone zone.
4. Making some gesture/noise to notify others of their need to go, despite no one listening or looking.
5. Ignoring everything around them and getting into a t-bone zone.
However I have noticed all of these things more frequently from Drivers. As a ped, I tend to yield to the rolling death machines since anyone in a vehicle is clearly more in a hurry to go from point A to point B. Or else they wouldn’t be driving. Also through experience (and seeing lots of people get ran over), I am very alert and connected to the world around me. My profession is one of observation, so I am pretty keen on noticing what peds and drivers are doing.
On the topic overall: What defines too slow? It is such a subjective matter. Too slow for you may be too fast for me. No one can get out of your way fast enough. Ever. Except if you rev your engine, floor it and let go of the brake. I am sure squealing tires, smoke and a huge deathbox hurtling towards them will make the most stubborn of sloths gazelle out of the way.
Heather says
Be thankful you can walk. Be thankful for the person who served or supported someone who served our country. Teach your children better than those you speak of were taught by their parents. Be kind and gracious as you also set an example to those around you.
Seikojin says
I am very thankful I can walk. And for others that choose to as well. Less pollution, congestion, cars, etc.
Others have to pay attention to you in order to observe your kindness and grace.
Marcia says
Yes. I tend to jog across the street. I don’t have problems with people who are slow necessarily, as there are a lot of elderly here.
But yesterday, on the way home from work, two people purposely started crossing the street at a light on the red light, forcing the cars with a green light to sit.
And six months ago, I was driving among a one way street towards a green light. A pedestrian stepped right in front of my car, then jumped back when it was clear I would not be able to stop, though I tried. And then started yelling at me.
As someone who walks a lot and used to bike to work, i try to be very aware of both when I’m in my car. I had a car run a stop sign and almost hit me while I was in the cross walk with my baby.
I think must people aren’t aware these days.
KAte says
I think it’s less generational and more personal. I’m a crosswalk hustler and my husband is a dawdler. We’re both in our 30’s. I’m fairly certain it’s an attitude thing that we learned from our parents. Additionally, I used to be a brisk everywhere walker…but 10 years of walking with (and waiting for) a dawdler have slowed my pace considerably. I visited an old college friend recently and when we went for a walk she left me in the dust!!
Seikojin says
It is a personal perspective thing. I am sure your husband thinks you are always in a hurry and that he is going at a normal pace.
I personally think the hurry to get from point A to point B is a waste of effort. I mean, outside of deadlines and life and death situations, why make it a race?
The more people focus on hurrying towards their destination, the less energy they have to catch cars coming at them, or see pedestrians stepping out into the road…
Brandy says
I also hate it when someone crosses the street at a diagonal instead of a straight line-causing them to cross at an even slower rate. SO IRRITATINg!!
Sarah says
Words right out of my mouth. DRIVES. ME. CRAZY.
Serina says
I agree! I always like to walk fast and just get what I went there for. I’m very concerned for the younger generation and see many walking while on their phones, totally unaware of their surroundings. I feel it is similar to drunks who think they are completely aware of all things when they are not!
Also I feel it makes vulnerable to getting robbed or worst!
DebbieB says
I was in D.C. this past weekend where there are tons of walkers and crosswalks. I was amazed at how slow people walked across the streets. When I had to walk across the street my eyes were always on the crosswalk timer afraid I would run out of time! Apparently I am the only one who does this. They did not even seem to care if they were still in the middle of the street when the light changed. Then there are the people who walk all the way across the street looking at their phones and never look up. To me that’s just plain dumb, how can you assume people are always going to stop? Assuming that will get you run over. Just with the way the taxi drivers are all speeding around was enough to make me extra cautious!
Susan says
I moved to the Seattle area from Chicago almost 4 years ago and it is definitely more prevalent in the PNW. However, I have also noticed that parents don’t pull their kids out of the way, they just let them walk in front of people. I grew up with parents that would grab my arm and pull me aside instead of allowing me to walk in front of people. You’re not the only one who notices. It IS more prevalent.
Deborah from FL says
I’ve actually asked some on these people that same question. (My son and his friends, not random strangers.) Bottom line: entitlement. “Cuz I can.” “Why not?” “Who cares?” Drives me crazy!
Beth says
I agree with you- it does seem that many people walk at a slower pace as they cross the street- so annoying!
R says
I am a slow walker but always “hustled” when crossing the road. I now have a bad knee and still try to go quickly but I know I’m not and feel rather guilty for being slower.
Janet says
There’s absolutely no need for you to feel guilty because you have a knee injury. Our society comes to the point where there is a lack of compassion and respect it will would be a very sad day. Hope your knee heals quickly.
Crystal Rose says
As both a pedestrian and a driver I’ve found drivers to be much worse. They frequently drive too fast in their hurry to get to their destination. It’s a parking lot. Take the extra few seconds and slow your roll. I walk slowly normally. I’m not lazy. I’m just not going to run because someone else thinks their time is more important than mine. I enjoy my pace. I like to take my time, look both ways, and walk when its my turn. I’m not sorry if it bugs you. Your unsafe/rude driving practices bug me.
Also, in the US you should always stop for pedestrians if there is a crosswalk and sign present. That’s the law. Many drivers just keep going, ignoring the person waiting. Regardless of how quickly or slowly they walk you will still be moving faster than them a moment later. People of all of ages do this and it is very inconsiderate.
Ginger says
AMEN! Thank you.
Wynne says
I like to walk fast, too. I haven’t noticed other pedestrians getting slower (East Coast though) but I think more courtesy all around would be nice. My personal pet peeve is the groups who fan out abreast so that others can’t pass them easily.
Dawn says
I walk a lot and I try and cross fast and direct. Not diagonally. That along with the stopping in the middle of an isle to talk or just spread out and not let someone else pass is inconsiderate. I think part is laziness part is assumed entitlement, and part is the habit of walking slowly because they are always looking down at a cell phone or other device. Always look where you are going and be considerate. It is much less stressful on everyone.
kelliinkc says
Yes, I have noticed this the last few YEARS! It is especially notable in the Houston, Tx area. My sister calls it the Texas Shuffle…….