Home › Forums › West Seattle Rants & Raves › Share the sidewalk
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August 28, 2015 at 5:28 pm #818308
HaroldMemberPlease lets share the sidewalks in WS. Scene all summer outside Husky Deli / Bakery Nouveau: families blocking the sidewalk camped out with their double wide strollers, perfect children and perfect dogs all enjoying ice cream while old folks have to walk around into traffic or parked cars.
August 28, 2015 at 5:59 pm #827260
2 Much WhineParticipantHappy families having delicious Husky Deli ice cream on a public sidewalk? How dare they! I think someone is a little lactose intolerant.
August 28, 2015 at 7:48 pm #827261
FranciParticipantThere are folks with mobility issues and its a great opportunity to teach young ones to be aware of their surroundings and to leave room for others to get by – especially in high pedestrian traffic areas.
August 28, 2015 at 8:19 pm #827262
JTBParticipantYes, Harold, we all get to share. Part of urban living. Happily, we’ll get to enjoy even more of it as new businesses and new residents arrive in the neighborhood. Perfect.
Later note: It seems a number of others are bothered by the occasional congestion on the sidewalks more than I am, so I should apologize for the snark.
August 28, 2015 at 9:02 pm #827263
anonymeParticipantThere used to be some awareness around not blocking the sidewalk so that others could get by. The new generation of breeders seems to have foregone antiquated notions like respect for others. The sidewalks in the Junction really aren’t wide enough to accommodate on-sidewalk parking for double-wides and dogs. I think all Harold is asking for is a little courtesy and some awareness that a public sidewalk is not a private gathering place.
August 28, 2015 at 9:34 pm #827264
clulessinwsParticipantI agree with the fact that people need to be more aware of not blocking paths. I’ve noticed it get gradually worse over the years.
The tables and chairs outside of businesses in the Junction reduce the width of the side walk resulting in less space to walk.
I had issues with a business one time in a different area of WS and in reporting them to the city, they let me know that the business was out of compliance with their seating, blocking the sidewalk and street signs. I wonder if the Junction businesses have a waiver for their chairs/tables?
August 28, 2015 at 10:07 pm #827265
wakefloodParticipantI’m going to sound like a fuddy duddy but I too have had several recent incidents with the double-wide, side by side strollers and the accompanying people/pets that don’t seem to be aware that they’re essentially a walking roadblock. Whatever pace they’re going is the pace we all need to go?
Just looking for a little awareness. Is that so wronga? ;-)
August 28, 2015 at 11:53 pm #827266
JKBParticipantHave any of you said anything to the sidewalk blockers? Even something nice, like “could you help me get through here”?
August 29, 2015 at 12:44 am #827267
wakefloodParticipantEvery time. And pleasantly, I might add. It’s a habit/value I was taught as a child.
What I chose NOT to do was to ask them to be considerate of others who are trying to use the same limited pedestrian area. Your thoughts on that decision, JKB?
August 29, 2015 at 3:28 am #827268
JKBParticipantJust musing on the opinion WSB threads have sometimes offered, that one should expect criticism to be met with hostility, and that it’s not appropriate.
August 29, 2015 at 2:29 pm #827269
miwsParticipantI don’t recall if it’s ever happened in the Junction, but it’s happened elsewhere, and it really could be anywhere it might happen, (grocery store aisle too!), where I say “excuse me”, and try to say it loudly enough without shouting, and if it is even heard, it’s often met with a basic look of reaction to the direction from where the voice came, and then just a token amount of movement, if any at all.
This also happens if they already happen to see me approaching, to where I shouldn’t have to verbally alert them that I need by.
And, this is while I’m using a cane, and often have bags in the other hand, and am very noticeably huffing and puffing.
Mike
August 29, 2015 at 3:30 pm #827270
GinaParticipantCourtesy and awareness of surroundings in public places is a personal safety issue. People of all ages can benefit, and many unfortunate outcomes avoided.
August 29, 2015 at 7:28 pm #827271
JKBParticipantOn the whole I’d respect the person who speaks up on the spot more than the one who just posts about later.
And on a positive note, my own experience with people while I walked with crutches/cane was excellent. Felt stared-at a few times, and that could have just been in my own head. But people were helpful without being sappy.
August 30, 2015 at 9:24 pm #827272
librarianMemberAs a senior who has used a cane in the past, I find it very annoying to have to stop and say excuse me several times in the course of one block. The bakery is the worst spot.
September 1, 2015 at 8:35 pm #827273
Ms. SparklesParticipantHarold, I’m with you.
I, being blessed with strength and no mobility issues, am able to (and frequently do) bust through such crowds hip-checking the clueless out of the way as needed. After a single loud “excuse me” if they don’t move, I move through them.
I’m sorry you can’t do the same.
September 2, 2015 at 2:19 pm #827274
anonymeParticipantMs. Sparkles, your post made me laugh. I almost confessed to similar behavior earlier, but chose to avoid the inevitable indignation over such a direct, non-PNW solution. Ya know, sometimes things are just this simple…
September 2, 2015 at 2:44 pm #827275
JoBParticipanti can still walk though i may sometimes need to find something to hang onto and i am not fast.
but i have to tell you that an electric chair of some kind is beginning to look better all of the time.
It would give me the heft Ms Sparkles talks about to move through crowds that refuse to move aside for those who aren’t so nimble.
September 2, 2015 at 6:32 pm #827276
2 Much WhineParticipantI guess I need to keep my day job. I thought the “lactose intolerant” comment in reference to people eating ice cream was golden. Apparently it was just vanilla. Oh well, back to work.
September 2, 2015 at 10:12 pm #827277
anonymeParticipant2much, the comment itself WAS golden – it’s just that hardly anyone agreed with you…:-))
September 2, 2015 at 10:23 pm #827278
JeannieParticipantJoB, an electric chair?! Isn’t that a little harsh? ;-)
September 3, 2015 at 4:00 am #827279
JoBParticipantJeannie
harsh? really, have you seen me walk?
I have had handicapped plates for nearly 20 years because i am unable to walk far and if i do.. i become too confused to find my car when i get back.
the only reason i am not in a wheelchair now is that i have been confined to one before and i fear that if i take that seat again that this time it will be permanent.
I am one stubborn woman.
so i am not likely to take to an electric wheelchair to clear the sidewalk.. though i can’t tell you how many times i fantasize about the ability to do so ;-)
seriously, i think it’s pretty harsh that there is so little consideration for others that people who are mobility challenged find it difficult to safely walk our public sidewalks.. with or without their mobility devices.
i can’t tell you how many of the smiles on the faces of sweet little old ladies and gentlemen are generated by the fantasy of using their canes to literally clear their paths…
LOL.. best watch out. you never know when one of us will snap ;-)
September 3, 2015 at 4:24 am #827280
desertdwellerParticipantThis is a perfect post for me to share the next time someone asks me if West Seattle is friendly to people with families. Bookmarking.
September 3, 2015 at 4:26 am #827281
HappyOnAlkiParticipantHey JoB — I have a friend with some mobility issues, and she uses a TravelScoot when she needs to walk far — they’re little and zippy! http://travelscoot.com
September 3, 2015 at 6:47 am #827282
JanSParticipantoh, honey, if we all got Travelscoots, watch out. Races down Calif. Ave. for sure….lol
September 3, 2015 at 6:52 am #827283
JanSParticipantI, too, walk with a cane, am disabled, and go very slowly. I can’t count how many times I’ve had to move off the sidewalk into the “parking strip” for people walking either behind me 2 or three abreast talking , or coming towards me. And because I have balance issues on uneven ground (and sometimes flat, too) I usually just have to stop and move aside. It’s selfishness, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and rudeness. And yes, I have many times wanted to just stick my cane out “by accident”, right about knee level…:D
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