David Brauer wrote: >> If anyone is questioning the great value of sidewalk >> cafe's, visit Old Montreal in the summer. > > Cafes are great! But as a pedestrian, I do think we can have them and > ask them to obey the walking-width rules... > > Ann Berget writes: > >> IMHO pedestrian-obstructionists who travel three and four abreast, or > even those in twos >and threes meandering all across a sidewalk of any > width are far more of an irritant >downtown than the sidewalk cafes. > > The NY Times had a great piece this week on people who don't know how to > walk on NYC streets - the term they used for the phenomenon Ann decries > is "mall walkers." > > David Brauer > Frequent pedestrian who HATES mall walkers and "mall runners" around the > lakes...
I am also a frequent pedestrian and I hate having to bounce all over the sidewalk along Nicollet Mall to avoid bus shelters, street lights, street signs, planter boxes, sidewalk vendors, and sidewalk cafes. The impatient people of the world say that I am meandering, but I refuse to run down the Mall. I'm not the one that is late for lunch, why should I run? And why am I condemned if I wish to walk side-by-side with my wife? I'm not the one at the ever-expanding sidewalk cafe sitting at a table that is as wide as 4 people walking abreast. Yeah, I know people walk inattentively. I see plenty of inattentive speed walkers at the lakes, along with joggers, roller bladers, and cyclists. Just today, as Kat and I drove home along Hennepin Ave, we saw a cyclist run into a street light while he messed with his Discman. I thought it was staged it was so damn funny! So, the next time you are speed-walking around the lakes or rushing back to the office because you tarried too long at the sidewalk cafe, please remember, I might not be meandering. I simply may be not be in a hurry. Scott McGerik Hawthorne _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
