Rebooting this concept because walking every day in San Francisco drives me to it.

For example, you are approaching your crosswalk while there is plenty of time for you to make it but you see someone approaching perpendicular to you who clearly has to stop and wait for their signal. Do you speed up? Or do you slow down and let them get to their corner?

The obvious answer is that if two people approach a corner at speed, that the person who has to stop and wait for the signal to turn should concede for the person who can make it across the light.

Like this:

Food on the Street Friday (Saturday).

On Church Street by the Duboce stop. Couldn't resist these tenacious birds that kept flying down from the bushes to eat whatever food was on the street. Every time people walked by they would fly away.

Food on the Street Friday.

I haven't had the chance to post recently. I'm going to try a Friday segment called "Food on the Street" which was another blog attempt that sputtered out. So today's entry is:

 

 

"About a block away towards Divisadero I found a mysterious script possibly written with mustard. KIEZ? Perhaps a sigil to locate a hot dog in need of mustard?"

Indecisions cause accidents.

A few days ago I was walking to work and I saw a group of three people coming out of a building ahead of me and merging into pedestrian traffic. One of the guys (well two guys and one cute red head) got seperated from the group because the commuting traffic was going against them and he got seperated. He tried to merge back to his group and he kept wobbling in a horrible attempt to get back. Of course he was right in my path and at the last second he re-united with his group but not before bumping his left shoulder moderately hard with my left shoulder. I saw that coming a mile, er, 20 feet away. He was totally incompetent at navigating the sidwalk. I walked by without confronting him (not worth it) but I did yell, "Fucker!' in a dejected tone. That will show him.... yeah.

Eye to eye with strangers.

Ok kinda creepy.

I tried this a while back for about a day or two before it got to be just too much work. For every person who made eye contact with me, I smiled and said, "Hello" or "Hi" It was interesting how many people would reply back (more than I thought.) We are so insulated to strangers on the street but when that barrier is broken it seems people are actually nice or at the least polite. I came to the conclusion that people are either too lazy or just conditioned to not interacting with random people on the street.

Right of way when two pedestrians approach from perpendicular directions to cross the intersection.

This usually occurs on a busy intersection and is fairly obvious. Chances are pedestrians are walking towards a crosswalk from perpendicular directions (See diagram: Pedestrian 1 moves towards west and Pedestrian 2 towards north). When there is a chance for collision the person who has the "walk" signal (1) should be given the right of way since they have the opportunity to cross since the person who has the "stop" signal (2) has to decelerate to a stop. And by right of way I mean that Pedestrian 2 should let Pedestrian 1 who has the signal to cross go past first. If one is a super aware pedestrian they would pay attention to see if the signal is counting down thereby preparing oneself for possible pedestrians who are accelerating to beat the clock.

Blog title.

If you don't know already, the title of my blog comes from one of the great lines from Midnight Cowboy, an amazing film from 1969*. The best part is that it was unrehearsed. The story goes that the cab got through a closed area and Dustin Hoffman did not expect it and improvised the lines. I think it totally fits. :)

* The only X-rated film to win Best Picture for the Academy Awards.

Intentionally obstructing the path of a smartphone user.

That's a shiny phone you got there....

After more than a few encounters with pedestrians absorbed in their smartphones (texting, surfing, etc.) and completely oblivious to the oncoming traffic, I entertained a hypothetical idea of intentionally moving into their paths to see if I can cause them to drop their f-ing phones to the concrete ground.


(image source: I forgot the link.)

Intersections.

The intersection is the greatest focal point for potential conflict and drama. The obvious reason being that there are two forces moving perpendicular to one another at a converging at a point. To complicate matters, the walkers must negotiate not only other people but automobiles.

It's interesting that while the intersection is most likely the place with the most signs (warnings, ads, etc.), there are hardly any signs that are intended for both groups. However, the traffic lights work in conjunction to direct automobile traffic. Is this because we value the automobile more than ourselves? Or perhaps because we assume we have control over our thought process and body to manage foot traffic without the need for guidance?

(image source: http://hertenberger.co.za/tag/lego/page/5/)

Perpendicular traffic.

To the Volvo! Er, which one?

There are the occasional instances when one has to anticipate pedestrians moving perpendicular to the flow of traffic (in line with the direction of the sidewalk). Some of these are:

* Coming out of doors from a building and merging into the flow.
* The straight out of a building or one side to:
     * a parked car.
     * a news stand.
     * a bicycle rack.
     * delivery people going from the truck to the store and vice versa.
     * the curb to throw out a cigarette (very rare).

Faces and butts.

It's hard to not stare at cute butts when you know the person in front of you can't see you cause they are walking in your direction. I suppose it's a violation of privacy but it's also implicitly human nature to check out what's appealing to oneself especially when you can do it without anyone knowing.

(image source: http://www.mopo.ca/2008/06/toyota-developing-external-airbags-for.html )

Suburban tactics.

There are none. You people are on your own with all that fucking open space.

(Image source:  http://northfieldnomo.wordpress.com/category/where-the-sidewalk-ends/)

Waiting lines that disrupt the sidewalk.

I work in the financial district of San Francisco where there are many awesome restaurants. Oftentimes during lunch hour, these places have people forming lines that spill out the door and into the crosswalks. This presents a number of different situations as listed below.

* Food trucks: These mobile restaurants have to park somewhere in the busy streets of downtown. Some examples.
    * Street parking: The large vans take up more than a single metered space so they have to stake out a spot early.
      * This creates a line that can either be on the curbside or on the building side. It largely depends also on where people congregate while waiting for their order. Obviously building side creates more traffic problems as the line has to turn 90 degrees to the truck. 
   * Building space:  This one is the one I experience. The truck parks in an empty space at my building. The situation is same as the street parking problem.
* Insanely popular establishments: Mostly through "word of mouth" via the internet. These places like Sushirito and Melt create lines out the door and past the neighboring business. A perfect example is Sushirito which cocks left and past the Crunch Gym on Montgomery. Crunch eventually decided to place orange cones by their doors so that their clients can walk freely in without having to cut through the line.

(Image source: http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2011/01/28/what-kind-of-crack-does-sushirrito-put-in-its-namesake-products-to-produce-insanely-long-lines-every-day/)

Non-social obstacles.

Just before I took this photo someone who was busy on his smartphone ran right into the fence. I LOL'd.

There are also non-social obstacles, mostly the physical obstacles such as signs (construction, advertisements, etc), tables from a restaurant, dog poo, vomit and discarded items (clothing, furniture, etc.).

This adds to the complexity when compounded by social objects (see below). What is the best route between the static non-social obstacle and the moving and/or non-moving social obstacles? Planning (looking) ahead say in 3 obstacles ahead can provide the time to figure out the best tactic.

Social obstacles

When one tries to get from point A to point B in the most efficient route, sometimes there are people you know or encounter that can prevent your progress:
STRANGERS
 *The homeless.
   Example: Sitting on a milk crate at an intersection with the proverbial frying plan. (e.g. Walgreens on Montgomery and Mission).
*Follower/persistent begger.
*Asking for something:
   *Directions.
   *Cigarettes.
   *Selling CDs.
   *Fucking NPO cronies.
FAMILIAR
*Acquaintance.
*Co-worker.
*Old friend.
*New friend.
*Visit the same Starbucks, local  bookstore, ., etc.
*Retail.

(image source: some free image. I swear.)

Pedestrian rules should imitate motor vehicle rules.

For the sake of consistency and to make life easier, I think the best way to handle pedestrian traffic is to follow motor vehicle rules. Some examples:

*Walk on the right side of the lane. This seems to be the most obvious one but is it as obvious to British, Japanese, Hong Kong, etc. tourists? Either way you should respect the law of the country you are in. :P
*Pass to the left.
   *Slow cars move to the right.
*Changing lanes or moving to your left/right. Look over your shoulder before changing "lanes."
*Do not brake or turn suddenly.

(image source: I forgot the link.)

Crosswalk American football.

I asked a written permission with the NFL to use this bad ass photo of Frank Gore but never received a reply so I claim fair use for non-profit.

A game where you are at a crosswalk and have a team of other pedestrians on your side who agree to approach it as a simplified football game (those who don't participate can be neutral obstacles). For example, a running back who gets the ball and runs (as opposed to a pass) must rely on the line backers (the big guys at the line) to create a lane for him to run through.



Countdown timer.

The different types of players (quarterback, running back, forward, goalie, etc.)

Mostly business types in the financial district (the place for most conflicts).
*Suits.
*Business casuals.
*Hipsters.
*Executives.

Supporting cast
*Crazies.
*Homeless.
*Bicycle messengers.
* Razorers and skateboarders (and fuckers who ride their bicycles on the sidewalk).
*The Seniors (slow, confused).
*The fashionable.
*The geeks (over thinkers).
*The caterers (very rare).
* The tourists (random change of direction. sudden stops (take pictures). Asking for directions in the wrong language (or if correct, bonus points).
   * Germany
   *Japan
   * France
   * London
   * Koreans (art students in SF).
TYPES OF CROSSWALKS.

Different signaling configurations.
Regional typical.
Crosswalk patterns and colors.
Cones.
Cars.
  * Emergency vehicles.
       * Police cars.
       * Fire trucks.
       * Ambulances.
   *Assholes drivers.
       *Right turn on a red.
       *Left turn at past the yellow light.
       *Lane violator.
       *Cursers.
       *Stopping in the crosswalk.
       *Hummers.
       *On the cellphone.
       *The clueless/lost.