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/)