Road Rage on the Sidewalks of Manhattan

So my office has recently moved locations. I no longer get to ride the 7 Train which is saddening but at least now I am 15 minutes walking distance from work. I don't know how I feel about this whole walking thing though, its like I am my own car and I have to navigate my way down the sidewalks and streets of Manhattan full of rudeness, idiotness, and the miserably slow.

Since very few people drive here, we all have become our own form of vehicle. We have to tactfully maneuver our way down the sidewalks and streets, steer clear of oncoming pedestrian traffic, and obey our own traffic Signals; walk when the Walking Man on the street sign is white, slow down when it starts to flash red, definitely STOP when its red.

Do you think people obey these signs? Not at all. Even I, for instance, have been caught up in the whole 'yea i can make it across, wait no i cant, wait yea I'm just going to do it. Omg i almost died'. I truly don't think drivers have any remorse for human life so before you even think about crossing the street when your pedestrian light is red, you have to commit, as my roomie brett likes to say.

Another thing pedestrian vehicles have to deal with are the fajillion tourists that don't understand the law of the land. If its 8:47am, and you are most likely on Broadway Ave (where my office is), WALK FAST. Don't waddle, stare at your map in bewilderment, or pause to take pictures (only I'm allowed such behavior). I have to get to work and you're in my way. Another thing, don't walk on the right side of the sidewalk if your going against traffic. Isn't this simple knowledge? On stairs we go down the right, we drive on the right, in school we learned to walk on the right side of the hallway, so why all of a sudden do you think the same law doesn't pertain to the sidewalk? Its like bumper cars sometimes and no one ever apologizes. Even me, The Queen of the Apology, just gives a nasty snarl and keeps on going.

Pedestrian traffic does have its benefits though. Yesterday we were walking to Central Park and a cute lil homeless man randomly looked up at us with a huge smile and said "I LOVE YOU!" as if he truly felt it. It sincerely put a smile on my face. On the contrary though, we were walking down 60th street which was hosting a Bastille Day Festival and a scruffy man told the hot dog vendor in the heaviest accent ever, 'Me, I'm a real New Yorker ya f***in' scumbag".

This city suffers from Bi-Polar syndrome.

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