#67

I think we are getting muddled between the merits of a fast lane, which I have actually come round to a little, and my general view that a lot of people are in an unnecessary rush a lot of the time

I know it isn’t always possible, but if it is not and then someone is late it is not because people got in the way, it is because they were unable to leave sufficient time (which isn’t their fault, it is just the way things are). This may well be alleviated by a fast lane, but it is all relative isn’t it, soon people will adjust to the new system and the new length of time it takes to do things, and there will be new margins for what is late, quite likely people will transfer the frustration they had with slow walkers onto people who now aren’t using the fast lane with sufficient purpose. It may make journeys quicker in absolute terms, but lateness is a relative measure, might be a temporary transition period where people see the benefit but soon people will adjust, there will be the same proportion of ‘lateness’ under the new system as it is relative.

fair point.

I don’t think anyone in a rush is wrong, I think it is likely that there are many people who are in a rush for no real reason, and I think that it is wrong for anyone who is in a rush (valid rush or not) to expect the world to bend to them, whether it is thinking other should keep up with them, or thinking others should have their access to public space limited. It may seem like I am favouring slow walkers at the expense of fast walkers, and I am, but only because I think that reflects the physical limitations of the world, rather than thinking one side are in the wrong.

anyway, lets stop discussing this because we will only go round in circles and don’t see either of us being swayed on this

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#68

Because they might be walking at their capacity, and as I said walking around someone is basically no bother - forcing someone to half jog might be.
This borders on ableism frankly.

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#69

Btw, I like walking fast as it’s helped me lose almost three of the UK stones*, fuels my competitive streak and if my occasional flying dreams are anything to go by, will hopefully result in a future evolution of being able to float from a fast start.

*that and a boarderline reliance on turmeric

captainricebox: excessively seasoned with turmeric.

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#70

oh come on. I’m well aware that people can have legit reasons for being less mobile. i know more about it than i want to know. I’m talking about a different thing. i mentioned a few posts above about the amount of times I’m almost forced on to the road by people coming in the opposite direction who refuse to budge, even when i stop dead as if to say ‘do you want me to barge into you or jump on to the road’? bordering on ableism, fuck off.

#71

No. It’s obviously going to marginalise the less mobile or the less knowledgeable about their direction (by large, the more vulnerable), than someone who’s just able to step past someone. It’s a bad idea.

#72

I’m not really discussing the lane, i’m discussing the sub-argument about ‘fast’ walkers being selfish, apparently. i already said it’s often not possible to overtake, which you ignored so as to suit your point.

#73

It is selfish to legislate around it because it’s such a minor problem, I’m a fast walker and I live in a very built up area, it takes maybe a few seconds of waiting at best in my experience. Maybe it’s a personal perspective but whenever I have to dodge people going the other way I just presume I’m not paying enough attention to where I’m going.

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#74

One of the best parts of Liverpool One is having a relaxing stand on the outdoor escalators.

I’ve never found the slow walkers thing a real life issue and just thought it was a joke from early Facebook groups when I see crunchy leafs I have to stamp on them.

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#75

Should just pedestrianise all city/town centres, then there’d be plenty of room

#76

yeah the legislation is dodgy. if I didn’t think that before reading the thread i do now. i still think there’s a lot of plain bad manners on both sides. people can be more patient but people can also be more spatially aware. it’s not a subjective thing re:the example i gave, it’s four/five people spread out across the pavement, literally nowhere for me to go. this more or less happened to me a few times in the same day. almost went full richard ashcroft. these weren’t fast walkers, just selfish and oblivious.

#77

^this, I often find myself annoyed with people walking through space that I am occupying, then I catch myself and think, well why should I assume it is them at fault, why did I think they should get out of my way rather than the other way round.

And while their are obvious mobility issues, there are also less obvious ways people may have problems with this, some people have impaired spacial awareness, and proprioception systems. chances are most of the time people are being inconsiderate, but for the time when they are not it is worth just giving everyone the benefit of the doubt

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#78

Well… the thing that strikes me in reading this thread (other than what I mentioned above), is that this is basically pedestrians turning on each other when they should be joining forces alongside cyclists to combat motorised traffic.

#79

This got jibbed about two years ago after it was roundly ignored by everyone. :slight_smile:

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