Pavement Rage

There was a story on the news here recently about "Pavement Rage." The rage is mostly directed at individuals or groups that stand still in the middle of the sidewalk. As a frequent pedestrian I wouldn't say that I experience rage, since I rarely walk in very crowded areas. But there are the occasional frustrations. Most of the sidewalks are only large enough for two people to stand next to each other. When John and I walk together we are constantly shifting positions to let other people by. But other couples and groups are not so accommodating. I have watched couples walk straight at me and not leave me any room on the sidewalk. I personally handle this situation by moving towards the wall side so that they are forced to go around me and can't make me walk in the road. Don't worry, all they have to do is stop walking RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER and they can also pass without walking in the road.

But the worst pedestrian experience I have ever had hasn't been here in England or even in the cruel halls of high school. It was in Athens. I was living at the Faulkner Street apartment with Tessa. John Miller had made a really big deal about people tailgating for the football game so I had asked Tessa to give me a ride to campus for the tailgate. I showed up on North Campus and sat in front of Phi Kappa Hall expectantly. John Miller did not show up. No one showed up. I didn't have tickets for the game and didn't have a ride so I tried to call Tessa to ask her to pick me up. But she had fallen asleep and is a very deep sleeper. Eventually I decided to walk back to the apartment (about 5 miles). The quickest path across campus took me by the stadium. As I walked by I saw a large group of what looked like football players (obviously not the ones playing in the game). There were so many of them and they took up so much room on the sidewalk and road that I really couldn't get out of the way. I finally stopped in my tracks to let them just go around me. One of these guys was walking in a direct path to where I was standing. When he was in front of me he said, "Naw, man" took me by the arms and moved me out of his way. I finally made it through the crowd and back to the apartment where I woke up Tessa and we went out for Taco Bell.

I had almost completely blocked the incident out of my mind until this talk of "Pavement Rage" came up. But I feel like I'm finally far enough away from it to think that it is funny.