Manhattan, NY – New Yorkers accustomed to life in the fast lane are taking the issue of slow-moving tourists into their own hands.
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They’re taking their message to the street – or actually, to the sidewalk.
It’s suspected that a frustrated New Yorker came up with this plan on Fifth Avenue at 22 Street, where there is now a sidewalk lane for slower moving tourists, and another for fast-walking New Yorkers.
But from the looks of it, it doesn’t appear many people are paying attention to the new unofficial traffic directions.
Here are some of things people had to say about the idea of “sidewalk lanes.”
Miikell Mcdermott writes: “This is an issue? Sure tourist walk slower, they’re looking around. taking in the sights.. simply walk around them. What about people who simply stop and start talking right in the middle of pedestrian flow like they are the only ones in the universe and then people can’t even walk by?”
John Zaffino thinks: “Nothing like reinforcing the perception that New Yorkers are all cold and rude. This is stupid and should not be an issue.”
Debbie Vaccaro was once criticized for the pace she walks: “I live in Westchester, but I work in the City of New York and I was told once that I was walking like a zombie! LOL! I brought my pace down a notch! 🙂 I refuse to rush around here and there.”
Giving tourists their own space on the sidewalk is a great idea, Mayor Bloomberg said – as he insisted with a straight face that they never get in New Yorkers’ way.
“I don’t remember hearing anybody really complain about tourists,” Hizzoner said. “You’ve got to be a pretty sick person to take it that way, I think.”
Bloomberg called the lanes “very cute,” and with a straight face said it was a sign of New Yorkers’ appreciation for the outsiders who come here to spend money.
“When I saw it I said, ‘Oh, that’s a nice thing to do,'” Bloomberg said. “But you can’t do that every place for tourists, and we’re not about to go to say to tourists, ‘Well, we’re going to clear off some streets just for you.'”
The mayor has long been obsessed with boosting New York tourism and the taxes and jobs it generates. Last year the city had 45.25 million visitors, making it the nation’s top tourist draw since 1990, tourism bureau NYC & Co. says.
they are copying New Square
& soon Bloomberg will start giving tickets for walking in the wrong lane
“John Zaffino thinks: “Nothing like reinforcing the perception that New Yorkers are all cold and rude. “
To the contrary! Where else in the world will you see natives giving away half of their walking space to tourists?
I think that dividing the sidewalk for slow walkers and fast walkers is a great idea. We already have this on the highway where the left lane is the fast lane or rather the passing lane, we need to have this also in the bike lanes, half for fast bikes and half for slow ones, then we need a scooter lane, a chidren big wheel lane and a toddlers foot peddled truck lane. New York Coty should be big enough for everyone.