Last I checked, sidewalks were for pedestrians. Did I miss some new ordinance that makes them for things like trash cans and cars and scooters and bikes and toys?
As someone who actually uses the sidewalks for what they are intended, let me offer some suggestions/requests:
1. If you must put your trash bin on the sidewalk, please bundle it with all your recyclables so that I am only dodging one group of obstacles instead of several. I would prefer you use the curb, but I’m willing to compromise if you are.
2. If you are not hosting a party, and you only have your two cars in your driveway, and your garage is too full of stuff (you hoarder, you) to park in the garage, then at least pull your car up so that your hitch and your SUV’s back tires are not where my feet are supposed to be. There is no need to have an extra 4 feet between your front bumper and your garage door. You do not own the sidewalk.
3. In other you-do-not-own-the-sidewalk news, can I mention the sidewalk is not a toybox? I do not like tripping over skateboard ramps and tricycles and lacrosse poles and whatever else your kids decided to leave outside. I’ve been tempted to a) kick said items, which I haven’t done because I don’t wish to injure myself, or b) take said items, using the finders-keepers rule, which I haven’t done because I am nice.
4. Sidewalks are not for dog poop. If your dog poops on the sidewalk, please please please clean it up. And on that note, why do you let your dog poop on the sidewalk in the suburbs when there’s tons of grass around? Come on.
In return, I promise the following:
1. I will not leave my trash in your yard, or my recyclables. Not my energy gel wrappers, bottles, spit, snot, or anything else runners are known to do. (And for the record, I’m not a spitter. For the record.)
2. I will not complain if, in fact, you are hosting a party and temporarily need sidewalk space to fit all the cars. This I will be ok with, albeit very nervous as I weave around cars and hope not to get hit by a moving one.
3. I will not leave my bike in your yard, or anything else that belongs to me. If I do, you are welcome to take it inside your house and enjoy your new loot.
4. I will not let my dogs poop in your yard, and if an emergency should occur on their part, I will certainly clean it up.
P.S. I’m not really as angry as this sounds. I just think, in our driving society, some of us may have forgotten the purpose of the sidewalk.
P.S. I don’t actually know of any runners who are rude enough to leave things like energy gel wrappers in someone’s yard. I am just pointing out that I would not do that.
Comments
11 responses to “On sidewalk etiquette”
I am envious that you even have sidewalks! In our community they do not believe in sidewalks… let alone a decent amount of shoulder to run/walk/traverse next to a very busy highway. I think this is why I am not actually a runner.
I’m so upset about the lack of sidewalks I have considered asking Steve to cut a “track” in lawn in the back part of our yard so that I can run on that. After all… how am I supposed to train for the 10K I have coming up in October if I can’t actually do any walking/jogging/running.
I think your requests of those who do have sidewalks are more than reasonable!
.-= Whitney´s last blog ..Material Girl: For a mere $33 you too can have supermodel hair =-.
I am envious that you even have sidewalks! In our community they do not believe in sidewalks… let alone a decent amount of shoulder to run/walk/traverse next to a very busy highway. I think this is why I am not actually a runner.
I’m so upset about the lack of sidewalks I have considered asking Steve to cut a “track” in lawn in the back part of our yard so that I can run on that. After all… how am I supposed to train for the 10K I have coming up in October if I can’t actually do any walking/jogging/running.
I think your requests of those who do have sidewalks are more than reasonable!
.-= Whitney´s last blog ..Material Girl: For a mere $33 you too can have supermodel hair =-.
Amen to ALL of the above. The greenway/trail where I run is FULL of dog poop every time I run on it. Step, dodge,step. NOT fair! On the downtown end of the greenway, there are little stands with poop bags, but with all the people I see walking dogs on our end of town, not ONE of them appears to ever carry a bag w/them. I just wonder who they think is going to clean up after their dogs. It’s the rec dept’s job to keep up w/mowing, but not to clean up after some irresponsible pet owners. And for the record, I always keep bags in the car in case I end up running w/one of my pups!
I also have a real problem with bikes on sidewalks around here. I had a lady run me off the sidewalk a few weeks ago when I was running. She absolutely saw me coming, and absolutely refused to take her bike onto the car-free street where she belonged, and I had to jump off the sidewalk into someone’s yard. NOT cool, especially since that wasn’t the first time that happened.
And the trash bins… UGH! I dodged so many this morning — and it IS NOT EVEN TRASH DAY!
Behind you 100%,
A fellow sidewalk user
Amen to ALL of the above. The greenway/trail where I run is FULL of dog poop every time I run on it. Step, dodge,step. NOT fair! On the downtown end of the greenway, there are little stands with poop bags, but with all the people I see walking dogs on our end of town, not ONE of them appears to ever carry a bag w/them. I just wonder who they think is going to clean up after their dogs. It’s the rec dept’s job to keep up w/mowing, but not to clean up after some irresponsible pet owners. And for the record, I always keep bags in the car in case I end up running w/one of my pups!
I also have a real problem with bikes on sidewalks around here. I had a lady run me off the sidewalk a few weeks ago when I was running. She absolutely saw me coming, and absolutely refused to take her bike onto the car-free street where she belonged, and I had to jump off the sidewalk into someone’s yard. NOT cool, especially since that wasn’t the first time that happened.
And the trash bins… UGH! I dodged so many this morning — and it IS NOT EVEN TRASH DAY!
Behind you 100%,
A fellow sidewalk user
If I prayed, I would say “AMEN!”
I cannot understand why people think it is okay to block the sidewalk. Much less why there are not more sidewalks than there are.
I hate when I see energy gel wrappers on the ground – totally irresponsible.
For the record, I have to say that I will spit and blow snot into your yards, but I guarantee unless you see me do it, you will never know!
.-= Kevin´s last blog ..One of Many Special Places During the Blue Ridge Relay =-.
If I prayed, I would say “AMEN!”
I cannot understand why people think it is okay to block the sidewalk. Much less why there are not more sidewalks than there are.
I hate when I see energy gel wrappers on the ground – totally irresponsible.
For the record, I have to say that I will spit and blow snot into your yards, but I guarantee unless you see me do it, you will never know!
.-= Kevin´s last blog ..One of Many Special Places During the Blue Ridge Relay =-.
THANK YOU!!!
I want to print this out and stick a copy to every car, trash bin, and one thing you forgot to mention: unkempt TREE with branches that have been allowed to sweep out and block the walkway, in my neighborhood. This is why I’d rather drive to the beach and run on the boardwalk than in my sidewalk-infested neighborhood a few steps away.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..I, Writer =-.
THANK YOU!!!
I want to print this out and stick a copy to every car, trash bin, and one thing you forgot to mention: unkempt TREE with branches that have been allowed to sweep out and block the walkway, in my neighborhood. This is why I’d rather drive to the beach and run on the boardwalk than in my sidewalk-infested neighborhood a few steps away.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..I, Writer =-.
Yes! Heather, I totally forgot about the growth issue as there are no trees in my neighborhood. But I hate when that happens and you have to risk running into a flower full of bees or something.
Whitney, there are only sidewalks in my neighborhood, and not surrounding it – but my neighborhood has 2 sections. The one I live in is only 1/3 mile. So I have to run out into the main roads unless I want to run up and down the street 20 times (which I have thought about.) Get out there and try it on the main road. If you run facing traffic, and just be really aware, you’d be surprised how many roads have decent shoulders on them. Don’t let it stop you!
Jess, I always see dog owners with no bags and I don’t get that either! My dogs have a bag holder attached to their leash. Right there for when needed.
Kev, I know you’re a spitter – it’s why I try to run ahead of you! That, and I just want to beat you. (kidding!)
I also forgot to mention: Sprinklers on sidewalks. I really hate getting a shoe full of wet because someone thinks watering the sidewalk is a good idea.
Yes! Heather, I totally forgot about the growth issue as there are no trees in my neighborhood. But I hate when that happens and you have to risk running into a flower full of bees or something.
Whitney, there are only sidewalks in my neighborhood, and not surrounding it – but my neighborhood has 2 sections. The one I live in is only 1/3 mile. So I have to run out into the main roads unless I want to run up and down the street 20 times (which I have thought about.) Get out there and try it on the main road. If you run facing traffic, and just be really aware, you’d be surprised how many roads have decent shoulders on them. Don’t let it stop you!
Jess, I always see dog owners with no bags and I don’t get that either! My dogs have a bag holder attached to their leash. Right there for when needed.
Kev, I know you’re a spitter – it’s why I try to run ahead of you! That, and I just want to beat you. (kidding!)
I also forgot to mention: Sprinklers on sidewalks. I really hate getting a shoe full of wet because someone thinks watering the sidewalk is a good idea.
As someone who lives in a neighborhood that seems overrun at times by small children and their under-attentive Stepford Mothers, the one about the toys on the sidewalk is of particular annoyance. HATE that, and have actually threatened to run over bicycles left in the driveway areas of the sidewalks.
Thanks for the link, too. 🙂
.-= Elwood´s last blog ..Take a Load Off, Annie. =-.