Living, as I do, in a cityscape of narrow streets and necessarily narrow pavements, marciapiedi, the comportment one would hope to expect in such a environment is often lacking. What is one to do when one finds oneself walking toward 'pavement hoggers'?
Occassionally I find myself on very narrow, one-person-wide strips and I usually defer without any compunction to the elderly, without a thought. However, I am more torn when, on a wider pavement, I am confronted with two pedestrians, side-by-side walking toward me. If I am in a generous mood, I'll step into the street till past them; if I am feeling less so, I'll hold my course and at the last possible moment they will sacrifice some of their unnecessary latitude and dodge in behind their companion. Occasionally, they will barely give way at all and the resulting clash of arms or shoulders causes the offending party to look offended. This final situation can be expanded to even wider pavements and more people, three or four individuals who hog these public spaces. When I first came to Italy I found this public behaviour frustrating; now, while it still irritates me, I fight fire with fire. As I am 6'2", they rarely question my actions; if they do, I have a prompt retort lined up.
How is such a situation viewed and handled by you?
Occassionally I find myself on very narrow, one-person-wide strips and I usually defer without any compunction to the elderly, without a thought. However, I am more torn when, on a wider pavement, I am confronted with two pedestrians, side-by-side walking toward me. If I am in a generous mood, I'll step into the street till past them; if I am feeling less so, I'll hold my course and at the last possible moment they will sacrifice some of their unnecessary latitude and dodge in behind their companion. Occasionally, they will barely give way at all and the resulting clash of arms or shoulders causes the offending party to look offended. This final situation can be expanded to even wider pavements and more people, three or four individuals who hog these public spaces. When I first came to Italy I found this public behaviour frustrating; now, while it still irritates me, I fight fire with fire. As I am 6'2", they rarely question my actions; if they do, I have a prompt retort lined up.
How is such a situation viewed and handled by you?
