Time magazine beat me to the punch......
I had decided not to mention it...because one of my new years resolutions was to try and be nicer. But!! With all the snow we had of recent...the sidewalks were limited at best, and to encounter people who were walking slowly or stopped in that little lane that had been shoveled-raised my blood pressure to snow melting levels!! Most of the time, I couldn't say it was because they happened to notice the acroterion element on the building or some other NY "thing" that I now blithely run by. It was usually some droll cell phone chat, or complete ignorance to the fact that people were stacking up behind them like trout. I have been saying that ROAD RULES apply on the side walks!!!!!! If it helps, pretend you're in a vehicle (obvious)...if you are going to be a slow poke then stay to the right!!!dont walk in pairs side by side (its "cute "that you want to hold hands) Make your phone call off to the side..don't stop short...and DONT STAND in the middle of a sidewalk and have conversations!!!!!! it is a sidewalk - not a sidetalk!!!!! I have actually yelled at people to "move it.!!!!"..when I have tons of crap on each shoulder, and trying to get my house because I also need the restroom!!!