Quote:
Originally Posted by Neighbor
Obviously you do not travel the trail frequently. It has become a victim of its own success. People travel from all around just to stroll down the EST and do not know (or refuse to adhere to) trail etiquette. People are constantly walking or standing on the wrong side of the trail and oblivious to the impediment they create. The worst is people walking 6 abreast at a crawling pace.
I think this phenomenon is uniquely American. I've traveled around the globe and there are few other cultures that lack a general awareness of inconveniencing others. In Japan, people will clear a path on the left side of the escalator for those that wish to walk while those who wish to stand stay on the right. A very simple principle, but next time you go to Hartsfield see how many oblivious duds can't grasp the concept.
This is why the markings are required on EST; our population is too inconsiderate and dense to figure it out on their own and it needs to pressed directly in their face for them to maybe realize they are doing something wrong.
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I have traveled around the globe too, and Americans are actually more considerate in public, at least than most places I have been to, with the exception of parts of east Asia, and some European countries. Its all relative, compared to Japan, America might look like a mess in some regards, but compared to so many other parts of the world, America is actually a pretty organized place, And Americans are pretty civil for the most part.
Lets be real here, the beltline is still relatively new, probably hundreds of newcomers check it out for the first time everyday, and thousands on the weekends.. You really think they are all going to be aware of beltline etiquette? Like most people are going to research beltline etiquette every time they check it out? Its become somewhat of a tourist attraction, and you see families in droves on the beltline on the weekends, they are not going to strictly adhere to beltline etiquette weather we like it or not, most people, out of towners at least probably wont ever know there is such a thing as beltline etiquette, to them its just a trail you can walk around parts of the city on, they will just follow the general flow of others for the most part.
This is why when I see bikers get angry at pedestrians on the belt line it gets to me.. I've seen cursing and yelling from some bikers now several times.. How arrogant. It's a damn crowded shared space! Obviously for the most part its not going to be a smooth ride for a biker, especially on the weekends. Us locals need to chill out a little bit and be a little more humble. The belt line is new, and being able to walk in the city of Atlanta on this scale is a relatively new phenomena as well, we are not Tokyo or London where you would be able to walk freely all over the city for decades now..
I agree that line markings help greatly, but other than that the best the city can do is perhaps post what beltline etiquette is along the trail, and overtime more and more people will adhere to them, and follow what others are doing.