The worst offenders, IMHO, are the women who insist upon wearing the highest, unsteadiest of heels and, with no clue how to manage them, block entire narrow stairwells in the subway, carefully placing one foot, balancing, reevaluating, then slowly placing the next one, all with their body angled awkwardly sideways… clomp… … … … clomp… … … … clomp… … … …
Hows about, if you can’t commute in heels, don’t commute in heels? Or at least move over and let pass those of us capable of comfortably ranging across the earth in our preferred footwear? I look forward to the day when I see one topple helplessly and flailing-fall because someone brushed past them in a rough manner…
I moved to NYC 6 weeks ago and I don’t feel more agressive. Granted, I haven’t been here too long yet, but still. They do expect people to know where the hell they are going and to be respectful of the other people that are commuting or shopping or whatever. Stopping on the stairs to ponder which train to take or carrying your bicycle on the escalator could cause someone to miss their train and be late to work, so people in the city tend to be blunt when telling you that you are impeding upon their commute. Space is limited and there are 8 million people on this island who all have somewhere to be very soon. I have never met a New Yorker who wasn’t willing to give directions or help you out if they can though. They may be aggressive but I have met very few who were outright mean.