When I’m out walking, I just pretend I’m Han Solo in the Millenium Falcon, and that other pedestrians are asteroids. Sometimes I see a jackass and pretend he’s a TIE fighter.
Man, life is so much fun when you’re living in my head.
Yeah, I can’t stand the groups of people walking side-by-side. This is a big problem where I work (lower Manhattan) (which, by the way, has become a huge tourist mecca (no pun intended), but that’s a rant for another day).
Anyway, when I’m confronted by one of these big groups walking the other way, I usually just stop and wait for them to walk around me. Usually works pretty well.
Another thing to keep in mind: Instead of trying to avoid the collision, it’s often better to simply brace yourself. A few months ago, I had such an encounter with a HUGE guy who obviously didn’t see me and was about to walk into me. Well, instead of scrambling out of his way, I lowered myself just a little bit, swung one leg around in the direction opposite his approach vector, and strategically positioned by arms. He walked into me and was knocked totally off balance. It was so precious.
Yup, you’re obviously a New Yorker.