Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Video Perfectly Captures That Awkward Moment When A Stranger Starts Walking RIGHT NEXT TO YOU
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 12, 2014
Modified Mar 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 12, 2014
Modified Mar 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
You know when you're walking on the street and someone comes out of a building, or turns the corner and is suddenly walking beside you, in the same direction, at the same pace? This is an incredibly frustrating thing that we don't often talk about, because you kind of feel like an asshole for being annoyed by it, right? Someone is walking next to you, that's such a nice thing... but it is disturbing your flow, and your energy, and suddenly you are mad at this total stranger for making everything awkward and also for making you question what kind of neurotic misanthrope you are to get annoyed at such a thing. You are left with three choices:
1. You can change your pace to fall out of synch. To do this, you can use the "Oh I have to check my phone and therefore am naturally slowing down to do so" maneuver. This will place The Enemy in front of you, and your eyes can burn daggers into their back. Or you can passive aggressively speed up, letting The Enemy know what they did is not okay. For added dramatic effect, let out a large sigh when you do this. It's okay, the city lives off the psychic pain of such sighs, you are just feeding it what it needs.
2. Wait it out. See if the other person is also frustrated by this enough to do the above. After all, you were there first, why should you have to be the one to fall out of this artificial synch? The problem here, and what makes this awkward synchronized walking thing even more frustrating, is that the other party almost never seems annoyed. It's as if they don't even know about the disruption they have just caused in the universe! Oh to be so blissfully unaware.
3. Hold their hand?
Comedian and composer Daniel Koren has addressed this issue in the below, beautifully shot video (he tells us it was directed by Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" interactive video director).
Tagged
awk walk
daniel koren
synchronized walking
walking
walking etiquette
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
An excellent and diverse month of concerts are in store for October.
By
Hank Shteamer
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 11:15 a.m. ET
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .