If you’ve ever experienced incommensurate rage from slow or oblivious walkers, this TikTok series is for you.
Matt Bass has always been a walker, often logging 10 miles per day on weekends. Recently, he’s taken to the streets of New York City, phone in hand, documenting what he calls “bad walkers.” “I decided to start a TikTok to capture some of the moments you have to see to believe,” Bass tells Fast Company over email.
Armed with just an iPhone and a pair of Apple wired earbuds as a makeshift mic, he films incognito behind sunglasses, rating aloud the walking etiquette of those who cross his path. Bass briefly experimented with Ray-Ban Meta glasses for hands-free, clandestine filming, but he found the audio quality lacking and returned to his tried-and-true setup.
So, what actually constitutes a “bad walker” in Bass’s book? “Typically, a formation that is 4 wide, all side by side, will be deemed bad walking etiquette,” he says. “I think anyone swinging umbrellas or shopping bags is also an example of a bad walker.” He adds: “The worst walkers are typically taking up the full width of the sidewalk, buried in their phones, not paying attention.”
Other documented offenses include what he terms “drifters”—pedestrians who unconsciously veer across the path, blocking the entire width. Then there’s the “chain link fence” violation—people who link arms or hold hands three or more across, obstructing both incoming and outgoing foot traffic.
He’s also identified seasonal offenders, like “shadow clingers”—those who cling to the shade of a building, ignoring standard sidewalk etiquette of staying on the right side in favor of avoiding the sun. There’s even an edition devoted to umbrella etiquette.
It’s a grievance many can relate to. “I’ve found my people. I hate hate hate bad walkers,” one commenter posted. Another wrote: “The amount of unholy rage that I feel being stuck behind people with no self-awareness is unhealthy!” (Bass responded to that latter commenter: “Don’t worry. We’re solving this global crisis, one video at a time.”)
While Bass takes care not to expose identities or engage confrontationally, some viewers have criticized his approach. “They can go at their own pace. They aren’t on your time. Go around,” one commenter argued. To which Bass replied: “People who say ‘just go around’ definitely haven’t walked the streets of New York themselves. Easier said than done in most cases.”
Bass is clear that good walking etiquette isn’t about speed. “Not everyone has to be fast,” he says. “But everyone should be aware of their surroundings and considerate of others.” He’s also spotlighted examples of stellar walkers, just so people know what to strive for.
