Umbrella Etiquette and Toronto's Splash Zones
After yesterday's punishing downfalls and as Toronto deals with the throes of another wet and rainy summer season in general, I thought it might be time for a discussion of umbrella etiquette. I'm an umbrella user and fully appreciate the advantages of staying dry; but if people can't learn to handle their bumbershoots, then they deserve no less than a good soaking.
First, just because you decide to bring a golf umbrella everywhere you go, does NOT mean the world disappears once it's out of your field of view. Opening a 6 foot diameter canopy over your head is a sure way to stay dry, while also forcing everyone to cut a wide path around your behemoth.
The sidewalk can only handle so many of these inconsiderately sized umbrellas, and already the pedestrian traffic has trouble maneuvering past each other's parasols. Please do everyone a favour and pay attention to where your umbrella is! Hiding underneath it is a good way to avoid the nasty stares of the people you've displaced and while you probably won't poke your eye out, you may skewer a fellow unlucky pedestrian.
Putting the umbrella down and away should be done BEFORE stepping indoors, whether onto a streetcar or into a store/office. It never ceases to amaze me when someone tries to enter my building with their umbrella still up, as if they'll melt should a drop of water touch them. Equally amazing is the audacity with which these dogs shake off the excess water on to everyone around them, which is always a treat when you've been struggling to stay dry in a downpour.
Secondly, don't be too quick to get that umbrella out; haste makes for some ridiculous umbrella situations, all in the name of saving yourself from a few extra drops of water! The worst case I've seen so far is a woman rushing to jump off a street car and deploying her umbrella prematurely, which left her stuck and struggling to pull an open umbrella through the doors.
Now I'm not trying to pick on umbrella wielding commuters - I'm one of them! - and some of the worst rainy day faux pas aren't being committed by us, but rather by the cars seemingly out to win slpash-points by soaking people struggling to get around on foot.
We recently asked followers of our Twitter feed where some of the worst splash traps were... here's a short list of the offending intersections:
@RyanAEnglish: I was splashed under the Dufferin Bridge on Queen and it was intense - lots of street water in my mouth - tasty.
@criseyde: That sinkhole on Finch. TSUNAMI SOAKER.
@stanthemanchan: King & Spadina, northwest corner (by the Backpackers Hostel) - huge puddle always forms there = guaranteed driveby soaking!
@mjecclestone: In front of the St. Clair station McDonald's. We watched people get soaked from the Second Cup across the street. Sad!
@rubedawg83: Corner of Hillsdale and Yonge!
@katesterface: Queen East near Ontario picks up a massive puddle which is absolutely deadly. Dundas East near Munro just after DVP also bad.
@Rutefoot: Bay and Bloor, hands down.
@lanietreen: Splooshed at Gladstone n of Queen. Horrible.
@lizzabele: Shuter @ Yonge right in front of Frans....I was drenched head to toe!
These splash zones represent perhaps the one and ONLY time that hasty umbrella deployment is allowed, but beware - that water has to go somewhere, and diverting it off your umbrella and onto everyone around you isn't a great way to make friends. Of course you'll have a handy defensive weapon if anyone (like me) objects to your umbrella etiquette.
Photos by phocrastinating, Jose, Carl W Heindl and remyboprey on Flickr.
Comments (18)
This piece is closer to my heart and rage than most things are.
I wanted to also assure the umbrella folks that if you lift it just maybe 6 inches or so as you pass me, you will NOT get wet. Also, I will not have to swing myself wildly into traffic to avoid you. Really, just lift it straight up.
They really really need to start selling these here:
http://www.ignant.de/2009/05/28/polite-umbrella/
Ah, a rant I can identify with! I also dislike those ginormous umbrellas: they seem so selfish in a city full of narrow sidewalks.
I've always wondered about this...especially what to do when it's just lightly spitting rain but everyone else on the street has their umbrella closed. Does one keep the umbrella closed or keep it open as necessary? I usually leave it open so as to protect myself from splash traps and unscrupulous drivers.
Also, I do apologize if I've rushed by with my umbrella quite low in front of me (as mentioned above). It's usually because the wind is blowing so strongly I have to position my umbrella that way to avoid it being blown inside out (or subsequently get blown away with the storm). I do try to pay attention to feet as I do this, so as to avoid collision.
I always thought nice umbrella etiquette is to share your umbrella with a stranger if you two happen to be walking the same way or waiting in the same place. But that doesn't really happen that often because then you get into personal space issues...
The worst umbrella etiquette thing I ever did was once it was pouring and I was waiting for the bus. Lots of people were there with umbrellas. Two buses passed us because they were packed. I was determined to get on the third one.
But the problem with lining up with umbrellas is people don't. It gets all messed up and it's harder to jump on to a packed bus with an umbrella in hand.
So I closed my own umbrella and waited underneath another guy's umbrella for the bus to pull up. He didn't mind. Then I hopped on to the bus BEFORE him... Haha. He almost didn't make it on to the bus -- I even waved goodbye (nicely though, not in a ha-ha! way!!) -- but he got on eventually.
Anyway, he was a nice guy and kind of cute. If he hadn't been wearing headphones, I would have chatted with him too to make it less awkward...
I use a large umbrella and make certain that if I get into a tight situation, I raise my brolly above all the others. That way, there are no collisions or inconveniences with others.
I don't mind sharing at traffic lights.
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Perhaps Corina should have mentioned to not furl a wet umbrella.
I'd rather they furl a wet umbrella than leave it open to drip all over fellow ttc-ers... or shake it off (as mentioned)
Rantyrantrant... hehe
Great post! I am also someone who curses those who barge through me with their umbrella. I personally, do not use one. I have a raincoat now with a great hood and I manage fine with that... but it angers me to no end when others poke my eyes out, believe I am invisible, walk through me, or scrape me with nasty umbrella etiquette. When I did use one, I would always raise my umbrella over heads/objects or move it over slightly to one side it to avoid hitting another.
Know when to close your umbrellas.YES! It's so annoying waiting for that one person, who is seemingly so afraid to get one droplet of water on their head, fussing to close their umbrella in a packed streetcar or in the middle of a busy doorway.
The northeast corner of Bathurst and Eglinton - that intersection is one of the worst for pedestrians in Toronto - the drivers are for the most part horrible, and when I lived up there, I got soaked numerous times waiting for the light to change. Usually by TTC buses.
No.
This is only marginally related but re: people who have this weird phobia of getting wet, please open the windows on a stuffy streetcar if it's not pouring outside. In most light rainshowers, the rain does not get in.
If you worry about leaks, just close the window before you leave in case there are sudden storms.
A hot, stuffy, WET streetcar is smelly and uncomfortable.
At 6'2", I swear I'm just at the height where the average person's umbrella tips are right at the level of my eyes (or maybe I just imagine it). Looking out for eye-poking is definitely the most important aspect of umbrella etiquette to me.
What upsets me is the way some people put their wet umbrellas onto the seats in the streetcar/bus/subway train next to where they are sitting. It turns out to be a wonderful surprise for the person who is going to sit in that seat. Think, people, think!
While I've got ducking-into-their-umbrella-space down to a comedic science, there is _no_ avoiding drivers who insist on turning a puddle into a scene out of The Endless Summer. No repercussions, no apologies, just a face full of tail lights. Ugh.
@rek Nope, you're not the only one. I do that too! I often feel like I'm one in a million who actually does it... :(
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