Cameron Roh, a young man from Ohio, has taken to the streets of London and New York to police the most egregious breaches of pedestrian etiquette. Armed with his smartphone camera, he stalks his prey, rating them for speed, direction, footwork, phone use, and other infractions in real-time. The videos are often humorous, but also biting – a gentle rebuke to those who wouldn't think twice before texting on the move or failing to yield to pedestrians.
Roh's crusade is not just about etiquette; it's about reclaiming public space from the forces of congestion and chaos that seem to dominate modern urban life. He sees cities as places designed for speed and efficiency, rather than human beings with rights and needs. "These places aren't for people," he says – a sentiment that resonates deeply in this age of hyper-speed and hyper-commodification.
Roh's approach is also notable for its willingness to engage the very social media platforms that seem to fuel the problems he's trying to address. By broadcasting his findings on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, he's creating a kind of grassroots civic movement that encourages people to think twice before their next phone-check or pavement-invasion.
Of course, not everyone will take Roh's brand of vigilante justice to heart. Some might see him as a cranky outsider; others might view his videos as simply funny – after all, who hasn't had to navigate a crowded street with a surly on-coming cyclist? Still, there's something undeniably compelling about Roh's single-minded dedication to the art of walking – and his willingness to take on the powers that be in the process.
As I watched him walk away from a group of men blocking the pavement, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for this young man's tenacity. Maybe we all are just a little bit like Roh – our eyes fixed on our phones as we trudge through the urban jungle, occasionally catching sight of the people around us and thinking "oh dear, sorry about that." But perhaps, with a little more courage and a lot less tolerance for bad walking etiquette, we might be able to reclaim this space and make it truly human again.
Roh's crusade is not just about etiquette; it's about reclaiming public space from the forces of congestion and chaos that seem to dominate modern urban life. He sees cities as places designed for speed and efficiency, rather than human beings with rights and needs. "These places aren't for people," he says – a sentiment that resonates deeply in this age of hyper-speed and hyper-commodification.
Roh's approach is also notable for its willingness to engage the very social media platforms that seem to fuel the problems he's trying to address. By broadcasting his findings on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, he's creating a kind of grassroots civic movement that encourages people to think twice before their next phone-check or pavement-invasion.
Of course, not everyone will take Roh's brand of vigilante justice to heart. Some might see him as a cranky outsider; others might view his videos as simply funny – after all, who hasn't had to navigate a crowded street with a surly on-coming cyclist? Still, there's something undeniably compelling about Roh's single-minded dedication to the art of walking – and his willingness to take on the powers that be in the process.
As I watched him walk away from a group of men blocking the pavement, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for this young man's tenacity. Maybe we all are just a little bit like Roh – our eyes fixed on our phones as we trudge through the urban jungle, occasionally catching sight of the people around us and thinking "oh dear, sorry about that." But perhaps, with a little more courage and a lot less tolerance for bad walking etiquette, we might be able to reclaim this space and make it truly human again.