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Have you fallen on the concrete or ice lately? I can tell you, it really really sucks. There's been a lot of snow lately, I think you don't necessarily have t
by codyb 6y ago
Have you fallen on the concrete or ice lately?
I can tell you, it really really sucks.
There's been a lot of snow lately, I think you don't necessarily have to be living a life of fear to not want to slip on the ice.
For the record, I'm a 30 year old, in good shape, and love to walk. But walking outside these last few days in NYC has been a lot of tepid steps with the slush because it is indeed slick. I caught myself when I slipped on something metal and slick the other day, but it was close.
And as a sibling commenter said, even the jerky movements can end up causing issues.
It's been very pretty out, but I don't think lately has been the kind of walking conditions I usually associate with the sorts of walks that are described in the post despite those moments of appreciation for winter wonderland.
- jiofih 6y agoAnd it was better 100 years ago?
- Jtsummers 6y agoTerrain can make a difference. If given the choice, I'd walk over ice that was on top of grass, gravel, or smaller stones (that is, most are in the 1-3" diameter range) over concrete or asphalt. That ice generally gives way under you and provides you a chance to get traction without specialty footgear. The ice that forms on pavement is often much slicker, and the pavement doesn't give so the ice doesn't break underfoot. Concrete and asphalt also promote the development of ice in a way that other surfaces do not, because they retain heat from the sun hitting them. That's the principle issue here, even when it's 10-20F, the pavement is easily above freezing on a sunny day, and when the snow falls in the afternoon it quickly melts and refreeze creating hazardous conditions until the next day when it thaws (assuming it's not a deep snow) as the sun hits it again.
- t-writescode 6y agoOr walk on the snow rather than the ice. How common were perfectly manicured sidewalks back then?
- Jtsummers 6y agoOur snow is not very deep here, normally. At least not in the winters I’ve been in. But yes, prefer snow to icy patches if it’s an option.
- handoflixue 6y agoI slip and fall on concrete about once a year, because my brain can never quite remember how "slippery" works after a nice dry summer. It hurts and I'm stinging for the day, but most of the damage has been to my ego. I'd hardly say it "really, really sucks" Not saying you're wrong, just wondering why our experiences would be so different. I did martial arts as a kid so I definitely know how to take a fall well, so perhaps it's just a skill?
- codyb 6y agoHmm... I'm usually a pretty graceful faller myself generally. Maybe it was just the last time I fell that really hurt. I was carrying a 24 pack of beer to a friends and tried to jump over a slick space and fell and slammed my hip into the ground pretty hard. Was sore for a couple weeks. That was several several years ago, not sure I've slipped on the ice since then. Now I'm a graceful walker ;-).