While road rage is a social ill that has been well-documented over the past two decades, a related phenomenon known as "sidewalk rage" is only now coming into the public spotlight.
Whether it's in a busy shopping mall, on a crowded sidewalk or in a narrow hallway, most of us can relate to the feeling of being held up, delayed or blocked by a wall of walkers.
In fact, sidewalk rage can be tied to a psychiatric condition known as intermittent explosive disorder (I.E.D.), which has been the focus of an increasing amount of study lately.
A recent report in the U.S. suggested that as many as 16 million Americans are affected by the disorder, which is "marked by episodes of unwarranted anger."
The report, from the National Institute of Mental Health, also suggested that those afflicted "may attack others and their possessions, causing bodily injury and property damage."
The key to the disorder is episodes of overreacting, research suggests. Indeed, being stuck behind another driver or a pair of slow walkers holding hands may only cause a delay of a few seconds, yet the incidents can spark a raging response.
"Frustration is a form of anger, and it's associated with people getting in the way of your goal," said Lorne Korman, from B.C. Mental Health and Mental Health Addiction Services.
Especially in dense, crowded cities with heavy pedestrian traffic, sidewalk rage can be very common.
Take a stroll on Toronto's Yonge Street during a mid-afternoon rush or along Vancouver's seawall on a warm Saturday afternoon and you will get the idea.
Even in medium-sized Canadian cities, incidents of sidewalk rage are a real possibility: indeed, navigating waves of foot traffic in West Edmonton Mall during a busy Saturday afternoon can be stressful.
While statistics are hard to pin down about violent blowups related to the issue, business owners in central London recently suggested a two-lane solution on a busy shopping street: one for fast walkers, one for slow walkers.
With a report from CTV's Daniele Hamamdijan
