A Toronto student is going viral for calling out a frustration almost everyone in the city can relate to: pedestrians with poor sidewalk etiquette who seem completely oblivious to their surroundings.

Jordan Schaub, a content creator and student at Toronto Metropolitan University, says his daily commute around busy areas like Yonge and Dundas and the Eaton Centre sparked the idea for the post.

“It’s kind of a pet peeve of mine. It’s not a big deal, but it’s frustrating sometimes when you’re trying to walk around the city, and you just can’t get by anybody. People are in the way,” he tells blogTO.

Many may not know that Schaub split his walking experience into two reels. The first performed modestly, but the second one took off. “I was so surprised because I literally almost didn’t post it,” he says, talking about how he often overthinks his content, which sometimes deters him from posting online.

He also hesitated because he didn’t want the content to come across as overly critical. After all, he emphasizes, he’s not trying to be discriminatory at all. The TMU student stresses that the reel is not about targeting specific groups, mocking anyone, or highlighting seniors or people with disabilities. It’s about a broader issue of awareness in shared spaces.

“It’s literally just about being a bad walker and being unaware of your situational awareness. I think that situational awareness is something that we’re lacking a lot in Toronto.” In fact, he makes it clear that walking speed itself isn’t the issue.

Many viewers commented, asking him to refrain from poking fun at walkers who may have disabilities. Schaub says he’s aware of those with mobility issues and seniors on the streets. For him, the frustration comes from unpredictability: people abruptly stopping, swerving side to side, or scrolling on their phones in the middle of busy sidewalks.

As a regular commuter, he says he’s experienced it constantly. He’s even seen a couple making out smack dab in the middle of the sidewalk. Get a room, maybe?

As the reel gained traction, some commenters accused him of being “creepy” for filming people — particularly women — from behind. Jordan says the interpretation misses the point entirely. “I was getting a lot of comments saying I’m filming women, and I was clear in my intention. I’m not.”

Despite the negative connotations, the majority of Toronto residents in the comments — which has now surpassed 1,200 at the time of publication — support Schaub’s attempt to highlight situational awareness. Almost everyone got a laugh out of it, too. 

Another comment includes, “I FEEL SO UNDERSTOOD. Couples that can’t separate or groups… I will shoulder check you. The same goes with people who exit stores and don’t see people walking towards them.” 

As people pour in their support, the conversation has expanded beyond sidewalks. Others have suggested that Schaub should playfully target TTC etiquette and escalators next. He confirms that he plans to keep exploring busy hubs like Union Station and the Eaton Centre.

Schaub, who considers himself an introvert, says making the reels has pushed him outside of his comfort zone. “Even making content for me and filming myself in public has always been interesting. I can’t believe I’m doing this.” 

But it seems he’s good in front of the camera and knows exactly how to captivate his audience.

For now, he’s continuing the series, leaning into what resonates while making it clear the message isn’t about discrimination. It’s about awareness. In a city where everyone seems to be in a rush, his viral moment has struck a chord: sometimes it’s not how fast you walk, but whether you notice the people around