Sidewalk Pylons

 What exactly is a sidewalk and what is the purpose of a sidewalk?  I took the time to look up the definition of sidewalk and felt it necessary to share it with all my readers. 
"A walk for foot passengers at the side of a street or road; a foot pavement."  Now this is pretty straightforward to me, although I understand it could be confusing to some.
 You see, I too walk on a sidewalk and have always wondered if it is okay to skip, run, crawl or even just stand on a sidewalk.  From all the Intel that I have gathered on this subject it is apparently okay to do all of these things as long as you take into consideration those around you.  Does that mean I need to stay out of their way while skipping along or just be prepared to move or stop when necessary.  Either way I am looking out for their best interest and not interfering with their ability to simply walk on the sidewalk.  Good for me.  (Oh, and by the way I only skip when with my kids, really.)  So I ask you "what is wrong with parents picking up their kids from school that must stand on the sidewalk while waiting?"    
 How many of you have picked up your kid/s or any kid/s from school and had to work your way through the crowd of parents and kids to start heading home?  You see, at our school we have a sidewalk that winds from the road up and across the front of the school and back down to the road on the other side.  From the direction I walk you pass by the pickup area for the grade ones on up, then past the front entrance of the school and finally the pickup area for kindergarten before turning back down to the road.  So if I am correct in the definition of sidewalk then why is it for the past 4 years I have had to steer around the crowds of people standing on the sidewalk waiting for their grade one or older kids?  There is a very large paved area that can accommodate more than enough parents while they wait.  In fact I spend my time on this paved section, waiting for my oldest, conversing politely with other parents that understand, knowingly or unknowingly, the definition of sidewalk.  If they don't know the meaning of sidewalk they at least appreciate the challenge of fighting past these pylons, that appear to be glued in place, and do not want to be associated with them.  Makes me wonder if the sidewalk snowplow were to come through would they take their chance or get out of the way.  My guess is that the driver better be quick at the wheel.
 When my wife and I started picking up our oldest from JK we had a double stroller to push through these crowds.  In majority of these cases it was my wife doing the navigating and all I can say is that I am amazed there were no fatalities as she is one that will run right over stupidity and not look back.  Pushing a double stroller is challenge enough let alone steering around buffoons.  A year later it was a triple stroller and still the roadblocks were there.  Now, like a bad smell, some of these people moved on as their kids got older, but like a bad smell there is always another one hiding in wait for its opportunity.  Currently our oldest is in grade 2 and the twins in SK so on most days I miss the crowd when I arrive, although I do fight to get back through it after picking up the twins.  In fact it becomes even more dangerous as these pylons now start to move with no regard for the oncoming traffic. 
 The sidewalk at our school is narrow and in need of a ton of work, probably a complete redo, that the school does not have the budget for.  It is challenging enough to walk with no one blocking your way so I only ask that parents take notice of where they stand and let the sidewalk be what it is meant to be.  At the very least get out of the way of those trying to get by and I do not mean turning sideways, move off the sidewalk.  As the NHL tries to cut out headshots in its game I believe that maybe a few headshots on the sidewalk might wake some parents up and have them standing on the sidelines versus the sidewalk.  Common courtesy goes a long way whereas ignorance gets you nowhere, make a choice and make it the right one.
 For all of the parents that do the right thing and stay off the sidewalk while waiting, thank you.  For all the parents that have fought the tough fight in picking up their kids and have never purposely run down a pylon, good for you.  And finally, for all the parents that stand there oblivious to those around you, wake the hell up and get out of the way.