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Have you seen that line in New York City? It’s art. It engages. It also divides.

Anything that can make people stop and think about themselves, their surroundings and others nearby really can serve the public good.

Art, photography, architecture and even the news media can fill these societal niches – which hopefully will help us think in new, more broad ways.

So, I’m sure the sidewalk art video produced by Brian Stillman and posted on NYPost.com last week has produced page views as well as questions and thoughts.

Why?

Well, in the video, a mysterious street artist drew a white stripe down Fifth Avenue, between 22nd and 23rd streets. One side is labeled “NEW YORKERS.” The other is designated for “TOURISTS.”

The words are in big white lettering. They make all of us think.

The message is clear: Tourists are a bunch of slow-moving people who gawk and gaze once they hit the city and really are similar to countryfolk who marvel at anything that New York has to offer.

A few years ago, they might even stop, point and yell: “Look! There’s Bernie Madoff.”

And locals, well, are a speedy bunch who need to get to places, like, last week. So: “Outta my way!”

Stillman does a great job of including a variety of opinions in the piece and includes the important fact that tourism brings in money and can actually transform a fast-changing, on-the-edge place.

One thing, though, is that Stillman overlooks the buildings around the area where the stripe mysteriously appeared.

If Google maps is correct, the stripe is near the Flatiron Building – which is a great triangular piece of architecture.

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For some reason – and I’m going out on a limb here by guessing – but humans really love triangular – or odd shaped – architecture.

Or I should be more precise: I like traingular architecture.

So, in a sense, when you have something that is different – and especially in a place that is so famous – you’re going to have, well, out-of-towners stop, look and raise their cameras.

In the past, I’ve pointed out the interesting geometric shapes of the CCTV tower in Beijing, the International Forum in Tokyo and the Central Library in Seattle.

Yes, even in Seattle, there is the Triangle Pub and floors above it – and each time I’m near the building, I try and make it a point to look at it, well, because many of the buildings around it are square or rectangle in shape.

In fact, the Triangle Pub building is so noteworthy that it is on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the National Park Service.

And if a LEGO replica is a sign of flattery and success, well, then the Triangle Pub building has arrived, as evidenced by the creation pictured below.

But I digress.

In terms of that dividing line on Fifth Avenue, it makes sense in one way: It is efficient.

It reminds me of going up those escalators and there are people who want to stand. They either move to their right or left (I forgot exactly which side).

Then, those who need to sprint up the moving escalator – say, you’re late for a meeting – can do so on the other side.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg reportedly commented on the line. But Ben Fractenberg of DNAinfo pointed out that Bloomberg might not have fully understood the line’s meaning.

I’ve been fortunate enough to live in New York City years ago. Yes, the city is crowded. On Canal Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown, I often walked near the curb to make my way from place to place.

Once, when I was near Times Square, I saw a bulky guy become frustrated at some slow-moving women who were soaking in the sights and noise that New York City has to offer the world.

After he passed them he turned, raised his arms a bit and yelled – and loud enough that I perked up: “You must be from Ohio!”

And I thought, as we say now: Classy.

I was also in New York City after the September 11th terrorist attacks. One thing I do remember: People from around the country – from cities and towns of all shapes – rallied to give their support to the people of New York City.

So, did other people from around the world.

And you know what? People around the world consider New York City to be the World’s Capital – and they are going to visit.

Yes, they might walk too slowly for your fast, hurry-it-up, you’re-in-my-way pace of life.

So, when I hear that one New Yorker say on that NYPost.com video that he knocks tourists down when they’re in his way, I think about karma.

It’s a good thing that people from New York City don’t like visiting other cities and countries – say, as tourists in Beijing or Shanghai.

Then again, people in China really are expected to speak and spell English correctly because, well, the country is opening to the world.

And there are so many mistakes that a native English speaker in China can spot.

Right?

UPDATE: I forgot that not all sidewalks that look open to the public actually fit the bill.