Escalator Etiquette
The rule for escalators is "walk left, stand right". (In some places, it may be "walk right, stand left", but the former is easier to remember since "walk" and "left" have four letters, and "stand" and "right" have five.) I guess I haven't realized how little time I spend in malls, but today I had to take four escalator journeys. To say that it was painful watching people decide that they're too lazy to walk up the escalator is an extreme understatement. It was all I could do not to ask the people ahead of me if something was wrong with their legs. (And believe you-me: if it had only been one or two people I would have insulted versus a whole mob of people including some roughians, I would have.) As Gob of Arrested Development likes to say, "Come on!!"
Comments
The rule on the escalator is the same rule as for the roads of that country. In Aust we drive on the left side of the road and those overtaking do so on the right. so in your form of the rule it is "walk right, stand left". so if you can remember what side of the road to drive on you should have no trouble remembering on the escalaltor. - Patrick Gibson(Aust), Thursday, January 12, 2006 Something funny I've noticed recently... even though the UK is a pass-on-the-right country, all the signs in the London Underground say "Stand on the right, walk on the left." For North Americans' and continental Europeans' comfort I guess? - Luke, Friday, January 20, 2006 I was noticing this as well the other day when I was walking around downtown and it was driving me nuts. Happened again today to the point that I wanted to start kicking the people that would veer to their left, effectively blocking my passage. It was really annoying when it was a group of 4 that all veered to their left and just stood there and waited for me to circumnavigate them. Another thing that I found amusing when living in Montréal was that people would write in to the STM and ask why no signs were on the Metro escalators about "stand right - walk left". The official response, "Our first concern is the safety of all our passengers and staff and there for we recommend you hold the handrail at all times." Guess it is too hard to walk and hold a handrail? Glad I am not alone with this.... - Jason, Friday, May 12, 2006 |  |
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