escalator etiquette

Question

How would I explain :If you want to get carried up the escalator, stand on the left side, if you want to walk up, walk up in the right side. Don't block the passageway for people that want to walk up by standing on the right.Thank you

Philip · Accepted Answer

Riders keep to the left; walkers keep to the right.  [ I've seen something just this simple in many airports around the world, including on the flat, moving walkways. ]

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks Philip, can you say 'block passageway?

Philip · Answer

Anonymous Thanks Philip, can you say 'block passageway?

I/m not sure how this would fit in. There isn't much passageway to begin with on an escalator. The term itself is completely understandable.

Clive · Answer

Riders keep to the left; walkers keep to the right.

Where I live, we do the opposite.

Grammarfreak · Answer

Anonymous How would I explain :If you want to get carried up the escalator, stand on the left side, if you want to walk up, walk up in the right side. Don't block the passageway for people that want to walk up by standing on the right.Thank you

This is my observations on escalator which I was very fascinated by as a kid. There are no written rules for riding an escalator that I know of. Escalator is an invention to help people minimize walking the stairs between floors. So logically, once you get on an escalator, you can stand in the middle of the escalator step without being socially rude. In the early years, escalators width were made much narrower ( roughly 18") than the ones we have today. It barely fit one an average - built American to stand on it comfortably. There wasn't room on neither side for anyone to run up. So people were used to this ride happily but time had changed. Building got bigger, taller, and people seemed to be moving faster and always in hurry. So escalators got wider and there are always a few of those who are in a hurry, who would run up the escalator trying to make their time. So there is no escalator etiguette per se, just courtesy. If you want to avoid people running up behind you, stand to the right once you get on an escalator. As far as etiguette is concerned, there is none because there was no manual for how to ride an escalator.

Grammarfreak · Answer

Philip,
If I remember right, you live somewhere in the north-west of the US. That would make me your neighbor.

My observation is people tend to stand-to- the-right and walk up to the left in high volume traffic areas, like BART, Airport and financial buildings where escalators are wider and bigger. Here is an interesting piece that may make people may say "Uh!"
http://www.welovedc.com/2010/07/20/dc-mythbusting-stand-to-the-right/

Philip · Answer

I think the right/left issue may be exactly the opposite of what I said in most places, but I was just giving an answer to wording for the original post.

Odessa Dawn · Answer

PhilipI/m

Excuse me, Philip. What does the forward slash stand for here?

Philip · Answer

right or left (when in conflict)

escalator etiquette

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