POLL: Escalator Etiquette

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:40 am

See above. Discussion welcome.

vandwagon · Post by **vandwagon** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:42 am

Having taken the DC Metro to and from work a long time ago, the walk on the left, stand on the right thing is ingrained in me. If I don't walk, I stand to the right.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:43 am

I would have to answer with a third option...I almost always walk if there is no one in front of me but rarely will I pass even if the person is over to the right. Typically not enough room.

Jerloma · Post by **Jerloma** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:44 am

Same thing with the moving walkways in airports. If you're just standing there and blocking anyone from going by, you're basically the worst human.

Post by **brian** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:51 am

Yeah, it's a combination of the first and second option for me. If I'm by myself I usually will walk up/down. (Assuming some jerkoff isn't blocking it, though I don't get nearly as pissed off about that as I do the moving walkways in an airport. I will ask someone to move the fuck over and walk by them if they're just standing there on the left of the moving walkway.)

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:52 am

A_B wrote:I would have to answer with a third option...I almost always walk if there is no one in front of me but rarely will I pass even if the person is over to the right.

Yeah, me too.

The closest supermarket to my house has an underground (or more like understore, I guess) parking garage, and one of the options for getting from there to the actual store is an inclinator, which is an inclined people mover (ramp, no stairs). It has some sort of magnetic feature that is supposed to lock the wheels on the shopping carts, so they can go up and down, too. I guess some of the wheel locks are starting to wear out, and last time I was on it with my kids, leaving the store, another shopped lost control of their heavily burdened cart and it started down the ramp towards us. We got it stopped before it hit anyone, but now we always take the elevator.

Jerloma · Post by **Jerloma** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:58 am

brian wrote:Yeah, it's a combination of the first and second option for me. If I'm by myself I usually will walk up/down. (Assuming some jerkoff isn't blocking it, though I don't get nearly as pissed off about that as I do the moving walkways in an airport. I will ask someone to move the fuck over and walk by them if they're just standing there on the left of the moving walkway.)

Not only do they stand on the left but they'll usually plant their carry-ons right their next to them on the right. Horrible, horrible people.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:02 am

Jerloma wrote:
brian wrote:Yeah, it's a combination of the first and second option for me. If I'm by myself I usually will walk up/down. (Assuming some jerkoff isn't blocking it, though I don't get nearly as pissed off about that as I do the moving walkways in an airport. I will ask someone to move the fuck over and walk by them if they're just standing there on the left of the moving walkway.)
Not only do they stand on the left but they'll usually plant their carry-ons right their next to them on the right. Horrible, horrible people.

You should call security and tell them that the offender is acting suspicious.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:03 am

Depends on the width of the escalator stair.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:19 am

I always run because my kids are running even faster ahead of me and I'm 100% sure their stupid little Crocs decorations are going to get snagged and they'll be shredded to death and oh god

Gunpowder · Post by **Gunpowder** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:29 am

If I'm at an airport I probably have bags on me so I usually stick to the left. Otherwise I walk up if I can. If I can't I just stay put for the extra 8 seconds without making a scene.

I agree with Jerloma on the people-movers. If you just stand on that and block the way then fuck you in the mouth.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:33 am

Ryan wrote:I always run because my kids are running even faster ahead of me and I'm 100% sure their stupid little Crocs decorations are going to get snagged and they'll be shredded to death and oh god

Better jibbetz than untied shoelacez.

Post by **brian** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:34 am

I live in what is probably damn near the escalator/moving walkway capital of the world, so I have a strong opinion about the moving walkway thing. Lazy fuckers from Topeka who just stand there like idiot cattle blocking the damn thing from people who want to actually walk piss me off no end.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:38 am

brian wrote:I live in what is probably damn near the escalator/moving walkway capital of the world, so I have a strong opinion about the moving walkway thing. Lazy fuckers from Topeka who just stand there like idiot cattle blocking the damn thing from people who want to actually walk piss me off no end.

I like the people (usually college kids or shitty fun uncles or something) who spread their arms across to both handrails and start doing the pushup walk.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:44 am

we have some escalators here (in the newer buildings) where the right side is painted red and the left side is painted green.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:55 am

degenerasian wrote:we have some escalators here (in the newer buildings) where the right side is painted red and the left side is painted green.

That would do nothing in 'merica.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:57 am

I think I was sort of creeped out by this song when I was kid. Now it just sort of seems like a lazy "I Ran".

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:58 am

Do you post on any other message boards? I post on exactly two and this is a current topic on both of them.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:59 am

brian wrote:I live in what is probably damn near the escalator/moving walkway capital of the world, so I have a strong opinion about the moving walkway thing. Lazy fuckers from Topeka who just stand there like idiot cattle blocking the damn thing from people who want to actually walk piss me off no end.

My favorite in Vegas is just the abrupt stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:05 am

Giff wrote:Do you post on any other message boards? I post on exactly two and this is a current topic on both of them.

Was the order and snarkiness of the poll options reversed? If so, you probably know the guy who wouldn't get out of carwash's way.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:07 am

rass wrote:
Giff wrote:Do you post on any other message boards? I post on exactly two and this is a current topic on both of them.
Was the order and snarkiness of the poll options reversed? If so, you probably know the guy who wouldn't get out of carwash's way.

Ha! No, just generic options.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:07 am

Giff wrote:Do you post on any other message boards? I post on exactly two and this is a current topic on both of them.

Wasn't me. At least not that I can remember.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:09 am

Johnny Carwash wrote:
Giff wrote:Do you post on any other message boards? I post on exactly two and this is a current topic on both of them.
Wasn't me. At least not that I can remember.

I'd hope you'd remember posting on a Houston Rockets message board yesterday.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:12 am

Always go slow, leave yourself an out.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:13 am

I don't know whether I hate escalator blockers more than groups of people who try to recreate the opening credits of Reservoir Dogs on sidewalks. It's legally justifiable to just plow through a large group who do that, right?

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:19 am

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:23 am

Confession: I am actually the chick on the left and a regular poster on Houston Rockets forums.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:27 am

degenerasian wrote:we have some escalators here (in the newer buildings) where the right side is painted red and the left side is painted green.

why do Canadians hate the colour blind

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 12:40 pm

So many variables. Airport is the biggest issue. If I am not in a hurry, I am very conscious of those who are. I want to make room on the left for people to run past. Even with luggage. I usually take stairs, unless I have luggage or the stairs are inconvenient, or I am lazy. The kids love escalators, so the stairs are out when I am with them. I always keep them on the left, as it drives me nuts when people block me or others in a hurry.

Slow walkers in Manhattan drive me nuts more than anything. Walking to work down 34th Street in December made me homicidal. People stopping suddenly on a busy sidewalk deserve to be trampled. Take a peak behind you and pull off to the side if you need to stop. So tempting to plow people over when they do this. My wife used to write for the New York Resident and a couple of the other free newspapers. She wrote an article about "umbrella traffic," specifically assholes with giant golf umbrellas. There is no fucking excuse for a giant umbrella on the streets of New York. Even small umbrellas make the sidewalks an irritating hassle.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 12:51 pm

I intentionally make contact with people who stop short in the flow of traffic. Not hard, because I'm not some aggressive dick, but a little plausibly-deniable-on-purpose bump and "excuse me" that allows them to realize they were dumb without being explicitly told they were dumb. I consider it conditioning.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 12:54 pm

(Also, I don't think airport movers are the same. There's no reason to get on there if you're trying to walk at a decent pace; its for fatties who are flying past their typical 0.25 miles per day just going from Gate A to B and people will a lot of luggage. The default dick on escalators is the blocker, on the moving floors its the pusher.)

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 2:12 pm

The Sybian wrote:Slow walkers in Manhattan drive me nuts more than anything. Walking to work down 34th Street in December made me homicidal.

This one is for you, syb. From one of my occupy buddies. I have my own set of techniques, and being a large brown man the conditions are different. My problem is self absorbed people, about 80% women, who obviously see me, then proceed to pretend that they did not see me and refuse to yield. No. Mercy. Also, the rule is walk to the right; this ain't the british empire.

I play chicken with men on the street

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 2:35 pm

1) van mentioned it up thread, but if you spend significant time in DC on the Metro, you have to learn to adjust your attitude when you go anywhere else on an escalator. And even when you go to sporting events or other places where suburban folks who don't know the rules of the Metro.

2) Airport conveyors... Yeah, if you're blocking the way I'm gonna ask you to move and not very politely. I fucking hate that shit. Contrary to what someone said about fatties, if I'm in a hurry I'm jumping on there and if you're taking up both sides, there have been times I just moved your shit out of the way.

3) My wife and I are non-confrontational, go along/get along type folks. We'll go single if oncoming traffic only allows three to pass each other comfortably. But where we have drawn the line is when 3 folks are coming our way and we go single file, and they don't budge. Fuck you, whoever you are. My wife will simply stand her ground, while I'm liable to make some contact (depending on the violator.)

elflaco · Post by **elflaco** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 1:25 pm

stand right, walk left.

if you're blocking the people mover in one of the many airport i frequent, prepare to have me give you a disgusted look as i toss you over the side.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:19 pm

Relevant: Don’t Walk on Escalators. It’s Faster if Everyone Stands.

Also, fuck this person.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:37 pm

Another counterpoint.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:53 pm

when i was in Asia supermarkets were multileveled, so there was escalator etiquette for shopping carts!

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:03 pm

There are escalators and there are moving sidewalks. A quick escalator ride from the first floor to the second? I stand, but move to the side. But, moving sidewalks? Especially in airports, I'm walking and walking fast. Get the hell out of the way, folks. Coming through.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:45 pm

The only escalator I use on an everyday basis is the one in my office building, and so the answer totally depends on where the person I'm trying to avoid is.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sat Jan 23, 2016 10:01 am

I feel like the only time I use escalators is at the airport. And that the airport escalators I use end up being not wide enough to let people by if you have luggage.

When using an escalator, do you walk up/down the steps?