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Some may disagree with me here, but my take is this> Escalators are for lazy people or people whom have conditions that prevent them from taking stairs. Now do you feel that people who refuse to run down a flight of stairs should moan and complain to those riding the escalator for not moving to the side so that they can speed up their escalator ride? If you ask me, if the person is in such a rush, why not just take the stairs? Even when the escalator is packed and theres nowhere to move, I see these same people moaning and groaning about not being able to pass. Now if there is ONLY an escalator present at a specific subway station, I can understand thier frustration.
stand to the right, walk to the left - both sides can be perfectly happy with a little consideration and respect
Sounds easy. Ever rode the escalator at Penn Station? LOL. Its packed, not to mention many people with luggage. If the person wants to walk so bad, why not just walk down the stairs?
People are hypocrites...and not always logical. NYC is no exception.
Standing to one side (usually the right) on an escalator that is wide enough to fit two people should make as much "common-sense" to people as pulling over to one side of the road as opposed to putting your car in Park in the middle of the road. People don't normally think "I should stand on the same side as everyone else is standing so people can pass." They have better things to worry about, like how to best ogle the provocatively dressed woman a few steps up, or talking with their friends about [insert pointless subject here] with their BFFs.
Stand to the right, walk to the left. It's not hard. And I just say excuse me if someone is standing to the left, and they usually move.
Walking up the escalator is faster than walking up the stairs. At the station where I get out in the morning, the two escalators are set to both go in the direction of people exiting the station because of the crowds. Therefore, the stairs are packed with people entering the station. Not faster to exit that way.
It's really not hard. It's just a courtesy. I am not a person that likes to stand still, even for a 2 minute ride up an escalator. I'd rather walk up and burn a couple calories and get to work that 2 minutes earlier.
Walking on conveyor transport, like an escalator, a lot faster than walking up the stairs. Ever used those moving sidewalks at the airport? Much faster.
It's really not that hard to be courteous to everyone else and stand to the right. When I'm on an escalator with luggage or a cart, I typically hold the luggage on the stair below me, not next to me. I see other people doing the same.
stand to the right, walk to the left - both sides can be perfectly happy with a little consideration and respect
This is the understood 'rule of thumb' at the 59th Street subway. Midtown is always like this and there's a very good reason this is so (see below)
Quote:
Originally Posted by deevel79
Sounds easy. Ever rode the escalator at Penn Station? LOL. Its packed, not to mention many people with luggage. If the person wants to walk so bad, why not just walk down the stairs?
Penn station, unlike 59th Street subway is primarily full of people arriving from many out of city destinations. NJ, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, upstate and a dozen other places, whereas midtown is a primarily a daily dose of local New Yorkers going to and from work. That bit about "why don't they take the stairs if..." is a wish that will remain unfulfilled so why even entertain it? A little common sense will tell you that standing to one side and walking up another makes...well...sense!
Anyone who's lived in NYC for a long time gets this. Very rare is it that someone will block the entire width at 59th. Myself and others will almost always excuse themselves to get past, and I've noticed that when this happens the person who sees it usually recognizes why and understands.
It's simple courtesy to allow as much choice as possible. One shouldn't expect this at Penn Station simply because the daily majority are not just daily commuters but lots of one time visitors as well.
Some may disagree with me here, but my take is this> Escalators are for lazy people or people whom have conditions that prevent them from taking stairs. Now do you feel that people who refuse to run down a flight of stairs should moan and complain to those riding the escalator for not moving to the side so that they can speed up their escalator ride? If you ask me, if the person is in such a rush, why not just take the stairs? Even when the escalator is packed and theres nowhere to move, I see these same people moaning and groaning about not being able to pass. Now if there is ONLY an escalator present at a specific subway station, I can understand thier frustration.
What are your thoughts?
You asked about escalator etiquette, but it seems more like you're ranting against the existence of escalators in the first place.
Do you also have a problem with the way people walk up and down stairs?
Some may disagree with me here, but my take is this> Escalators are for lazy people or people whom have conditions that prevent them from taking stairs. Now do you feel that people who refuse to run down a flight of stairs should moan and complain to those riding the escalator for not moving to the side so that they can speed up their escalator ride? If you ask me, if the person is in such a rush, why not just take the stairs? Even when the escalator is packed and theres nowhere to move, I see these same people moaning and groaning about not being able to pass. Now if there is ONLY an escalator present at a specific subway station, I can understand thier frustration.
What are your thoughts?
There is no etiquette in NYC. You want to see escalator etiquette, go to London. I was afraid to stand on the left side for fear of what would happen to me. Lol.
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