Escalators

[Susan123]

Why do most people on escalators think it's ok to stand right in the middle and block the way for anyone else trying to get past them? Then they give you a dirty look because you say "excuse me please" to try and move quickly. argh. Has anyone got any examples of what I can say to them - apart from things like, if you moved a bit more you wouldn't be so fat  you heifer..double argh. Sorry,  that's not fair on the heifer... ok rant over now.

[Gef]

Sorry to spoil the fun folks but a serious point. I have a problem on escalators, especially steep, slow moving ones which make me very dizzy. I always try to avoid them but some places, like my local station, have no other access. I find that I can cope with my problem if I keep walking up or down and sometimes I have to wait for a "clear run". Please keep to the right if standing still.

[Piper-AK]

I'm with joko - I hate people who stand at the top or bottom blocking everyone's way off the escalator.  In Central station (Liverpool) they even painted a huge enourmous bright yellow boxed area at the on/off points and stupid ignorant idiots still ignore it and then glare at you if you touch them as you desperately try to get past. 

And another thing - why don't people stand close to the walls on the platform so you're not forced to walk really close to the edge.  The best was when I was nearly knocked over the edge when some idiot stepped back without looking and bumped me.  rrrrrrrrr

[pega]

 I think that escalators are there for transportation to take you up or down and its amazing how people try to run up them both for their safety and other were they to trip and pull others down would they care, they often have bags that knock against you what is the rush a few minutes on the escalator safely or dash up pass others I agree should stand to right side so if needed people can get pass, when I've been to London and the escalators its no pleasure now as people's manners are dreadfull pushing and shoving same on the bus don't let anyone get off  as for using escalotors as stairs thats not the purpose of them, and we must be more compassionate towards each other and those who are not so active allow time. Mr Blair has said in speech they are change makers, unfortunately for the worse I fear as it seems now I'm alright Jock blow you, it all comes down to good manners .

[littleoldme]

I tend to just stand on the right and let people hurtle past so they can get their tube trains. After all, we can't have someone missing their tube train, can we? Why, there may not be another one heading for their destination for as much as, gosh, THREE MINUTES!!! Ahem, sorry.

Anyway, I have to keep still to build up my concentration for the moment when I have to launch myself off the end with just the right momentum and without falling over and making a tit of myself.

[bernardo]

People may not be wanting to walk or run up the escalator for the purpose of catching the next tube train and thereby saving the three minutes before the next tube train comes; they may be rushing to get up to the overground railway to catch a train.  I remember one time when I was travelling across London by tube in order to catch a train at Paddington station (or "Pad Dington" as I think of it) to Weston-super-Mare.  Because I had been delayed by getting lost at one of the tube stations, I had to run as fast as possible (including running up the escalators) in order to catch my train.  I only made it with a few seconds to spare.  If I had not bothered running then I would have had to wait a full hour before the next train, and I would have missed part of the meeting I was going to.

[littleoldme]

True, bernardo, but I can normally tell the people who are rushing to get the tube trains. They tend to be the ones on the down escalator, you see ;-p

[joko]

doesn't really matter why someone is hurrying, they should be allowed to move around at a speed they are happy with, without people thoughtlessly blocking their way.

as for safety, if people stuck to these rules they would be a lot safer - people wouldn't need to shove past or awkwardly manouvre round them. Even incidents of "Rail Rage" would lessen.

Piper-AK ... Liverpool Central was exactly where i was thinking of when I wrote my previous post!! Though can't think of a single place i've been to that it hasn't happened too.

[jno]

when the first escalators were installed - can't remember where - they hired a war veteran with a wooden leg to go up and down, to show people it was perfectly safe to use them. This backfired because everyone thought he'd lost the leg on the escalator somewhere...

Depends on the width of the stair, Susan. London Transport ones are wide enough for two, and the etiquette of standing on the right, walking on the left is generally observed. Narrower ones may cause problems.

As a general principle we should keep out of the way and let other people get on with their lives at their chosen speed. No glaring if someone faster tries to get past. No comments on obesity if someone slower is unable to get out of the way.

[SpiceMan]

Oh how I agree with Susan123 -  I have to visit London weekly to obtain stock.  I would say to all fat people, Yes!  I do need to save minutes.  To get back to the mainline station half a minute late means waiting for a hour, this means a chance of missing post deadlines back home with the resulant DAY delay and this in turn means that my customers do not get their goods till the next week. So no amount of  calculations by the obviously obese will alter this, is it really too much to ask to let others pass - even if they are too fat to get a move on themselves.  If they did so, they would avoid the looks of disgust which I am quite sure they do notice.

[jno]

oh lordy - if I don't lose a couple of pounds SpiceMan's customers won't get their orders til 2009! I am mortified with guilt... NOT. Leave 30 seconds earlier and that'll save you the precious half-minute.

[Dom Tuk]

Almost every establishment that provides stairs and escaltors also invariably provide lifts/elevators at some nearby point for those who cannot use the stairs/escalators. Its also a legal requirement to do so. I would humbly suggest to those people who wish to stand in the middle of an escalator, blocking all able bodied people from any egress, to make full use of the lifts. They are usually made of glass walls and you can gaze left and right (and then left again) at your hearts content and let the deposits congeal on your arteries as you do so. please dont block those escalators.

[Octavius]

bleeding 'eck.

I use our treasured London Underground every day of the week and yes I use the escalators.  Sometimes I walk, sometimes I stand still (on the right as required) - but this is usually for the scenery.

If I am in a rush up or down the escalator - on the left hand side for walking - I usually find saying 'excuse me' works with people of all nationalities and sizes, with or without children, shopping or pushchairs.  And if they do give you a scowl, you wouldn't notice anyway because you should be looking where you are going.

[Gef]

Unfortunately Dom, my local railway station (Partick in Glasgow) has escalator access only. At the moment I am coping fine but on some days I must keep walking and do not get on until I can see a clear passage. As for lifts I have to avoid the ones with glass walls :-)

[JamesEverton]

Travelling across London on the tube every day is such an unpleasant experience that every second does count. It's not asking much for people to stand on the right.

One of my pet hates (there are so many) are people with those wheelie bag things (like air hostesses have) who get off the escalator and then stop so that they can pull the stupid handle thing out of the body of the case. In the meantime, every one else is blocked but the escalator keeps going. Fools!

I find that Kings Cross is particularly bad for this.

[Space]

A) Standing on the escalator is for:
1. people who have some heavy luggage or young children, disabled, or elderly people
2. lazy people who have time to waste just standing there in a tube station ( how exciting )

B) Climbing the escalators is for:
People who don't want to waste their time in a tube station. (There are better things to do in life, and nicer places to be)

C) Climbing the stairs is for:
People who want to do some exercise (and have some spare time to do it).

B) takes half the time as A) and C)
That is the reason why a lot of people do it. So please don't tell  "use the stairs" to people who want to climb the escalators.