If I’m the stander, I’ll walk because I’m able to. But if I’m the walker, I won’t expect a stander to start walking to please me because I don’t know their situation. Maybe they have a prosthetic leg or their sciatica is really acting up today.
Furthermore, what’s the big deal? If its a short escalator, we’ll be at the landing in just a few seconds anyway. If its a long escalator, well I certainly don’t expect anyone to walk three minutes up a case of moving stairs.
It isn’t the standers that are agitating; it’s the ones who stand and block the way so that I can’t walk. I prefer that if you are standing, stand to the side so at least I can walk.
It’s an escalator, the point of them is so people don’t have to climb. That last word is important, for anyone saying people should “walk”, as it isn’t walking.
That said, if there’s space in front of me, I’ll be climbing, and unless it’s several flights I’d have taken the stairs if available. If it is several flights, I’d rather take the lift.
I’ll note that I’ve never seen the two lane thing on escalators. This may well be a UK/US difference.
If everyone was walking on it when I arrived, I’d feel like a dick if I hopped on and just stood there.
Speaking as a walker, if I reach someone who’s standing and there isn’t room to pass, I’ll just ride the rest of the way behind them. No biggie.
I don’t usually stand on an escalator, but in case I ever did, in the OP’s situation, I would definitely start making my way up.
First, let me make it painfully clear that I would never, ever, not even if I were on the brink of death, stand still on a single-wide escalator. Ever. I don’t even stand still on two lane escalators, but it’s conceivable that I would, and were I to, I’d stand to the right so that people could pass. I will be dead and gone before there’s a day when I will find it okay to stand still on a narrow escalator.
But that’s not what you asked. In this hypothetical, I would definitely walk. I just don’t like holding people up, is all. I’m not one of those drivers who gets territorial about the road in front of them either. On the rare occasion that I’m the slow driver, I just let people pass. If I’m walking with a friend down a narrow sidewalk and someone is fast approaching, one of us moves over to let the person pass. If I were on an escalator, I’d put in the effort required (i.e. pretty much none) to walk up the stairs. I know in these parts I’m in the minority on this one, but I’m okay with everyone else being wrong.
Walking on an escalator always seemed like a belt-and-suspenders sort of thing to me. But then, I am a lazy person.
Well, of course I stand to the side on a normal escalator. But it it’s a one laner (like in the OP), it is what it is. I have a one laner at the end of my commute, at which point I am usually nauseous, exhausted and not particularly steady on my feet.
**MeanOldLady **speaks the truth.
Yeah, for some reason I think MeanOldLady almost always speaks the truth when it comes to etiquette and behaving in public, at least as far as I am aware. You remember that 31 page pitting mademoiselle received for the whole movie seating etiquette thing? MeanOldLady, while a little harsh, was 100% expressing what my opinion was. Same here with the whole escalator thing. Unless you have an issue that you can’t walk, you should walk, at least if you’re in a one-lane escalator. And for the record, I always walk on escalators unless I’m really tired, but even then I just stand to the side.
This is a one lane escalator. There is no room for anyone to pass. It won’t take more than 30 seconds. In the OP’s scenario it will probably take less than 15 more seconds to complete. If I’m not walking I have a reason, and some impatient or aggresive person is not a reason for me to change my mind about whether I’ll stand or walk. If he’s shouting ‘Emergency!’ I’ll get going, but otherwise there’s no reason for his behavior and it’s of no concern to me.
I will go with this one.
It’s not an excuse. If I were capable of walking up stairs, chances are I’d walk up the escalator, too. But I can’t walk up stairs, so I’ll stand, TYVM. And you’re right. People don’t need a valid reason to stand still. But there are often good physical reasons people stand still on escalators, so don’t just blow it off as an “excuse.”
Or you could just bash 'em in the shins with it if they need a stronger clue. 
Sorry for the double post, ran out of edit time.
I appreciate people like you, DCnDC. In return, if someone wants to walk up the escalator and there is ample room to my left, I’ll stay right and make as much room as I can. If people can be reasonable in all situations, there is no need to be on opposite “sides”.
Ah ha. If it wasn’t for threads on the internet, particularly the dope, I would have no idea that there are people who walk up escalators because I have never ever seen someone do that. I could never figure out how they get by people who are standing like you’re supposed to on an escalator. But then, I’ve also never seen one wide enough that you couldn’t grab both railings, either.
You’ve *never *seen an escalator like the one on the right in this pic? Really? :dubious:
I haven’t. The only escalators I’ve been on were the ones in shopping malls or in our local airport and they’re just not that big. I don’t live in a large metro area that has subways.
I only stand if I’m loaded down with luggage (I often stop at the office on my way to the airport.) I first check that no one is behind me before getting on a single wide, or I get on behind a stander. If a double wide is crowded during a train transfer, I wait for the crowd to dissipate and stand right.
I’m not going to allow my limited mobility to be a burden on society. This city depends on moving people around quickly.
Mean old lady can go fuck herself. There are always stairs alongside the escalator and if she is in such a hurry, she can just take them. I could walk up I guess but why? And I feel unsteady walking down, especially on a moving escalator.
