# Escalator etiquette **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 1999, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242 "1999-12-08T21:29:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242/41 "2004-02-07T15:31:02Z")
An escalator is a dangerous machine. No one needs to be walking or sprinting on them. Those who are too impatient to stand on an escalator have got some other issues. ---
**Author:** ![MinniePurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@MinniePurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MinniePurl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242/42 "2004-02-07T16:07:08Z")
Here in Denver (and previously when I lived in Colorado Springs) most escalators are pretty much only wide enough for one person. So you can climb or stand still, but passing is non-existent. My whole life, I can’t remember anyone stepping past me except on moving sidewalks at the airport. Even there, never seen any signs. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242/43 "2004-02-07T17:13:16Z")
I really don’t understand the “shoving out of the way” syndrome. Doesn’t it take even less energy to simply say “Excuse me, please?” ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242/44 "2004-02-07T18:55:27Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > An escalator is a dangerous machine. No one needs to be walking or sprinting on them. Those who are too impatient to stand on an escalator have got some other issues. Sprinting aside, in the context of the OP (i.e. in London), that’s at best an opinion and at worst a ridiculous statement. > [@VogenPoet](#): > > I was surprised in London to find that they didn’t reverse the standing vs. walking lanes the way they do sides of the road that they drive on. I’m easily surprised. Then I decided that driving on the left and walking on the left seemed consistent in england. Just as for us americans passing on the left is natural. Last time we talked about this, I think that the consensus was that you stand on the right to hold on with your right hand. A bigger concern (well, for me - I get concerned about all sorts of things) is the inability of people on the streets to think. If you walk on the left of the pavement in the UK you’ll be facing the oncoming traffic but, if there is an accepted side to walk on (and I’m not convinced that there is), it seems to be the right. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242/45 "2004-02-07T20:47:43Z")
Here in Chicago, I don’t recall ever seeing a sign on the El (elevated train) escalators reminding people to stand right, walk left. However, everybody seems to know this rule instinctually; it’s rare to encounter someone clogging up the flow of traffic by standing on the left. When I lived in Hungary for five years, one of the hardest things to get used to was the fact that escalators were pretty much a free-for-all. Nobody abided by any rules of etiquette. It’s ironic that at the major metro stops, there were signs clearly indicating this basic courtesy. When I inquired of the locals why nobody follows this rule, they said “There’s no such rule.” I reply, “Whaddaya mean? You’ve got freakin’ signs all over the Metro system stating this.” “No we don’t” “YES YOU DO!!!” I had to take them to the metro and point out the signs for them to actually believe me. The only other public transporation point-of-etiquette that irks me as much is people who try to get on the bus or metro while passengers are trying to exit at the same time. As for missing trains, here in Chicago it can be up to 15 minutes for the next El to come by, so there’s good reason to scoot up the escalator if you see the train coming. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242/46 "2004-02-08T01:15:28Z")
“Links gehen, Rechts stehen” Even in the small trainstation of my town of 200k in germany. Left go, Right stand Also, I am curious not to hijack, why did that person above spell “spiel” as “schpiel” is that Yiddish or some sort of Anglicism of the German word “spiel” wich by the way means “game” for those wondering where the commonly used word comes from. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242/47 "2004-02-08T01:26:59Z")
In Hong Kong, it’s stand right/walk left but no signs. In Singapore, it’s stand left/walk right with signs. ---
**Author:** ![satu\_largi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@satu\_largi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satu_largi)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242/48 "2004-02-08T01:59:35Z")
…in Sydney, Anglo-Celtic Aussies stand left, walk right, and most other races stand right, walk left. Multiculturalism at work… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242/49 "2004-02-09T15:08:00Z")
> [@](#): > > why did that person above spell “spiel” as “schpiel” is that Yiddish or some sort of Anglicism of the German word “spiel” wich by the way means “game” for those wondering where the commonly used word comes from. “Shpiel” or “schpiel” is American slang by way of Yiddish. It means a long-winded, dubious story or explanation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escalator-etiquette/9242.md?page=2)