There's nothing like the train station at peak hour. I fight it on a daily basis. It's really quite interesting to see the different types of people there. Over the years, I have classified people into a few different categories. Personally, I dabble in between the different categories, depending on how I feel on the day. That's how I am in general - I like a little from column A and a little from column B - variety is definitely a lovely little spice in life. By no means is this an exhaustive list, but it's a start. You could probably write a whole thesis about stair and escalator etiquette, but here's the wikipedia version.
The Climbers. Climbers don't like to waste time. The speed of the escalator is not enough for them, so they will insist on climbing up the escalator - or to top that, they will even use the stairs instead to avoid the risk of the escalator's fast lane being slowed down by a floater. Nothing frustrates the climber more than a floater (description below). Some climbers will confront offending floaters with a polite 'excuse me', but I have witnessed some climbers even shout to offending floaters to 'keep moving!'. Climbers are go-getters, and when their go is gotten by someone else, heads will roll.
The Floaters. Floaters are either really oblivious or really inconsiderate. Most people know basic escalator / stair case courtesy, if going slow or staying still - KEEP LEFT! It's not a hard concept. But some newbies to the train station are not aware of the rules and will break them unkowingly. That's alright guys, you're stupid - you can't help that, I understand. You may be forgiven for being a noob. Then there are the inconsiderate ones - the scum of society. These guys will stand on the right side of the escalator, turn around and see a line of climbers waiting to ascend, and then TURN BACK AROUND to face the front - WITHOUT moving over to the left! Just thinking about that is annoying me!!
The Left Keepers. These are the good citizens who know the rules and keep them. They assist with the smooth flow of escalator / stair traffic with considerate behaviour. They keep left. They avoid trouble. You could even call them peacemakers. Some left keepers will even tap floaters on the shoulder and tell them they're blocking the flow of climbers below. These are the silent heroes of the train station.
Finally, there are the occasional Show-Offs. These are the people who will run up the stairs, over-taking others and skip all the way to the top without taking a breath. They make other people feel unfit and fat with their incredible fitness. Some will even wear their joggers to and from the train station just to assist with gaining their moment of glory. I wouldn't be surprised at all if these guys spent all their spare time at Jacob's Ladder running up and down the concrete steps. Though all the non-Show-Offs openly despise the Show-Offs, deep-down they all aspire to be just like them someday.
The Climbers. Climbers don't like to waste time. The speed of the escalator is not enough for them, so they will insist on climbing up the escalator - or to top that, they will even use the stairs instead to avoid the risk of the escalator's fast lane being slowed down by a floater. Nothing frustrates the climber more than a floater (description below). Some climbers will confront offending floaters with a polite 'excuse me', but I have witnessed some climbers even shout to offending floaters to 'keep moving!'. Climbers are go-getters, and when their go is gotten by someone else, heads will roll.
The Floaters. Floaters are either really oblivious or really inconsiderate. Most people know basic escalator / stair case courtesy, if going slow or staying still - KEEP LEFT! It's not a hard concept. But some newbies to the train station are not aware of the rules and will break them unkowingly. That's alright guys, you're stupid - you can't help that, I understand. You may be forgiven for being a noob. Then there are the inconsiderate ones - the scum of society. These guys will stand on the right side of the escalator, turn around and see a line of climbers waiting to ascend, and then TURN BACK AROUND to face the front - WITHOUT moving over to the left! Just thinking about that is annoying me!!
The Left Keepers. These are the good citizens who know the rules and keep them. They assist with the smooth flow of escalator / stair traffic with considerate behaviour. They keep left. They avoid trouble. You could even call them peacemakers. Some left keepers will even tap floaters on the shoulder and tell them they're blocking the flow of climbers below. These are the silent heroes of the train station.
Finally, there are the occasional Show-Offs. These are the people who will run up the stairs, over-taking others and skip all the way to the top without taking a breath. They make other people feel unfit and fat with their incredible fitness. Some will even wear their joggers to and from the train station just to assist with gaining their moment of glory. I wouldn't be surprised at all if these guys spent all their spare time at Jacob's Ladder running up and down the concrete steps. Though all the non-Show-Offs openly despise the Show-Offs, deep-down they all aspire to be just like them someday.
1 comment:
Keep Left on stairs, footways etc. in the UK. UK Highway Code para 1 includes "avoid being next to the kerb with your back to the traffic" i.e. "keep left".
In other countries always walk as you drive except on a road with no footway/sidewalk.
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