Unpopular opinion: people who stand on the left side of the escalator are the real traffic jam

I used to think it was just a small thing, but after my train got delayed last Tuesday, I saw the whole station get backed up because of it. A line of about twenty people was stuck behind one guy just standing there with his bags, blocking the whole left lane. It matters because when you're trying to make a tight connection, those extra seconds count. How do you all handle this without being that person who yells 'Excuse me'?

3 comments

3 Comments

mitchell.lee1d ago

Yeah, I just say "on your left" in a normal voice as I'm coming up behind them. It's direct but not rude, and most people get the hint and shuffle over. If they have headphones in, sometimes a light tap on the shoulder is needed (which I hate doing, but it works).

terryk101d ago

That shoulder tap feels like a social crime. My awkwardness levels hit the roof every time I have to do it. Still beats crashing into someone, though.

morgan89822h ago

My buddy Jake tried the "on your left" thing like mitchell.lee said, at the park last week. Some guy with huge headphones just froze and turned right into him. Jake ended up in a bush, and the guy's smoothie went everywhere. It was a whole mess.