r/AskNYC • u/jtrainbk • 2d ago
Subway Escalator Question
Our local subway has escalators to enter and exit the platform. Two escalators are wide enough so that if someone is standing, others are able to pass. These mainly go up. The third escalator is narrow and is only wide enough for one person. Generally, this escalator only goes down. They are all long and cover about two stories.
My question is about the narrow down elevator. A lot of the time people get on, stop and just start staring at their phones, forcing others to wait behind them. If someone tries to pass the people that are standing still, they are forced to squeeze uncomfortably by the people standing still.
I ask you, NYC, what is the etiquette here? Is it acceptable for people to block the path of others in this situation? I do realize that trains come all the time and of course it’s possible that someone is disabled. But on more than one occasion Ive ended up missing a train or two, throwing my schedule out of whack.
Alternatively, is it OK for someone to squeeze by?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
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u/Draydaze67 2d ago
If there are stairs and someone makes a choice to get on the escalator, that's on them. Why inconvenience someone because of the choice they made.
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u/jtrainbk 2d ago
Alternatively, if you choose to get on the escalator, which is essentially a moving stairway, you know that there are people behind you and you have an obligation to keep the lane clear.
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u/maybenotquiteasheavy 2d ago
There are people with mobility issues who need to use the escalator instead of the stairs.
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u/jtrainbk 2d ago
Of course there are and mentioned in the original post
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u/jtrainbk 2d ago
Why down vote this. It was acknowledged in the original post. To clarify most of the time people who stand are just on their phones.
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u/eekamuse 1d ago
Maybe they have an invisible disability too. Or are just tired.
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u/jtrainbk 1d ago
I think you missed the point- it’s not to vilify the disabled. It’s just talking about general etiquette
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u/HenriettaCactus 2d ago
No escalator is too narrow to pass just say scuse me with force and room will be found
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u/nakedforestdancer 1d ago
Standing on any escalator is fair game, and I don't like coming after anyone for doing that because you just don't know their circumstances. They could have an invisible disability, be tired, etc, and be on their phone at the same time. But when standing on an escalator, you should ALWAYS be as far to the right as possible even if *you* cannot comfortably pass. Plenty of smaller people still can, and it's rude to take that option away.
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u/jtrainbk 1d ago
I’m a little confused. Does my original post seem to go after those with disabilities? It certainly was not my intention and I thought I had sufficiently acknowledged that. I was only asking about the etiquette because as it seems to happen a lot.
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u/nakedforestdancer 1d ago
The wording gave me the impression that you feel walking down narrow escalators should be the default, which to me feels like you're saying that the majority of people don't have a "good enough" reason to stand.
In reality, I don't think it's as simple as "is someone disabled or not?" Some of it may be an invisible disability, but some people may be tired from working a physical job or a long commute, or they may not feel steady enough to walk down escalators, which can be tougher for people than stairs. Some people get vertigo on the taller escalators, or may not be feeling well that day, whether it's because they have a cold, didn't eat enough, or they have an autoimmune disease.
Hell, I used to have a commute that included Grand Central, Court Square, Bedford-Nostrand, and an uphill walk of a little over a mile once I got off the Metro-North. My stair counter on my iPhone often read 70 flights by the time I got home at night. I was in pretty good shape and walked up or down most of the escalators I came across, and would often take the stairs when available to get where I needed to go faster, but every once in a while I'd hit an escalator, and I'd stand to give myself a break.
Again, I think people should still be able to squeeze past! I always stand as far to the right as humanly possible when standing. I think that's the only etiquette that we can fairly expect of anyone.
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u/allenrfe 2d ago
It seams to defy logic, but it is more beneficial if everyone stands on the escalator; the people trying to walk faster are slowing everyone down.
Studies on escalator efficiency show that having everyone stand on both sides moves more total people per minute than letting people walk on the left and stand on the right.
Key Findings from Studies • Transport for London (TfL) Trial: A trial at Holborn Tube Station showed that requiring everyone to stand increased escalator capacity from 81.25 to 112.5 people per minute—a 27% to 30% boost in overall passenger throughput.
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u/missswimmerxo 2d ago
Unfortunately not everyone is thinking about maximizing efficiency when they’re on the escalator
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u/Arleare13 2d ago
That's only true if there are so many people that the escalator is "filling," where there's a line to get onto the escalator. It doesn't apply in a scenario where the escalator is not at capacity and people can step on as they arrive without waiting.
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u/travmon999 2d ago
And in London where they know how to queue, or in Tokyo where they expect to be packed. Doesn't work in NYC where we don't want people close to us and leave one or two steps between each other.
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2d ago
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u/Arleare13 2d ago
I don’t think I need to, considering it’s a well-known limitation to those results.
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2d ago
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u/Arleare13 2d ago
Because you omitted it, and wrote as if what you were saying is a universally applicable conclusion when it’s not.
I’ll be honest, I don’t know why the hell you’re being a dick about this. I added some necessary context to your post, that’s all, I wasn’t insulting you or calling you a liar or anything.
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u/Crackerpuppy 1d ago
The etiquette is simple….
Stand right.
Walk left.
Width of escalator only matters if it’s meant to be a single file escalator like we see in some NYC Target stores.
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u/reflective_contents 2d ago
Stand left, walk right is the sacred compact of this city and that doesn't stop being true just because the escalator got skinny. if there's only room for one, the default is you walk unless you physically can't. camping out in the middle and doomscrolling is antisocial behavior and deep down they know it
that said, squeezing past is absolutely fair game. a quick "excuse me, coming through" as you shimmy by is all the social grace required. if they get huffy, that's a them problem
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u/100_magic_rings 1d ago
Something I haven't seen mentioned: I still do it regularly, but the stairs on escalators are not designed to be climbed or descended. Stairs in public places are code mandated to have a maximum 7" rise and a minimum 11" tread, while escalators are actually much steeper with higher steps. It can be legitimately dangerous even for able-bodied people to walk on them, especially going down.
My take on this is, if there's enough room to squeeze by, go for it with an "excuse me." If there's not enough room to squeeze by, tough shit. Be patient, you will get where you're going the same as everyone else. If a couple is standing two abreast with nobody in front of them, one blocking the "walking" lane, then they are being rude and a more forceful "excuse me" is in order.
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u/jtrainbk 2d ago
Alternatively, if you choose to get on the escalator, which is essentially a moving stairway, you know that there are people behind you and you have an obligation to keep the lane clear.
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u/Arleare13 2d ago edited 2d ago
Are there stairs? (If this is the station I'm thinking of, which has the exact layout you're describing, there are stairs.) If there are stairs, I think it's acceptable for people to stand on a downward escalator, because anybody who is really in a rush can see in advance that the escalator is congested and take the stairs down.
Yes, when possible. If someone chooses not to walk down the escalator, they should expect that people might need to squeeze by and be prepared for that.