6.19.2007

They've been around for more than 100 years

What I'm talking about here is the escalator. Figure out how to use them, people.

I'm not going to elaborate much on the "stand on the right" rule for Metro escalators. The topic has been covered in many blogs before (and it will be sure to piss RobG off hehe).


In short, if you visit D.C. and make use of the Metro trains, if you want to stand and ride, stand on the right side. Some of us don't want to wait five minutes to be transported to the top (and that's not even that much of an exaggeration at some stations).

But here's my new pet peeve for escalator use: If you're scared of the escalator, take the time to use the stairs or the elevator instead.

An adult woman this morning walked up to the left side ...
stalled ...
watched the escalator run for a few seconds ...
took a wide step to ensure her entire foot would only be on a step, not on a crack ...
walked slowly up about four steps ...
stopped, presumably to mentally prepare herself for the exit ...
stepped off in a nervous, wobbly manner ...
then paused again to right herself.

This is fine if you are two, but the rest of us who mastered the art of using an escalator by age four piled up behind her with nowhere to go, and me, being directly behind her, took the brunt of the stack up.

My annoyance might have been escalated this morning because it was about 95 degrees down there at 100 percent humidity; there were train delays; I had been on a packed train with pretty much nowhere to stand but too close to a sweaty armpit; and all I wanted to do was go home to take another shower ... but seriously! Don't get on the damn thing if you're an idiot.

That's all.

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