Originally Posted by
ijgordon
“Stand to the right” on escalators causes longer backups in high-traffic situations (such as a couple of simultaneous aircraft disembarkations) as it severely reduces the capacity of the escalators. Most people don’t walk (especially with luggage) so the left side is mostly empty. We’re not going to stand to the right in a lineup at the bottom of the escalator just so a couple of people can pass by. Take the stairs. The London Underground at one point in recent years was trying to discourage the stand on the right for the greater good.
On moving walkways, I do agree with you.
There are no stairs. If there were, I’d take them.
The studies that show that escalators carry more people when everyone stands still apply when the escalator is full (such as when people are exiting a subway platform), as everyone standing instead of walking allows more people to fit in the escalator.
Those studies are irrelevant to the situations that I describe: the escalators have only a few people on them, and people are spread out, blocking the way. In those situations, it’s more efficient (and courteous) to stand on the right, allowing people to pass.