Keep Left Unless Overtaking
There’s one sure way of ascertaining if someone truly understands the workings of inner Sydney: escalators.
You see, the escalators here are not merely an invention of leisure, allowing maximum travel with minimum effort. They have become a marker of efficiency, transforming the humble set of stairs into an accelerated people-mover, transporting walking patrons from point A to an elevated point B in reduced time - given that the rate of climbing remains constant.
Given the need for the rate of climbing to remain constant, 2 types of escalator users have evolved within the city of Sydney. These categories can be roughly identified as the I’ve-Got-Time-To-Stand-And-Waits, and the I’ve-Got-No-Time-To-Waste-Let’s-Not-Be-Inefficient-About-This-Please-s.
I generally fall into the I’ve-Got-No-Time-To-Waste category, which grants me passage in the right hand lane of the escalator, given that the rate of climbing remains constant.
Put simply, you cannot stand in the right hand lane of an escalator. You must keep walking. All those who wish to stand must proceed immediately to the left hand lane. And only the left hand lane.
So, last night, when I arrived at the station with No-Time-To-Waste and an eagerness to maximise both speed and efficiency, you can imagine how I felt when two girls chose to stand dead still in the right hand lane. WHEN THERE WAS CLEARLY SPACE TO THE LEFT. EFFECTIVELY BLOCKING MY RIGHT-HAND-SPEED-LANE FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.
I sighed loudly, the weight of lost potential sinking in sorely.
The guy standing next to me giggled, caught my eye and smiled sympathetically.
I smiled back, knowing that even though some people will clearly never understand escalator etiquette, at least two strangers can come to share a small moment of exasperation at the failings of unspoken rules.
And in the end, that moment of connection was worth far more than afternoon efficiency.
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