Why is UK escalator etiquette the same as in the US?

Posted by theqster91@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 21 comments

I’m an American living in the NYC area, and I’m planning a move to the UK in the next couple of years. I’ve been trying to do some research on day-to-day life in advance so that I don’t look like a total noob when I start living there.

Obviously one of the big differences between Brits and Yanks is the left-hand traffic vs. right-hand traffic. From what I’ve gathered, most bidirectional traffic flows—driving, cycling, walking—and their associated rules are essentially mirrored from what the norm is in the US.

However, unidirectional traffic flow is tripping me up. Apparently escalator etiquette in the UK dictates standing on the right and walking/passing on the left, which is identical to how it’s done across the pond. Is this the same for moving walkways (like those in airports) as well? Why is this not “flipped” the way other flows of traffic are? Are there any other common elements of locomotion where the UK and the US share a similar convention?

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laoxue@reddit

To be fair, I think that's just a London thing on the Underground. I've never noticed that convention followed anywhere else.

srm79@reddit

It's the same in Liverpool and we have signs up telling people too

saludpesetasamor@reddit

It’s pretty strictly enforced in Liverpool too, except here if you’re standing on the left someone will yell at you, whereas in London it’s more likely to be furious tutting.

panicattheoilrig@reddit

People do it by habit in Birmingham usually from what I've noticed. Odd idiot that doesn't get the hint though and stands in front of people lol.

I do it by habit everywhere.

miemcc@reddit

It is even signposted in London.

Amanensia@reddit

Agreed. It’s quite remarkable how completely standard it is on the underground and yet it’s followed nowhere else - not even in other locations in London.

PositivelyAcademical@reddit

In part it stems from the walking rule: walk (on roads with no footpath) facing oncoming traffic, which oversimplifies to keep right (and overtake on the left) when walking/standing.

PootMcGroot@reddit

You don't have to research this stuff - clearly you pay attention to the world around you.

Just do that. It's not a degree.

trade-craft@reddit

Wow...does it matter?

Aggravating_Bend_622@reddit

Bro you're trying too hard man, yeah research is good but you're taking it to the next level of analysis, investigation and research 😂

Darth_Zander@reddit

The reason is not to do with more people being right handed or because many of the early investors and engineers on the Underground were from the US. It was to with the design of the first escalators, starting with the ones at Earl’s Court Station in 1911. For safety reasons related to the interface between the last step and the static floor beyond, the first escalators had a diagonal exit facing to the left. So the right side was slightly longer. Those in a rush would choose the quicker left side and also walk up the steps while passengers with more time would take the slower side, standing on the right.
Travelators on the Underground and at Heathrow Airport operate on the same basis: stand on the right, walk on the left.

PS Modern escalators have a different step-to-floor interface which is why escalators no longer exit diagonally. The convention of standing on the right remains however.

ButteredNun@reddit

On London Underground escalators stand on the right, above ground on the left, except on weekends when it’s right, but Bank Holidays left, right? Outside of London we are easy going.

OnlymyOP@reddit

You're way overthinking this .....

mx_sidequest0@reddit

The escalator rule feels like one of those weird international agreements humanity accidentally decided not to argue about.

CatalunyaNoEsEspanya@reddit

I think it might be to do with original escalator design. The exit used to be to the left rather than straight on before the technology improved.

SillyStallion@reddit

The first escalator on the London underground you had to disembark to the left, so it just became habit, that faster people kept to the left and slower to the right so they didnt hold people up.

I do find it ironic that stairs are labelled keep left.

LowAioli3870@reddit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as8s6QQcjp0

PracticeNo8733@reddit

My assumption was always because most people are right-handed and less able people can stand on the right and use their right hand to grip the moving handrail.

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