Why Do People Rush down The Train Station Stair on Their right?

tomleonhart on 21/06/2017 - 10:58

A train full of people just disembark, and are going up/down the stair on the left to the concourse leaving the right hand stair empty.

Next thing you know, a lone commuter rushes down to make the train against the flow of people, pushing others out of the way despite a lane being reserved for them on their left, and they usually ended up not making the train as they spent all their time pushing through people. I thought it's common sense that we drive on the left therefore we walk on the LEFT too ?

I used to move to make way for them through (usually mean I'm pushing someone else out of their way). Now I just stop and stand and make them go around me. TAKE THAT WRONG LANER!

/rant

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Comments

  • CyberMurning on 21/06/2017 - 11:07
    -4

    ok this is my world class analysis/theory:
    that person must be right handed. so when he rushing down he will prefer right side because then he can use his right hand to hold on to the rail. its just brain reflex to choose the "strong/safe/dominant/used to" side when people are in hurry.

    • Gagus on 22/06/2017 - 09:21
      +28

      Well I'm right handed and when I'm in a rush I do tend to drive on the right hand side of the road

      • Scrooge McDuck on 22/06/2017 - 10:39

        If you're right eye dominant, driving on the left gives you a better view of oncoming traffic.

        If you're right handed, driving a RHD car gives you better control of the steering wheel during gear changes.

        • gimli on 22/06/2017 - 21:02

          Is that right?

        • D6C1 on 24/06/2017 - 13:55

          @Gimli: two rights don't make a left

    • MishyMoo on 24/06/2017 - 00:19

      Agree.
      To add to that…
      If someone is right hand dominant and if they're holding a brief case or hand bag they're probably holding it in their left hand so that their right hand is free to check phone, pay money, buy train ticket, hold hand rail on train etc.

  • retiredfeline on 21/06/2017 - 11:15
    +14

    Many years ago when there were still discussions around Column 8 of the SMH, some people suggested the reason why there is so much confusion whether to stay left or right using stairs/escalators is because Australia now has a mix of people coming from stay left and right countries. Some signage might help, but it seems nobody is game to lay down a rule.

    • scrimshaw on 21/06/2017 - 11:23
      +2

      a good theory actually. Also talked about on Quora about which side of a footpath people walk on depending on which road rules you observe.

      There are more countries that are RHT (right hand traffic) then there are LHT (left hand traffic) according to Wiki

      • dogboy on 21/06/2017 - 12:09
        +5

        I agree. In my travels it has always coincided with the side of the road they travel on.

        • tomclancy on 21/06/2017 - 13:01
          +13

          Never been to the UK? There they drive on the left but stay to the right when walking.

        • tomleonhart on 21/06/2017 - 13:06

          @tomclancy: didn't know that !

        • Ughhh on 21/06/2017 - 13:36
          +45

          @tomleonhart:

          If in doubt when walking, just walk in the middle and sideways like a crab.

        • dogboy on 21/06/2017 - 14:12

          @tomclancy: Lived there for a few years but that was over 20 years ago so don't remember.

        • Toons on 21/06/2017 - 16:25
          +2

          stand on right, walk on left

          rule was introduced last year and caused chaos

          they are also changing some escalators to single standing only with dedicated walking ones alongside to ease congestion.

          Previously it came down to the common driving rules mentioned anything wanting to move faster overtook to the right then slotted back left the UK is possibly the best example of a continuous cycle you can all be speeding but you move left for the cars behind slot back in and your drafting again fuel economy increase by shared load without conscious realisation of it.

          And your not dragged out your car for not moving over and kneecapped.

        • ronnknee on 21/06/2017 - 22:50
          +2

          @tomclancy:

          Yea, same as HK (since it was previously ruled by Britain).

        • Gershom on 22/06/2017 - 08:59
          -1

          @tomleonhart: Coz it's not true.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 22/06/2017 - 10:45

          The rule of the sea is to keep to starboard (right).

          Maybe they're boat people!! 😱

        • Scrooge McDuck on 22/06/2017 - 10:46
          +1

          @Ughhh:

          If in doubt when walking, just walk in the middle and sideways like a crab.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV5wmDhzgY8

        • Randxyz123 on 22/06/2017 - 11:17
          +1

          @tomleonhart: if you stand on the right on the underground escalators in the UK , you'll get yelled at.

          Australia is the only place where it's different.

        • StingyBritches on 22/06/2017 - 12:12

          @Toons:

          Interesting. In Brissie it's usually stand on LEFT, walk on RIGHT. Where are you located Toons?

        • Toons on 22/06/2017 - 13:01

          @StingyBritches: Perth

          our unofficial rule is the same but nobody follows it on the road or the escalators they just stand or drive wherever the hell they like. infuriating to say the least.

          My comment was to the change in strategy in UK where screaming at tourists standing on the right used to be a rite of passage for locals.

          Now the law is enforced is standing on the right and walking on the left

          it was interesting to see them change the philosophy after years of keep left overtake on right side of a person in all forms.

        • Toons on 22/06/2017 - 13:05

          @knick007: see either comment above or below they changed the underground rule last year.

          standing is now on the right walking is now on the left.

          so there was 2 issues, working it out the right way themselves, then working out who they could scream at for being a tourist.

          there was a reprieve for tourists for a while because they were the ones who were getting it right actually reading the signs.

        • lddv04 on 22/06/2017 - 13:14

          @Scrooge McDuck: Is that you Boaty McBoatface?

        • Cliche Guevara on 22/06/2017 - 13:20
          +1

          @knick007: You got that the wrong way around. In the UK you "stand" on the right and people walk or "pass" on the left. It's counter-intuitive if you are a driver who "keeps left". Possibly it's different in UK due to proximity to Europe?

        • hotukdeals on 22/06/2017 - 13:38
          +1

          @tomleonhart:

          In the uk we do things exactly as expected.

          Drive on the left, and when on escalators stand on the left - allowing people to overtake on the right, just as if you were driving.

          My experience of sydney CBD is exactly the same (been here a year).

        • hotukdeals on 22/06/2017 - 13:41

          @tomclancy:

          In the uk we do things exactly as expected.

          Drive on the left, and when on escalators stand on the left - allowing people to overtake on the right, just as if you were driving.

          My experience of sydney CBD is exactly the same (been here a year).

        • SkMed on 22/06/2017 - 14:31
          +4

          @hotukdeals: Where in the UK? Cause verywhere I went it was the complete opposite. Everyone stands on the right and overtakes on the left. I found it strange since its the opposite to the driving rules.

        • Randxyz123 on 22/06/2017 - 20:02

          @Toons: What time last year did that change?? That would have pissed so many people off haha

        • Toons on 22/06/2017 - 20:48

          @knick007: I think it might have been around June, July last year and yes not many happy people at all, especially when they started getting yelled at like tourists.

          Besides tourists who were actually doing something right for a bit of a change.

          not exactly international headline news especially with the trump and brexit occupying every bit of media

          Polly introducing it had probably got confused with his left and right speech, practising it in the mirror for months. Pointed the wrong direction while demonstrating the new system and saying the opposite, got corrected and ran with it.

        • Randxyz123 on 22/06/2017 - 20:52

          @Toons: That makes sense. I was there in Late June / Early July and people were getting all confused.

          Maybe they were still dazed because of Brexit….

        • useruser on 22/06/2017 - 22:43

          In Thailand they drive on the left but there are many signs saying keep right when walking slow or taking the travelators etc.

        • omghi on 23/06/2017 - 00:34

          @Toons:
          Ever tried to get down the stairs in Perth underground during morning peak?

          I'm not sure what is worse, the design of that place or the commuters.

        • Toons on 23/06/2017 - 00:55

          @omghi: road, stairs anything involved with getting from A to B it seems to be a god given right to do what you want the way you want. I've never been anywhere as bad for it

          I love it when people actually grow up travel and realise the world is bigger than them.

          I remember taking a mate to a bar in Norway one night and he was absolutely fuming a couple of lads walked straight through him without as much an excuse me. i could only laugh, it would end up in a fight here but there it's normal and they aren't being disrespectful, just the way they are brought up. if they had knocked his drink out of his hand they would buy him another but there would be no apology for bumping into him in a crowded bar. the replaced drink is just good manors the fact they have to move through a crowd is just life and trying to eek your way through doesn't work.

        • nubix on 25/06/2017 - 00:44

          japan seemed to have both :\

      • cameldownunder on 22/06/2017 - 14:38
        +1

        Another interesting factor: Most shops ( Big W, Coles, Whoolies ) are laid out for a Clock Wise "Circulation" while continental Europe has a majority of counter clock layout.

    • Godric on 21/06/2017 - 15:03
      +8

      In tokyo they have arrows and lanes painted on the ground to help direct foot traffic

      • retiredfeline on 21/06/2017 - 15:06
        +13

        I would expect no less of them.

        • Kangal on 21/06/2017 - 15:53

          Next they will have robotic chairs, and will need RFID labels to tell the robots which side of the footpath to stay on.

        • OzzyOzbourne on 22/06/2017 - 13:41
          +2

          Yeah but we're still trying to work out whether it's ok to run over pedestrians in the road. Advanced thinking, like putting arrows on stairs, is where we might get to in 50 years time. Even then, it'll be different in different states.

        • Toons on 22/06/2017 - 20:52

          the most insane was the introduction of no texting paths in parts of asia because of the amount of pedestrian accidents due to being distracted by the phone not watching where they were walking.

          Darwin is at work somewhere

        • kiitos on 23/06/2017 - 21:34

          @OzzyOzbourne:

          There used to be directional arrows painted on the footpath up and down George St Sydney back in the 80s.

      • Caped Baldy on 22/06/2017 - 09:23

        I've been. Not everyone uses them unfortunately.

      • D6C1 on 24/06/2017 - 13:58

        The Japanese are polite. But they still pixelate most of their movies. Giggity

    • kingmw on 22/06/2017 - 19:04
      +1

      Might be easier and obvious to just put arrows on the stairs.

      https://tinyurl.com/yalprwko

  • trustnoone on 21/06/2017 - 11:24

    In Burwood they have sticker things on the floor telling you to walk up on the right and walk down on the left (if you're at the top of the stairs).

    I always assumed it was closest to them, so they think they're late, they get to the stairs and they walk up the right side as they arrive on the right. Or I assume most people know which side the train is coming from so they take the side that the train should be at.

    • cameldownunder on 22/06/2017 - 14:39
      +2

      And in Wynyard they have morons in orange vests, that block one set of stairs, and make everyone go up on just one, even if there's no train arriving or people walking down.

      • trustnoone on 22/06/2017 - 15:03

        I didn't know they did that at Wynyard, they do that at Burwood as well for the 8am train into the city. I assumed it was to stop people getting on the closer carriages so there is still room at Redfern and onwards?

  • carwashhair on 21/06/2017 - 11:46
    +1

    They might be from the UK?

  • Baysew on 21/06/2017 - 11:53
    +75

    People who travel by train are usually welfare cheats, unemployed or just general wage slaves. Obviously these unwashed masses are socialists and communists and so gravitate to the left. The lone commuter you have encountered is a champion of free enterprise (and would probably prefer to fly by tax payer funded helicopter), and so holds on grimly to the right.

    • John Kimble on 21/06/2017 - 11:57
      +6

      People who travel by train are usually welfare cheats, unemployed or just general wage slaves.

      WTF?! Hahaha

      • cameldownunder on 22/06/2017 - 14:40
        +1

        Only the cheap trains, you know the really old one's.

    • tomleonhart on 21/06/2017 - 12:01
      +7

      lmao.

    • Diji1 on 21/06/2017 - 13:49
      +3

      Add criminals to the list since Malcom Turnbull often likes to slum it on the trains.

    • try2bhelpful on 21/06/2017 - 14:31

      Tony, have you wandered out of the wilderness? I don't think he even recognises there is a left.

    • havebeerbelywillsumo on 21/06/2017 - 15:06
      +2

      Started reading, thought "Troll", kept reading started laughing. Good one, ya got me initially.

  • windowshopper on 21/06/2017 - 11:54
    +1

    I think you are correct about how we are programmed to stick to the left because of driving rules. Also, not everyone drives so you'll get the odd person go against the routine?

    Look this up where people drive on the right (America) and see if it's the case.

    • Wystri Warrick on 21/06/2017 - 12:15
      +4

      Look this up where people drive on the right (America) and see if it's the case.

      I find Americans to be fascinating creatures.

  • petry on 21/06/2017 - 12:01
    +1

    Absent minded people who were taught to march.

  • John Kimble on 21/06/2017 - 12:02

    You know what they say, common sense ain't common.

    Slightly related, what's the rule about footpaths?

    Should you walk with car traffic or against?

    I've been told if you walk against car traffic, at least you have more of a chance to see a car mount the footpath and try to avoid being hit compared to a car coming from behind…

    • Ughhh on 21/06/2017 - 12:13
      +1

      Should you walk with car traffic or against?

      I don't think there's a rule? However, if you're a female and/or child, you should walk against traffic to make it harder to be followed by creeps. But with everyone on their phones and listening to music, they could be surrounded by 10 noisey clowns and not even realise.

      • John Kimble on 21/06/2017 - 12:23

        So because I'm an adult male, creeps won't follow me?! How depressing. :p

        • retiredfeline on 21/06/2017 - 12:57
          +2

          Creeps' code of honour.

        • prinsenhof on 22/06/2017 - 17:56

          Don't be depressed, your actually the creep because your an adult male.

        • John Kimble on 22/06/2017 - 18:04

          @prinsenhof: Oh wow, plot twist! But it makes sense now! No wonder I like being a kindergarten teacher! :p

  • altomic on 21/06/2017 - 12:12
    +10

    I was just in Japan. In Tokyo people stood on the left on escalators, in Osaka it was on the right.

    • Kangal on 21/06/2017 - 15:55
      +1

      East vs West?
      Guess the sengoku grudge runs on…

  • KitchenSink on 21/06/2017 - 12:55
    +8

    I tend to walk like I'm driving and thats walking on the left and use the right side to over take.

    I sometimes get road rage on slow walkers too.

    If you're in different countries that drive on the right (USA for example) they do the opposite and walk down the left, up the right.

    • cupcake on 21/06/2017 - 13:11
      +1

      Slow walkers annoy the hell out of me as well. Like driving, you have to go with the flow of traffic I say.

      • Kangal on 21/06/2017 - 15:57
        -4

        Yeah, when Asian drivers walkers block the road, walk slow, or unnecessarily slam their brakes… I yell curse words and record everything with my dashcam attached to me forehead ~(:-/)

        • cupcake on 23/06/2017 - 21:38

          "Attached to me forehead" lol
          Where's me hat? It's in me ute. Lol

        • Kangal on 23/06/2017 - 22:02

          @cupcake:
          I'm not sure that I should be proud of the negative votes, as it shows the public has compassion.
          Or if I should be proud that I am as famous as the notorious jv.

          I'm proud nonetheless.
          (the comment was sarcastic btw)

      • cameldownunder on 22/06/2017 - 16:02
        +1

        Difference is, I dont mind full on collisions, as I am 6.2 and 100+ Kg. It's not going to hurt ….. me

      • secondstory on 23/06/2017 - 23:56

        I try not to mind slow walkers because they might be elderly or have an injury that isn't apparent. Not everyone is in a rush so I can bear to go around them.

        What really triggers me though, is ignorant/inconsiderate turning or stopping. I was in peak rush today and got body blocked for a good 10 seconds when these two young fellas in front of me suddenly stopped and couldn't agree whether they wanted to turn in to a store or not. I was so mad I wanted to roll my eyes at them.

        • John Kimble on 27/06/2017 - 15:37

          I was so mad I wanted to roll my eyes at them.

          Pretty good self control you didn't roll your eyes! What did you do (if anything)?

    • SkMed on 22/06/2017 - 14:29

      Yeah I thought this was the rule too. Follow driving rules. Slow on the left, overtake on the right. However in the UK They dont do that whih I found odd. They have the same road rules (driving on the left) but when they use stars and whatnot they reverse it! I found it really frustrating and unintuitive.

  • dasher86 on 21/06/2017 - 13:00
    -2

    In the UK people stand on the right.
    I loved it when I wasn't in a rush and people stood on the left. I would just stand patiently behind them before the tirade of people would comment.
    Can you move please. I'd be like there is no where for me to go.
    Can you tell the person ahead of you to move?
    You tell them
    =D

    • outlander on 21/06/2017 - 14:53
      -1

      I think thats a situation where pushing/knifing may be warranted

      • dasher86 on 21/06/2017 - 14:57

        i know. i wish i had a knife. the arrogance of people thinking that i need to do what they want me to do.

  • cupcake on 21/06/2017 - 13:10
    +1

    This one time, at a train station, a girl was wearing very high heels and ran for the closing doors of the train. She went down the stairs as fast as she could and stacked it on the last two steps. Fell on her bum and missed the train carriage. I was behind her and knew that was going to happen. True story.

    Lesson here is not to run toward the closing doors of the train. She had all the stairs to herself as well. Lol.

    • Diji1 on 21/06/2017 - 13:51
      +12

      Holy crap can you predict the future!?

      • cupcake on 21/06/2017 - 14:27

        I think so! Have you tried running in heels? It's not easy. I do not recommend it.

    • khomeini on 22/06/2017 - 11:47
      +4

      Had a girl run in front of me to get on the train (I was running too) and her high-heel got caught in the little gap where the door closes - I was last in through the gap afforded so either creepily or gallantly pulled the shoe loose & placed it for her to place her delicate petals in.

      True story …

      Then we got back to script and ignoring each other & everyone else on the train.

    • ItsMeAgro on 22/06/2017 - 14:37
      +4

      I used to catch the train to school in my teens, and had perfected the art of flying down station steps 3 at a time in order to board trains that were already closing their doors.

      I got a job with a train commute again, later, in my 30's, and tried my old trick.

      I broke my ankle in 3 places.

      • cameldownunder on 22/06/2017 - 16:04
        +1

        You should do 2 steps at the time. Still do it in my late 40'. But then From the road to my house it was 130 steps.

      • GregMonarch on 23/06/2017 - 17:56
        +1

        LOL. I did similar with shopping trolleys. I used to turn them sideways and shove them ahead in car parks - and jump on. Then one day I did it and they'd completely changed the bottom bar of the trolley - whaaa!!! Nothing for my feet to catch on!?

  • try2bhelpful on 21/06/2017 - 14:33
    +1

    Melbourne Parliament station escalators used to have a sign indicating, from memory, that stationary was on the left and passing on the right. That is the rule I normally follow.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/06/2017 - 14:53

    Cars overtake on the right too. The people on the left are still going forward. Its perfectly consistent with road traffic.

  • iamw0man on 21/06/2017 - 16:04

    Train station platforms aren't set up to flow traffic to the right side. Getting on or off a platform is a matter of being herded like cattle and taking the first set of stairs you can find, no matter what side you're on.

  • bobbified on 21/06/2017 - 16:16
    +1

    When I was at school, we were told to always keep left - regardless of whether it was driving or walking.

    When I went to asia, I noticed everyone kept to the right side. I'm sure there are other countries that keep right as well.

    So what you saw could've just been a difference in culture or what they were taught or what they're used to. Even the pushing thing is common - Try going to China! haha

  • whirlpool_guy on 21/06/2017 - 23:24

    Won't do it again, sorry mate

  • Seiko on 22/06/2017 - 07:01

    Just like driving a car. Stick to the left hand side of stairs/escalators and footpath. I treat every path like a 3 lane road. The outside lanes are for slow walkers and the middle shared lane is the overtaking lane.

    Its one of my top 5 pet peeves. Except for elderly and really young kids I will come to a complete stop in front of a person and not move until they move over (to their left). A little trick that has 100% success rate is to make eye contact with the person as they approach and then look in a different direction as you approach them. They always move.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 22/06/2017 - 11:00

      A little trick that has 100% success rate is to make eye contact with the person as they approach and then look in a different direction as you approach them.

      Another is to simply hold out your arm in front with a palm or a closed fist.

      A pointy implement like an umbrella or a jousting stick also works wonders.

  • noz on 22/06/2017 - 09:00
    +1

    what about this scenario..
    A footpath that is about 2-people wide.
    Person A is walking alone, in one direction on the left side.
    Person B and C are walking in the opposite direction next to each other and talking, and hence taking up the full lane.
    To avoid collision, should
    (1) "B" / "C" temporarily merge and walk in single file on their left side so as to clear one side of the lane for A to walk through .. or ..
    (2) "A" temporarily walk off the path to allow "B" & "C" to continue walking together and talking
    I find that in around 80% of cases, at least here in SA, when two people are walking together they don't merge, and expect the single walker to move off the path. I don't think it's deliberate, but more that they are in their own world.

    • John Kimble on 22/06/2017 - 10:56
      +5

      I do 1 and wish/expect others to do 1 also.

    • khomeini on 22/06/2017 - 11:43

      Also the case here in Melbourne - normally you are forced off (especially if you're a polite person who observes these social mores).

      The best is when two barristers or police officers are walking on the sidewalk. Expect them to move…. NEVER!

      • noz on 22/06/2017 - 12:26

        Agreed. These days I always stand my ground (to the left) when I'm the person walking alone, even if it means a collision. In the end they will always merge to the their left. However once someone didn't, and they ended up with a sore arm because I didn't move and they collided with my arm (I braced for the impact whereas they didn't). Hopefully a lesson learned by them.

        • outlander on 23/06/2017 - 21:37

          Did you apologise?

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