Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Because "WTF?" didn't qualify as kind or helpful

Last night I stepped onto the right-hand side of the escalator down to the platform at the Foggy Bottom Metro station. I heard some grumbling behind me and turned to see commuters making their way around a family of tourists who were standing (single file, at least) on the left.

"Number one rule for riding Metro is to stand on the right on the escalator so people can pass on the left," I told the tourist mom in what I hoped was a kind and helpful voice, "especially at rush hour."

"Oh, but we need to get the train on the left side," she replied.

At the Foggy Bottom station there is ONE escalator going down to the ONE platform where trains in BOTH directions arrive. I tried to find a way that her reasoning made sense, and opened my mouth to say something else, but then I walked away to wait for a train that would be arriving on the left side of the platform.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tourists say/do the darndest (and most annoying) things! Just have to love them lol

Scotus said...

I've spent a couple of minutes trying to think how I would have responded to that one, and I'm still drawing a blank.

I probably would have just stared at her. Even after we got off the escalator.

Barbara said...

This place is just so overwhelming for tourists and they probably came from a place that doesn't even have one escalator, so their escalator etiquette is lacking. Still annoying for people going home from a long day at work...

eva said...

Lesson learned. I promise to stand on the right as soon as I arrive. :)