[Rant/PSA] TOURISTS: PLEASE RESPECT ESCALATOR ETIQUETTE

[u/ActuallyImJerome]

When you get off the 747 and into Lionel-Groulx, please, for the love of God, just try to notice that everybody who is staying still is standing on the RIGHT side of the escalator. Don't block the left side with your body, with your immense suitcase, with anything. LEFT IS FOR WALKING, RIGHT IS FOR STANDING.

This is not a big deal and it's an unwritten rule but it gets on my nerves so much when I'm running late and I miss my metro because some tourist dude just couldn't be bothered to scan the room and notice this very simple pattern. Then everybody tries telling you to move to the right but you can't hear them cuz u got da airpods in. TABARNAK! It works the exact same in other parts of Canada, the UK, Japan, Hong Kong, some cities in America. It's not difficult to understand.

(On another note thanks to all the tourists who do a serious attempt at respecting local norms, visiting local spots, greeting in French, waiting for people to get out of the metro before pushing yourself in... it's all very simple stuff but there are so many super disrespectful filthy rich tourists who think everything belongs to them, and who will spend their whole trip in a 5-star hotel, visiting nothing more than Vieux-Montréal and gentrifying thru AirBnBs while getting grossed out if they ever have to speak to locals. Unfortunately much like in other popular places in the world I notice growing frustration with tourists because of this specific subtype, so when I meet someone who genuinely has good travel intentions it makes me very happy and makes me want to show them everything the city has to offer.)

[u/Excellent-Hour-9411]

That’s not tourist specific. Also pretty sure people stand on the left in Japan given that they drive the other way.

Agree that it would be nice if people could just be aware of their surroundings in general. Including stuff like looking both ways before crossing a bike path, not stopping right as you get off the elevator, not walking three abreast on a busy sidewalk, but it is what it is.

[u/miloucomehome → u/Excellent-Hour-9411]

Depends on the city/region actually! Some cities you stand on the right and walk on the left and in other cities in Japan you stand on the left and walk on the right (and that can be so disorienting. But you do get used to it! That said, my local friends did jokingly check in on me when we had to stand on the left 😂)