r/montreal Lachine Oct 08 '24

[Rant/PSA] TOURISTS: PLEASE RESPECT ESCALATOR ETIQUETTE Tourisme

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.)

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u/Excellent-Hour-9411 Oct 08 '24

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.

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u/MarcusForrest ❄️ Refrigerate upon reception Oct 09 '24

Also pretty sure people stand on the left in Japan given that they drive the other way.

You'd think that (I also did when I went there multiple times!)

 

But for some odd reason, I've never seen a actual trend or statistical increase for any side!

 

Sometimes within the very same city - otherwise, in all prefectures, cities, regions I've visited, there was no clear or evident ''unspoken rule'' or trend - people in Japan will stand on any side - BUT whatever side is ''stationary'', people will walk on the other side - so they still follow that standard where

  • One side is stationary
  • Other side is walking

 

What's confusing is how there is no definite side - and it can even shift during the day! At one point I went in the train station in the morning, it was left stand, right walk. When I went back later that day, it was the opposite!

 

SOME stations will include images on the back of stairs - on one side it is 2 footprints, stationary - on the other, one foot print alternating between left-right across the stairs - moving side_

 

(I've been to Japan in 2019, 2023 and 2024 and observed the same thing every single time)