Tokyo Travels Part 15: Escalator Discipline

When I'm in a hurry at the airport, I avoid the moving walkways. It's faster to walk beside them. Why?  Too many people just ignore the sign.  It's really simple -- Stand Right, Walk Left.  If you are riding on the moving walk way and standing on the left side, knock it off!  Get over to the right so those of us who want to move quickly and can get past you.  And don't leave your suitcase blocking the left either.

One of my favorite things about Japan was something I've never seen before -- Escalator Discipline.

There are no signs, but they're not needed.  This is the case for both escalators and moving walkways.  People stand on the left and they walk on the right.   At some of the busiest train stations, hundreds of people will get on the escalators and stand on the right or walk to the left.  If an escalator is mostly empty, people still stand on the left.

Those in a hurry zip on by on the right, those not in a rush, patiently stand to the side.  It's amazing!

If we could import one human behavior from Japan to the US, I'd nominate escalator discipline.