American Tourist Shocked As She Discovers Basic Escalator Etiquette

A US tourist recently expressed surprise at a specific escalator etiquette that she believes "makes life so much easier." This reaction has baffled many Britons who assume everyone is aware of this norm. This is prepared by SSP.

Hannah, known as @hesky on TikTok, boasts over 670,000 followers. Originally from Venezuela, she grew up in the United States. During a visit to Japan, Hannah shared her astonishment with followers regarding how locals navigate escalators. Her video features individuals standing on the left side, allowing the right side for those who wish to walk quickly. She explained, "Japan is so organised that on escalators, you stand on the left and if you're walking fast, you go on the right side."

Many online users were quick to comment that this method is simply "basic courtesy" and "common sense" in many cities worldwide. Hannah's TikTok gathered more than 2.7 million views and also circulated on X (formerly Twitter), captioned: "Americans discovering social etiquettes exist in the rest of the world."

Comments highlighted the expected familiarity with this concept. One user stated, "This exists everywhere." Another remarked, "We have this in London." A third noted, "Ummm, this is universal." Some commentators suggested that the disarray observed in the US has resulted in unfamiliarity with such norms.

However, other Americans defended the presence of similar practices in the US. One said, "This is basic courtesy in any major US city metro system." Another added, "This exists in Washington, DC on the metro as well. However, the sides are reversed."

In London, the tradition is to stand on the right and walk on the left. According to the BBC, this behavior likely developed due to initial escalator designs prompting users to step off with their right foot first, making the right side more practical for standing.