I think it is to do with the science of traffic flow rather than a deliberate laziness on the part of the people 'on the right'. It is likely to be the same effect when you have very slow moving traffic on the motorway even when, at the top of the jam, there is open road. It's all about the ripple effect of just a few cars near the top of the jam slowing a little to make way and adjust to the new cars, with a succession of small brakings magnifying down the line. Added to this, cars in the inside and middle lane move right, lowering the average speed on the outside lane.

On an escalator, you almost always (when it is busy) have to pause behind the person in front of you as they get off at the bottom, if you are on the very next step. Otherwise you barge into them. You really need one or two steps gap - watch people getting off an escalator and you will see them treading the last few steps to give themselves space. On a long escalator this effect is not so pronounced as there is usually time for a gap to build up between you and the person in front as you walk.. On a short escalator, like at Canada Water, when it is very full, there is just not enough time and space to prevent this effect.

But I could be wrong and they are all just awkward b****rs (that isn't a particularly bad word, btw, this forum software appears to have been programmed by someone's maiden aunt).

This post was last modified: 06-04-2012 09:02 AM by rshdunlop.