Metro Etiquette

Yesterday, I got on the metro at Woodley Park. This metro station has a very large escalator. I never ride down; I always walk down it. General protocol in Washington is that you stand right, walk left. If you've got a suitcase or a stroller or something, you pull it over to the right with you, so that it doesn't block the left lane of moving traffic.

Anyway. I get on the escalator, and there's a family standing on both sides of the escalator. I (very politely, I might add) said, "Could you move to the right, please?" They did, but the mother said, "What, are you in a hurry or something?" and I said "yep." The daughter then said "Well, DANG." Which just about made me fall over, because I mean really, who says that?

It got me thinking, though. I really wasn't in a big hurry, I just didn't want to ride that 15 minute escalator. Also, yesterday was Sunday. If you miss a train, you may have to wait 15 minutes for the next one. Why did they care why I wanted to walk down the escalator? I asked nicely. They could have just moved over without saying anything.

My dad tells me I shouldn't complain about this, and that tourists don't know the rules. Metro needs to post signs that say stand right walk left, like they have on the London tube. But also? If you're in someone else's city, you shouldn't assume your rules apply.