Stand to the right!!!

As you exit the metro train car you see the escalators ahead of you and are excited that you are able to mingle with the many commuters and not stand out like a tourist. You and your friends get on and are talking when someone yells “Stand to the right”. You look down to see a line of angry commuters lined up behind you. You try and squeeze in between your friends on the right hand side of the escalator. As they begin to hurriedly file past you walking up the left hand side of the escalator, several mutter an angry “tourists” in your direction. There goes that plan for not appearing to be a tourist.

Word of Advice: When traveling on the Washington DC metrorail system it is standard practice to only stand on the right hand side of the escalators. A sure sign that you are unfamilar with the system or from out of town is to stand on the left. If you are unable to get to the right because of the push of people around you, then you better walk up the escalator or face the wrath of an angry and hurried DC commuter.

Another New York Subway Story

We stood on the platform for the 1 train watching Number 2 and 3 trains come in and out of the station. Where is the Number 1 train? The local traveling with us said “sometimes you have to just get on a train and they will tell you if something is wrong, so maybe we should just get on whatever train comes next.” Just then a 2 train rolls in and as we get on the announcer says ” The 1 train is not running between 14th street and 96th Street. To go to the Bronx please take the 2 or 3 to 96th street and switch to the 1″

Why can’t they announce that on the platform?

Word of Advice: If you are traveling in New York and were told to get on a particular subway train that is not showing up at that station, get on a train that shares the next stop with the train you are hoping to take. They might just tell you why your train has not come.