Even though Japanese railway companies and the government have consistently urged commuters for years to "stand still and not walk on escalators," the unspoken rule of "leaving one side open for those in a hurry" has become deeply ingrained in major metropolitan areas like Tokyo and Osaka. This ongoing tug-of-war between official rules and established habits recently reignited a heated discussion on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan.
The debate kicked off with an observation from X user Sudo (@stdaux), who noted that people still automatically line up on one side. They lamented, "Even with railway companies heavily promoting 'no walking on escalators,' the habit of leaving one side open and forming a single file hasn't disappeared. What Japanese society values isn't rule-following itself, but rather conforming to surrounding peer pressure – a pressure that sometimes just happens to align with the rules."
This peer pressure can be a real headache for those trying to follow the rules. One netizen shared their personal experience: "Because I'm a stickler for rules, I intentionally stand on the right side. But then people behind me would click their tongues, and some would even squeeze past through the narrow gap. So it's not just simple peer pressure; it actually causes trouble. It's really tough."
Another user chimed in, advising people not to worry too much about what others think: "For the past two years, I've consistently stood on the right side of escalators in Tokyo. Two years ago, I'd occasionally get told to move or poked by someone behind me, but that rarely happens anymore. The key is not to keep looking back or thinking, 'Is someone coming? Is this really okay?' Even on escalators more crowded than the one in the picture, I still stand on the right."
However, another perspective offered a softer take on the phenomenon, suggesting, "I don't think this is about peer pressure; it's more out of a desire not to inconvenience people who are in a hurry."
Amidst the discussions about how hard it is to change ingrained habits, the city of Nagoya offers a different approach. To tackle this issue, Nagoya implemented a unique strategy starting in 2023: they organized a "Peaceful Standing Squad." Members of this squad wear distinctive vests during peak hours and intentionally stand on the right side – the side people typically use for walking – physically blocking those who try to move. This demonstrates that breaking long-standing urban norms requires not just public awareness campaigns, but also decisive action and concrete measures from administrative bodies.
During this discussion, some netizens also posted photos from Nagoya, pointing out that after the city introduced an ordinance prohibiting walking on escalators, coupled with continuous public awareness efforts by the administration, the habit of standing on both sides has become well-established.
This debate highlights a common urban dilemma: when strict safety regulations clash with the fast pace of city life, the question of escalator etiquette often becomes an endless tug-of-war. Which side do you stand on?