Dogs must be carried
The London Underground, more usually called ‘the Tube,’ is the oldest of its kind in the world, dating from 1863. The first escalators had a system whereby passengers were guided to the left at the bottom of the moving stairs and so evolved the rule, ‘Stand on the right.’ That allowed people in a rush on the left to get to where they were going without forcing their way through more sedate travellers. The rule still stands, allowing speedy passengers in a hurry to gallop down the lefthand side of the escalator without any obstacles other than slower travellers in front of them. This applies to ‘up’ as well.
Passengers should adhere to the rules of etiquette if they wish to travel the escalators safely and without danger of recrimination from impatient fellow travellers. ‘London Dreaming’ gives more advice on travelling on the Tube.
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Dogs must be carried. This is not an issue with a small, light dog, but becomes problematic if the dog is one of the larger breeds. There is an hilarious scene in ‘Paddington1’ when Paddington Bear takes the instruction literally and won’t step onto the escalator until he has a dog to carry.
Escalators can be worrying. I was standing behind a gentleman on one of the London station escalators, when he fell backwards and I had to push him upright. He wasn’t ill, just not well balanced. He also wasn’t very appreciative, but I suppose he was embarrassed. I know I would have been.
I can't understand why embarrassment precludes expressing thanks, but you are absolutely right that it does so for some people! I love that first photo. Seems a rather discriminatory rule against owning large dogs. Are owners expected to never take them in public spaces? Or only own dogs they can carry? I'd be limited to chihuahuas - lol
ReplyDeleteThere are some lovely clips on YouTube showing people carrying large dogs on an escalator. One in particular shows many service dogs - Golden Retrievers, actually - being carried. It's wonderful.
DeleteI found it - and it did not disappoint!
DeleteNobby is looking forward to a visit to London one day. Fortunately he is only 9 kg so not too heavy to carry a short distance.
ReplyDeleteA sensible size for carrying.
DeleteIf passengers are guided to the left, wouldn't that mean stand to the left and leave the right hand side for those in a hurry? Had a giggle at the man carrying the huge dog.
ReplyDeleteThe dogs doesn't look very relaxed!
DeleteUntil 5 years ago, people who didn't feel stable and safe on descending escalators seemed to me to be exaggerating. But now (in my 70s) I would not carry a pusher and toddler, a large dog or a suitcase even UP escalators, let alone going down. Too unstable.
ReplyDeleteAs times passes, these things come more to the forefront of one's mind. I've always hung on as I've fallen downstairs more than is wise, from a young age.
DeleteI don't mind going up, but I dislike the long ones going down.
ReplyDeleteSome of them are very long and quite dizzying.
DeleteI am now wondering how that would work with guide dogs. In fact, the whole experience of travelling on an escalator if you are blind would be very challenging I would think.
ReplyDeleteApparently, guide dogs have special training for escalator use. They are such clever dogs.
DeleteHi Janice - the thought of carrying some dogs would wilt me ... no underground for me or visits to London ... thanks for this thought - I'll be shouldered for the day - at least it's not a rabbit hole! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteLondon Underground is not on my horizon at the moment, either.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought it strange that while you drive on the left, you stand right on escalators. We drive on the left and stand to the left on escalators.
ReplyDeleteIs that rather explicit photo of the man and dog allowed on Blogger?
London Dreaming should be a good read. Thanks for the link.
You know, I hadn't even considered that there might be a different perspective to that photograph. Honestly, some people . . . ;-)
DeleteMy entire life I have had issues with getting onto and off of escalators. And I have no handicaps except in my head. This is interesting about carrying dogs just because I never thought about anything other than escalators inside of stores that do not allow dogs.
ReplyDeleteI understand your trepidation. I hate taking little children on escalators, imagining all sorts of mishaps.
DeleteI hang on to railings much more now when stairs are involved, I never used to even think about running up and downstairs carrying stuff, was just part of exercise, another part of getting older. My husband can pick our lab up but I wouldn't be able to 😂
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I don't like going down steps or stairs without a hand hold - I've fallen down too many times, from a very young age.
DeleteI'm not sure I could pick up our dogs without damage to my back. Oh, the joys of life!
There are so many reasons to avoid the Tube and to instead take the buses!
ReplyDelete. . . or go under your own steam . . . or not at all. London is incredibly busy 24 hours a day. I don't like it.
DeleteOnce again, thanks for the education.
ReplyDeleteNow you know how to behave on the Tube, should you need to use it;-)
DeleteThat's a good idea to keep right, it's coming slowly here too, I have tried the Brussels'tube once, when my son was 5 !! today he is 51 ! The tube is just too far away for me. I would have to take a bus or the train. In the station there are escalators. Have never seen a big dog in the station, small once yes.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Dario:-) Different countries have different rules for escalators - very confusing!
ReplyDeleteThe "stand on the right" thing doesn't apply here, as far as I know, which is quite frustrating when one's in a hurry. More frustratingly, most of the escalators in Antwerp's sorry excuse for a metro have been out of order for ages.
ReplyDeleteThe Paddington Bear scene is hilarious indeed :-) xxx
Non-working escalators must be such a nuisance. I know they have to be overhauled from time to time.
DeleteSeveral years ago, I was shopping in a department store with several floors and someone fell on one of the escalators. A lot of their shoppers are elderly, and yes, the store has an elevator. I wondered how that shopper made out. I can still handle escalators but I could never carry a dog, or, for that matter, a stroller.
ReplyDeleteI would rather use an elevator than an escalator but don't object to using the latter.
DeleteI can’t imagine carrying a big dog up the escalator - CJ
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it, but couldn't do it these days.
DeleteI must admit I'm not keen on escalators, but they are sometimes necessary... and care must be taken when using them.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
It's stepping on and off with little children that worries me.
DeleteMy dear other half and I fell over each other on an escalator at Heathrow Airport years ago and landed in a heap at the bottom. None the worse for wear fortunately. I have always found them a bit intimidating, the Underground also :)
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, that was a nasty moment. I don't much like the Underground, especially the really deep parts.
ReplyDeleteThe worst story I ever heard about an escalator was a child's sandal got caught in it. He was pulled down, the father and mother were frantic. The escalator did get shut off and the father was able to pull his son's foot free of the sandal, but oh my gosh. Reading his account of it actually made me feel sickish.
ReplyDeleteWhat a horrible experience. Thank goodness there was no physical damage, though I'm sure the poor parents relived it endlessly.
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