This is a bitching blog, so it's appropriate that I get down to some serious bitching about my irritation of the day - that of people creating an obstruction on an escalator.

Mere mortals like yours truly who commute to work daily on subways / metros / tubes / trains / MRTs will emapathize with me on this one.

You are in a hurry. The train's pulling onto the platform. You're still an escalator's distance away, but would just be able to make it if you walked briskly up the moving escalator. You proceed to do so as your astute judgment dictates, but alas, your grand plans of getting onto that train get foiled by nothing more than two individuals standing abreast on the escalator step chatting away idly about some inconsequential gossip. You sound your 'Excuse Me!' like a ship's horn, the obstructor turns around, registers your intent to get by, utters an 'Oh, sorry', and steps aside to get in line behind his babbling buddy. You shuffle past swiftly and succeed in presenting yourself before the train's doors only to have them slam shut within a hair's breadth of your face.

Thank you Mr Obstructor for that 2-second delay on the escalator that cost me another 4-5 minutes of my life.

If I were to earn a penny from every such encounter, I'm pretty sure I'll be rich by now. I'm don't think I'm alone on this one.

Is it that difficult for people to follow the 'stand left/right' rule? Why can't people be more considerate to others in public spaces? Why are many just plain oblivious of others' need to get past in a hurry?

Have a pleasant day!