It’s not official guidance, but rather an unwritten rule many locals in the Washington DC area live by: Stand on the right, walk on the left.
The message applies to riders using WMATA’s more than 600 Metro escalators, and it’s one frequently shouted at visitors and newcomers who unknowingly stand on the left side, blocking people trying to walk past.
The practice is intended to keep foot traffic moving, allowing riders in a hurry to walk up or down while others remain standing. It developed as a way to ease congestion in one of the nation’s busiest transit systems, giving commuters a faster path through stations during rush hour…