The other day I was leaving a building that had a long staircase. I was wearing high heels and carrying a few items, so I wanted to use the hand rail to make sure I descended the steps safely. Unfortunately, I couldn’t because there were so many people blocking the steps! Each side had people either leaning over the staircase and chatting on the phone, or finishing their conversations with another person while standing on the top of the steps. At the bottom, a woman had perched herself on a step and was sipping a Starbucks coffee. It seemed impossible to simply get through!
People shouldn’t have to say “excuse me, can I use the staircase.” Steps are meant to be climbed up or down, not used as resting spots while you make a phone call, have a cigarette, or chat with a friend. It’s especially irritating when people stop in the middle of the steps and force others to walk around them. Why can’t they make their way down and make room for others?
Having respect for other people’s space is a big aspect of civility, especially when you consider that there are people with physical limitations which may require them to have easy access to a hand rail. Show some courtesy and get out of the way!