Maybe I'm turning into a cranky oldhead but the top of the Court Square escalator off the E has become a full stop zone. This morning? Guy gets off, plants both feet, unzips the front pocket of his backpack for his phone. I'm right behind him, doing the little shuffle-step, and the person behind me bumps my bag. I say 'excuse me' and homeboy looks up like I interrupted a prayer.

Two days ago it was a woman taking a picture of the tiled sign. Just step two feet to the wall first. I don't care if you need to check which way the 7 is, but don't do it at the landing. Rant over.

lol this is every landing at Queensboro Plaza too. The top of the stairs from the 7 platform to the mezzanine? People get to the top and stop to squint at the overhead sign, like it wasn't visible the whole climb. I've started saying 'keep it moving' in my deepest sigh voice.

The worst is the transfer to the N/W during afternoon rush: a whole family will form a huddle right where the two streams cross. I don't think they mean to be rude, but it's like spatial awareness turns off when the phone comes out.

Okay I'm new-ish here (Dyker Heights, but commuting to Midtown now) and I did this at Atlantic Terminal by accident last week. I didn't know the escalator just dumps you right into the LIRR hallway and I stopped to read a sign. Some guy hissed 'not here, cmon.' I felt awful.

Is the move to just keep walking even if you're lost, then pull over? Sometimes I worry I'll walk the wrong direction and have to loop back. How loud are you supposed to say excuse me? I don't want to turn into that person, but I also don't want to be a human pylon.

DykerNewbie, the move is absolutely keep walking until you're out of the choke point, even if it's the wrong way. Better to loop back from a wall than be the reason six people miss their transfer. And say 'excuse me' normal volume, no need to shout. If they have earbuds, a little tap on the shoulder won't get you stabbed. Usually.

AstoriaAndy, Queensboro Plaza is a different beast because the staircases were built for 1930s shoulder widths, not a million phones. I've started leaving one earbud out just so I can hear the herd behind me.

BatteryPark_B, leaving one earbud out is the real pro move. Honestly half these stops would be fine if people just treated the landing like a bike lane: don't block the travel lane.

DykerNewbie: don't loop back too hard, sometimes walking one block above ground is easier than fighting the tunnel. But if you're in the system, a wall, a pillar, anything that isn't the yellow stripe. The people behind you will appreciate it.

Thanks both. I tried the 'keep walking' thing at DeKalb this morning when I wasn't sure which staircase to the B/Q. Just walked to the nearest pillar, looked up, and actually found the sign faster than I would've stepping off. Some woman nodded at me like I passed a test lol.

BatteryPark_B, the earbud trick saved me from a stroller near the turnstile too. I'm learning.