Walking on the left side of escalators, and standing on the right, is a recent escalator policy being pushed for by local malls like SM. But it is a common practice in other countries like Japan, and also in the UK, as this allows people in a hurry to walk past those who are just standing and riding the escalator.

However, this is actually a dangerous practice which other countries are trying to move away from.

According to an article by JapanToday:
https://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/consumer-affairs-agency-urges-people-not-to-walk-on-moving-escalators

"Between 2011 and 2013, a total of 3,865 people had to be taken to hospitals in Tokyo to be treated for injuries sustained while on escalators"

"The campaign asks people not to walk on moving escalators past people in front of them because they can sometimes get tangled up in umbrellas, handbag straps and so on."

Getting caught on someone's umbrella, bag straps, or dangling accessories from their bags or on their person is not an uncommon occurrence when walking amidst a crowd, and can cause accidents if it occurs on a precarious place such as a crowded escalator.

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In fact, not only are other countries moving away from this practice, but they have actually seen improvement since doing so, such as reduced number of accidents.

According to this Washington Post article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/08/26/a-japanese-campaign-wants-to-rewrite-the-global-rules-of-escalator-etiquette/

"The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that 51 railway operators and airport-related companies have banded together to support the no-walk campaign. "

"The number of accidents decreases during the campaign period"

The escalator etiquette they are promoting in Japan that helped reduce accidents (as seen in the article linked above, as well as a poster shown in the article) is:

"Do not walk.

Stand on either side."

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But Japan is not the only country moving away from this practice.

Even in Hong Kong, they have recognized this as a safety hazard.

According to this article by the South China Morning Post:
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1853813/stop-walking-escalators-hong-kong-divided-over

"... Hong Kong MTR chiefs now claim walking on escalators is a safety hazard. In fact, it’s so dangerous, they are warning everyone to stand completely still and hold on to the hand rail."

Even in the UK:
(according to this Telegraph article)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/12190082/Commuters-could-be-banned-from-walking-up-escalators.html

Not only have they considered it a safety hazard, but it seems that it is also less efficient during rush hour when large crowds wish to use the escalator.

"A previous test held in November and December 2015, proved that as many as 30 per cent more customers could use an escalator in the busiest parts of the day if they stood on both sides. "

"... congestion was cut by a third by making people stand. "

In fact, it seem commuters there could now be banned from walking up escalators.

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In summary

• this is a dangerous practice, known to cause accidents
• many countries are actually moving away from this practice (Japan, UK, HK, among others)
• this is less efficient when there are many people wanting to use the escalator

By us wanting to adopt something that is not only proven more dangerous and less efficient, but also something that other countries are moving away from, we are only moving backwards.