Political Uncertainty

In these troubled times politically, it's no surprise that people no longer know which side of a set of stairs to walk up or down. There are those who used to be strident adherents of the left or right who are drifting into the middle & finding that they have, unbeknownst to themselves, crossed the line into what was once foreign territory.
However reasonable that is within the comfort of a secret ballot, when we're talking about commuters on a railway platform, that is simply not on.

I was recently restricted to using a stick (& I resisted the urge to call it a cane, due to connotations associated therewith) due to a painful foot.
Brandishing this weapon, which is cumbersome at best, but downright dangerous to others when negotiating ticket turnstiles & the like (which are intended for the fast moving able-bodied), I approached my usual commuting haunts with some degree of trepidation & also, if I may be so bold, just a hint of glee.

As I approached the bottom of the stairs leading up to my regular platform, an unruly swarm of hurrying commuters - most destined to connect with another train on another platform, it appeared - was pressing a more demure & lonely passenger back from her attempt at the stairs.
I picked my spot in the melee & charged unheeding towards the first step, wielding my stick as someone not afraid to impart wisdom to anyone getting close enough. After a few laborious strides through the stream, out of sheer frustration, I called out "Heavens to Murgatroyd, people! Pick a side!" & hacked more aggressively as I ploughed on to my left. When I reached the top, I turned back to make sure that my fellow trout had taken advantage of the chaos I created.
"So, how many of them do you think I got?" & we shared a grin of triumph.

But, this is me - a usually able-bodied, reasonably self-reliant male of goodly proportion, a hearty voice, & a death wish (& now a weapon).
How on earth is the proverbial little old lady going to achieve such direct access to the platform - especially if she has to start the steps on the left to use the hand rail? What about the pregnant mother with a pram as well? Are such passengers expected to simply wait it out & hope for the best?

Are such second-class citizens to be ignored, along with good manners & common sense?

Public transport is a privilege, not a right. We are lucky to have it, & we should treat it as if it belongs to everyone else, not as if it belongs to us.