In Australia the rule for escalators is simple: stand on the left and walk on the right. So when it someone stands on the wrong side during peak hour blocking others from passing it can fill you with rage.
However turns out they might not be in the ones in the wrong, those of us who push past trying to save a couple seconds and get in a little exercise actually are.
Sounds ridiculous but hear us out. A study conducted (yes, people actually study these things) at one of London’s busiest tube stations over a three-week period found it was more efficient and safer if no-one, repeat, no-one walked up an escalator but rather stood side by side. With the standing-only rules in place, one escalator at the station which normally shifted 12,745 people during peak hour was able to move 16,220.
Crazy huh? But that’s not all.
Researchers at Campgemini Consulting agreed it’s more far more efficient if we all just stand.
On average, it takes 26 seconds to walk up an escalator and 40 seconds to ride it if standing. However, when there’s congestion these figures change as you have to factor in the time it takes to fight your way through the crowd at the bottom, get on the escalator and fight your way to the top. This scenario takes walkers 46 seconds and standers 138 seconds.
Now, you may be smugly thinking this has proven your point about it being faster to walk but, plot twist, if everyone stands then this time is reduced to 59 seconds for everyone. In other words it averages out to be more efficient.
So while having a stand-only rule would benefit the masses, it’s unlikely those of us in a rush are going to get on board. So go forth, and push your way through the crowds, just make sure you huff and give a judgmental stare to those standing when you do (even though now you know they’re actually in the right).
