# Forbid walking up and down escalators in Taiwan? A Japanese prefecture just did this **URL:** \ **Category:** Living in Taiwan\ **Tags:** japan\ **Created:** [April 3, 2021, 3:26am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996 "2021-04-03T03:26:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CopyCat](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@CopyCat](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/CopyCat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/21 "2021-04-03T05:20:15Z")
Yes, please. > [@lostinasia](#): > > Not exactly. If it’s busy, then one “lane” walking means everybody loses - it slows the whole thing down. Better for all to stand on both sides. Maybe it could move more people, but it slows down people who want to go faster. People who stand on the escalator aren’t in a hurry. They can wait longer. ---
**Author:** ![jimipresley](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/jimipresley/32/102867_2.png) [@jimipresley](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/jimipresley)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:30am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/22 "2021-04-03T05:30:02Z")
Maybe I’m thick or something, but I don’t get the logic that standing on both sides makes things quicker. I charge down the escalator at seven in the morning, and manage to grab a train by seconds, thus rendering me really early for work and able to have a relaxing breakfast and a few smokes, whereas if I’d obediently stood on the right, I’d be rushing around because I lost seven minutes. ---
**Author:** ![finley](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/57b2e6/32.png) [@finley](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/finley)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:31am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/23 "2021-04-03T05:31:02Z")
The central point of the article is that, in reality, nobody walks. There’s only one line, on one side of the escalator, because the other side is “reserved” for people who want to walk, ie., it’s empty. What they’re actually saying is that a full escalator is more efficient than a half-empty one. There’s also the scenario that SuiGeneris mentions, where it would probably be _better_ to have the escalator acting as a choke point. The rationale is the same as the slowdown zones at times of high traffic on freeways, which prevent “shocks” and thereby keep the traffic flowing smoothly. ---
**Author:** ![CopyCat](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@CopyCat](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/CopyCat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:37am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/24 "2021-04-03T05:37:50Z")
Not like the stupid lights on the freeway entrances here, please. Light traffic but still make us stop so we can join the traffic on the freeway at half speed like a limping bullfighter. I hate that. ---
**Author:** ![mad\_masala](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mad_masala/32/182103_2.png) [@mad\_masala](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/mad_masala)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:38am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/25 "2021-04-03T05:38:33Z")
it’s a shitty idea that only leads to an even lazier, unhealthier and fattier population stuck in even worse human traffic jams. but then everybody to the gym, to lift weights… ---
**Author:** ![mad\_masala](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/mad_masala/32/182103_2.png) [@mad\_masala](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/mad_masala)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:39am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/26 "2021-04-03T05:39:05Z")
theyre promoting laziness. ---
**Author:** ![finley](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/57b2e6/32.png) [@finley](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/finley)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:39am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/27 "2021-04-03T05:39:39Z")
Oh, that one drives me nuts. The first time I saw that I was like “WTAF”. Someone then explained to me that people here aren’t taught how to join a freeway at the correct speed. No need to correct the actual problem: just introduce a different one instead. I was referring to the variable speed limits on freeways. They only exist in a few countries, but they have some sound modelling behind them. The intent is to keep everyone moving at the optimum speed, which might be somewhat less than drivers actually think is possible because they can’t see very far ahead. ---
**Author:** ![BiggusDickus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/biggusdickus/32/90381_2.png) [@BiggusDickus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/BiggusDickus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:43am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/28 "2021-04-03T05:43:13Z")
I thought the idea was to reduce bottle necks on the freeways. In the UK they use graded speed limits on the M25 to stop traffic jams from the concertina effect. EDIT: Sorry, I replied before reading your edit. Doh! ---
**Author:** ![tando](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@tando](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tando)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:44am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/29 "2021-04-03T05:44:21Z")
Some people cannot hold handrails by their right hands. ---
**Author:** ![CopyCat](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@CopyCat](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/CopyCat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:45am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/30 "2021-04-03T05:45:21Z")
Unless you’re massively overweight, you can probably hold it with your left hand on the right side. ---
**Author:** ![tando](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@tando](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tando)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:48am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/31 "2021-04-03T05:48:02Z")
It may not be so safe for some people. ---
**Author:** ![CopyCat](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@CopyCat](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/CopyCat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 5:51am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/32 "2021-04-03T05:51:26Z")
Elevator then. ---
**Author:** ![tempogain](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tempogain/32/264650_2.png) [@tempogain](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tempogain)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:00am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/33 "2021-04-03T06:00:05Z")
I did it all the time; it’s totally safe. ---
**Author:** ![DrewC](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/drewc/32/224499_2.png) [@DrewC](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/DrewC)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:03am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/34 "2021-04-03T06:03:19Z")
> [@tempogain](#): > > I did it all the time; it’s totally safe. _If_ you’re not a clumsy or easily distracted idiot. You do have to be careful when you do it. Yes, I did it too, but I wouldn’t say it’s “totally safe.” ---
**Author:** ![tempogain](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tempogain/32/264650_2.png) [@tempogain](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tempogain)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:06am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/35 "2021-04-03T06:06:42Z")
I’m not 🙂 I would say there was a 0% chance of anything bad happening. ---
**Author:** ![tando](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@tando](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tando)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:15am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/36 "2021-04-03T06:15:32Z")
> [@tempogain](#): > > I did it all the time; it’s totally safe. what? You put your stroller with a baby in it on escalator? What an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![CopyCat](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@CopyCat](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/CopyCat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:19am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/37 "2021-04-03T06:19:09Z")
And we rode in open pickup beds. Yee, ha! ---
**Author:** ![tempogain](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tempogain/32/264650_2.png) [@tempogain](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tempogain)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:20am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/38 "2021-04-03T06:20:47Z")
We probably did it every day for years. What do you think was going to happen, the baby’s head was going to explode? Lol. ---
**Author:** ![tando](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@tando](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tando)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:28am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/39 "2021-04-03T06:28:11Z")
> **[Avoiding the perils of an escalator ride](https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/avoiding-perils-escalator-ride)** > > SINGAPORE — Homemaker H Lee’s four-year-old child narrowly escaped injury last week when her stroller buckled backwards on a moving escalator. ---
**Author:** ![finley](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/57b2e6/32.png) [@finley](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/finley)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:28am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996/40 "2021-04-03T06:28:13Z")
Escalators, like cars, are inherently dangerous. You have to treat them with a certain amount of respect, and they’ll be safe (for a given value of ‘safe’). I can’t see any obvious reason why it wouldn’t be possible to put a stroller on an escalator safely, but you’d better make sure you can do it with a “what’s the worst that could happen?” mindset. You’d think someone would have figured out some sort of mechanism that could make this a bit more bombproof, like the wheelchair attachments on buses, or the way shopping trolleys are designed to latch into moving walkways. [Previous page](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996.md?page=1) [Next page](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/forbid-walking-up-and-down-escalators-in-taiwan-a-japanese-prefecture-just-did-this/204996.md?page=3)