Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York, has said he always walks on escalators. Good exercise, yes, but some cities discourage it. And there’s one thing obstructing walkers – people who stand.
There are walkers and there are standers, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a walker. In announcing a plan to make New York’s buildings more stair-friendly, the mayor said he always walks on escalators.
Most escalator walking happens at underground stations – people don’t tend to be in such a hurry in a shopping centre, for instance.
But Bloomberg is still in a minority of escalator users around the world. In London, about 25% of people on the Tube walk on the escalators and in Shanghai only about 3%, according to a study.
And in some countries, walking on escalators is discouraged. On the Toronto subway system, signs that encouraged people to walk on the left were removed at the recommendation of safety experts.
I – Word Understanding
Obstructing – blocking
the Tube – British term for subway
II – Have your say
1. The big three gripes (complaints) on elevator users:
● Standing on wrong side
● Luggage in walking lane
● Stopping when disembarking
2. Children are prone to escalator accidents because of their shoes.
