i work at dupont and while the escalator situation SUCKS, i don't know why it made blog/wapo news. this is not uncommon. why not do a news story on the safety hazard from blocking one platform-mezz escalator at van ness, bethesda, and others? for months, everyone has had to go both up and down the same escalator. when trains let off, a huge line forms to get out. heaven forbid a second train unloads before the line moves through. i hope that there is never an emergency on the platform, because i guarantee many people would be trampled trying to escape.
(in other news, at 5:15 yesterday there was one up and one down escalator working at dupont north (q street). as i was at the bottom refilling my smartrip, i leard a loud CLUNK. i looked up to see that the up escalator had come to a screeching halt. again. sigh.)
I agree with Anon @ 8:47, the Bethesda situation is ridiculous, probably violates some building code, and will certainly result in trampling if there is ever an emergency at that station.
At Bethesda, there are 2 escalators that go from the platform to the mezz, 1 elevator, and no stairs. For at least the past month, 1 escalator has been closed -- forcing people to come up and down the same escalator, which is serving as a single staircase. That "closed" escalator looks fine now, but it is still closed. I know once it opens they will just shut down the other one for another month or two.
During rush hour, the line to get off of the platform to the mezz can stretch out pretty long. One day, I waited in line to get off of the platform while 3 additional trains came and dumped more people in line.
Instead of spending weeks "revitalizing" these stupid escalators that go 12 feet, why not just tear them out, build stairs, and solve this problem.
Metro's announcement at Dupont this morning would have been unhelpful, I would think, for tourists - it explained that the 19th St. escalators were all out of service.
The problem? There are no "19th St. escalators." There are "Dupont Circle" escalators and there are "Q St." escalators. So if you were a tourist who wasn't familiar with the station, you'd have no idea which set was really out. The signage in the station says "Dupont Circle" and "Q Street" - and no mention of 19th.
The most exciting part of this afternoon cardio workout was the large amount of smoke billowing from the burnt-out escalator. It made breathing while climbing even more fun.
The same thing is true at Tenleytown-AU. 2 escalators (probably about 15 steps), 1 elevator to get you off the platform. No stairs. they worked on one side for 3 months (mid-April until early July) and when they were done. BEHOLD! An escalator, just as it was 3 months ago. Now they've closed off the other one and the yellow sign says they don't anticipate it being finished until September.
Getting off at rush hour is a hassle, as recently the trains have arrived at the same time and people just stand in line hoping to get up the stairs before yet another group of trains come. If there is an emergency in that station - every last person on the platform is going to have to make a run for it.
I have severe asthma and have had to walk up the Dupont Circle (South) escalator a few times. My technique may be of use to someone. It is: walk 10 steps, rest for about 10 breaths. Repeat the entire way up. I look fit and able-bodied, so people may not know that I'm actually stopping to get oxygen into my lungs and not just being a moron and holding everyone up for no reason. (When all the escalators are broken, it's good to each one designated one way so there's a passing lane.)
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12 comments:
The bright light is from a Blue Line train that was mis-routed.
pondering eternity....
The metro employees are massive losers - I found them utterly useless today, completely clueless. The metro is a shambles. I fear for my life.
Looks sort of like this morning ... although the working escalator at dupont south was going *down*.
i work at dupont and while the escalator situation SUCKS, i don't know why it made blog/wapo news. this is not uncommon. why not do a news story on the safety hazard from blocking one platform-mezz escalator at van ness, bethesda, and others? for months, everyone has had to go both up and down the same escalator. when trains let off, a huge line forms to get out. heaven forbid a second train unloads before the line moves through. i hope that there is never an emergency on the platform, because i guarantee many people would be trampled trying to escape.
(in other news, at 5:15 yesterday there was one up and one down escalator working at dupont north (q street). as i was at the bottom refilling my smartrip, i leard a loud CLUNK. i looked up to see that the up escalator had come to a screeching halt. again. sigh.)
I agree with Anon @ 8:47, the Bethesda situation is ridiculous, probably violates some building code, and will certainly result in trampling if there is ever an emergency at that station.
At Bethesda, there are 2 escalators that go from the platform to the mezz, 1 elevator, and no stairs. For at least the past month, 1 escalator has been closed -- forcing people to come up and down the same escalator, which is serving as a single staircase. That "closed" escalator looks fine now, but it is still closed. I know once it opens they will just shut down the other one for another month or two.
During rush hour, the line to get off of the platform to the mezz can stretch out pretty long. One day, I waited in line to get off of the platform while 3 additional trains came and dumped more people in line.
Instead of spending weeks "revitalizing" these stupid escalators that go 12 feet, why not just tear them out, build stairs, and solve this problem.
Metro's announcement at Dupont this morning would have been unhelpful, I would think, for tourists - it explained that the 19th St. escalators were all out of service.
The problem? There are no "19th St. escalators." There are "Dupont Circle" escalators and there are "Q St." escalators. So if you were a tourist who wasn't familiar with the station, you'd have no idea which set was really out. The signage in the station says "Dupont Circle" and "Q Street" - and no mention of 19th.
Communications, as usual, are awful.
The most exciting part of this afternoon cardio workout was the large amount of smoke billowing from the burnt-out escalator. It made breathing while climbing even more fun.
Is there a reason no one is using the middle escalator?
@anon 9:28
The same thing is true at Tenleytown-AU. 2 escalators (probably about 15 steps), 1 elevator to get you off the platform. No stairs. they worked on one side for 3 months (mid-April until early July) and when they were done. BEHOLD! An escalator, just as it was 3 months ago. Now they've closed off the other one and the yellow sign says they don't anticipate it being finished until September.
Getting off at rush hour is a hassle, as recently the trains have arrived at the same time and people just stand in line hoping to get up the stairs before yet another group of trains come. If there is an emergency in that station - every last person on the platform is going to have to make a run for it.
The same thing is true at Van Ness.
I have severe asthma and have had to walk up the Dupont Circle (South) escalator a few times. My technique may be of use to someone. It is: walk 10 steps, rest for about 10 breaths. Repeat the entire way up. I look fit and able-bodied, so people may not know that I'm actually stopping to get oxygen into my lungs and not just being a moron and holding everyone up for no reason. (When all the escalators are broken, it's good to each one designated one way so there's a passing lane.)
@2:55 It is broken and there are barriers at both ends on it.
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