Unsuck DC Metro: Scary Escalator Incident Watched by Metro Workers, Most Riders

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Scary Escalator Incident Watched by Metro Workers, Most Riders

Illustration. Photo courtesy Wayan Vota

From a 6-year rider from Virginia:

I wanted to offer an account of an incident that occurred yesterday morning about 9:15 a.m. on the platform escalators at Foggy Bottom.

There were two escalators operating the up direction. I was coming up the left one, which was moving normally, when I noticed chaos breaking out on the right escalator.

It turns out someone tried to move an elderly woman in a wheelchair up the escalator. She somehow got entangled with a very large gentleman with a prosthetic leg and crutches.

He fell backward and couldn't get up, and the wheelchair then tipped over backward, causing everyone behind them to pile up.

Someone had the presence of mind to hit the emergency stop.

I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time, so two other Samaritans and I jumped in and helped pull the very large man back up to his feet and get him on his crutches.

He was swearing and upset but apparently unharmed.

We then went back down the escalator and pulled the elderly woman in the wheelchair up to the top.

The large man apologized for his cursing, and the family of the elderly woman thanked us for our assistance.

When I was sure everyone was okay, I went ahead and exited the station.

The most troubling aspect of this?

Two WMATA personnel in reflective vests (presumably the station manager and someone else) stood idly by at the top of the escalator watching three volunteers assist these people and did absolutely nothing to help.

They didn't say anything or do anything at all.

Equally troubling is that on a crowded rush hour platform with hundreds of people around, only three of us took any initiative to assist two disabled people in a very precarious situation.

Had this been a more dangerous event, I shudder to think what could have happened.

Besides the numerous gawkers who just stood around watching, by far the vast majority just pushed rudely past and couldn't even be bothered to stop.

Shame on WMATA, and a big shame on the crass commuters who couldn't be bothered to assist.

I have no idea if the platform elevator was functioning (It was not according to Metro's website.), but given their track record I have my doubts.

Even if it was operational, WMATA could be a lot more proactive in warning people not to take wheelchairs, strollers, etc. onto escalators.

This entire situation should have been avoided had WMATA been better organized or if the station manager ever left their booth and paid any attention to what was going on in the station.

Other items:
Metro breaking down more (Infosnack)
Metro honors dead employees (WMATA)
Metro riders paying for MARC, VRE failures (Examiner)

Comments (71)

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+12 Vote up Vote down

John · 738 weeks ago

Good thing they did nothing. They will get a nice promotion now. Or at the very least a 2 week vacation.

-29 Vote up Vote down

Metro Lover · 738 weeks ago

No one died. So what?

+28 Vote up Vote down

MrS · 738 weeks ago

What was the lady in the wheelchair doing going up the escalator?!

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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anon · 738 weeks ago

The procedure is when the elevator is out of service there is to be a "shuttle bus" service offered at that station which will run to the next station with a accessible elevator.

The station attendants should be observing, posting notice and making announcements about this elevator being out of service.

All the employees who were unresponsive should be disciplined
(1 week without pay.)

then re-instructed on how to answer to emergency situations.

The unfortunate piece here is that I believe form what I have read,
WMATA is exempt from disability ADA claims and age discrimination claims even by it's employees.

+4 Vote up Vote down

James · 738 weeks ago

She was most likely on it because the elevator in that station wasn't working and Metro wasn't providing shuttle service.

+16 Vote up Vote down

Kat · 738 weeks ago

The employees lack of response, while disturbing is par for the course. BUT, I thought it was common knowledge to not put occupied strollers and wheelchairs on the escalators. That’s why there are elevators.

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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VeggieTart · 738 weeks ago

You would think. But I see people taking strollers on escalators all the damn time. What you think is common knowledge obviously is not so common.

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James · 738 weeks ago

Another example of people with kids behaving like jackasses on the Metro. See the post from a week or so ago about that woman complaining about people not giving her a seat just because she had her kid with her.

+21 Vote up Vote down

Just Me · 738 weeks ago

How many people did you need to help you? There is not a lot of room on escalators, that was nice of you to help but don't bash other riders. Metro staff should have helped.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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@kara_h · 738 weeks ago

True enough, but other riders should at least be ready to help if need be and not just ignore things. How do they know that it will not take more people to resolve the situation?

For example, yesterday someone fell on an escalator I was on. Several people were helping him up so I did not want to hinder things by getting in the way ... but I did move closer to help if I saw that they needed it. They had things under control but in any sort of emergency situation on something that is moving more help could have been needed fast.

+8 Vote up Vote down

UnSuck Fan · 738 weeks ago

Thank you, 6 year Virginia rider and two other Good Samaritans, for coming to the aid of those people and lending a helping hand! Yes, it’s very sad how hardly anyone wants to get involved and help out people who need it.

As it has been mentioned numerous times on this blog, it would definitely be nice if WMATA was more proactive, but it will be a very long time coming, if at all. Today’s post reminded me of a photo someone had taken and had posted to “Tweets about Metro” (as found on this blog as well). Someone had taken a photo of a couple of wheelchair bound individuals who were precariously holding onto the railings as they were riding up the escalator since the elevators were out of service. I have never felt as scared for someone before as I was for these two guys! I would hate to be WMATA if either of them lost their hold and fell! I guess WMATA is just waiting for more lawsuits. Maybe, just maybe, they'll be more proactive then. However, as I had said earlier, I doubt it.

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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@kara_h · 738 weeks ago

Knowing someone who is metro-dependent and is often forced to take the escalator I can tell you why: the elevators are often out of service. That problem is only made worse because many people who do not need them use them anyway and causing unneeded wear and tear.

I am constantly amused at the reason for many doing it: fear of heights. They would rather be in a box solely supported by a few cables than going up the same height on moving stairs with solid ground under them. There is human logic for you.

Yes, metro always has those announcements that if you go to such-and-such a stop you can take a shuttle back. Of course, that assumes you can hear the announcement (in addition to bad sound quality, many people in wheelchairs have multiple disabilities and can not hear it in the first place). Add in the fact that doing so makes their trip MUCH longer. Surprisingly, people in wheelchairs have schedules too.

+1 Vote up Vote down

mr metro · 738 weeks ago

wrong elevators are far safer than escalators.

+15 Vote up Vote down

Seriously? · 738 weeks ago

I'm sorry, but since when does Metro need to warn people not to take strollers and wheelchairs up escalators? That's just common sense.

I understand that the elevator service is not reliable and that Metro access is often dangerous, but trying to get a wheelchair up the escalators is totally and completely dangerous - not just for the occupant, but the other passengers (as evidenced by this incident).

This should be filed under #metroriderfail.

5 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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@kara_h · 738 weeks ago

It all depends on the wheelchair rider. I have nothing but contempt for the people pushing strollers that insist on taking them when there is a working elevator. Particularly the ones standing in the middle of the step (thereby not allowing people to pass them).

BTW, I hear warnings all the time about strollers on escalators. I do not remember 'and wheelchairs' being part of their script for that announcement though.

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Seriously? · 738 weeks ago

Yes, but my comment is not a reflection on the rider themselves, but on the feasibility of safely getting a wheelchair to the top - the width of the step on the escalator is not wide enough to safely accomodate a wheelchair wheel. Same for strollers - they are a pain, but more importantly, the wheelbase is too long to safely rest on one escalator step.

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Ummm · 738 weeks ago

Are you one of those people who needs a warning label on everything? Just look at a wheelchair, then look at an escalator. This shouldn't be hard. Would you try to drive your car up an escalator just because they don't tell you not to?

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YES! · 738 weeks ago

This is one of the greatest comments I've EVER read on this blog; thank you soooo much! :-)

-1 Vote up Vote down

mr metro · 737 weeks ago

you have no problem waking up a moving escalator. but if its stopped all of a sudden you complain that there not like regular steps.

+10 Vote up Vote down

croissant · 738 weeks ago

First of all, I'm impressed with the writing skills of the 6-year old. Second of all, wheelchair riders should not take the escalator. Ever! Thirdly, no surprise that Metro employees stood by and gawked. And finally, I think 2 or 3 people assisting is sufficient. Any more helpers and the situation would have turned into a zoo. There is a saying, too many cooks in the kitchen will spoil the soup. (Have a wonderful day everyone!!!)

6 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Joe · 738 weeks ago

It was a 6 year rider, not a 6 year OLD rider. Learn to read before you comment.

+1 Vote up Vote down

croissant · 738 weeks ago

oops. Sorry.

+3 Vote up Vote down

jkuchen · 738 weeks ago

In all honesty, when I first read that line, I saw "6-year-old rider" as well....

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JacksonsGirl · 738 weeks ago

Me too! Then I was all: A 6 year old wrote this? No, it can't be. So I re-read the line.

-1 Vote up Vote down

@kara_h · 738 weeks ago

So elevators should not be broken ... EVER!

When an escalator is broken it is an annoyance, but it does not cause people to not have a viable exit (assuming they can use it).

When an elevator is broken you trap people.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Trapped · 738 weeks ago

Except for all the shuttles and trains that take them from place to place, they're horribly trapped!

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Todd · 738 weeks ago

Thank you for helping these people - it's good to know that someone will take their time to help out.

As to warning people not to take strollers or wheelchairs up the escalator? #1, how many times have people in wheelchairs been stuck on Metro because they can't find a working elevator anywhere near where they need to go? and #2 how many people do you think would pay attention? Metro buses have signs telling passengers to fold up strollers, but over and over I get on a bus to find the aisle blocked by a full-size stroller that the parents refuse to fold up, even after being told to.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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@kara_h · 738 weeks ago

My wheelchair-using friend lives near a station that tourists use constantly. The elevator there is nearly always broken.

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jkuchen · 738 weeks ago

We need some clarification of the incident here, namely with this sentence:

"Besides the numerous gawkers who just stood around watching, by far the vast majority just pushed rudely past and couldn't even be bothered to stop."

Do you mean that people were walking on the escalator and passing by these people, or that they were walking by the escalator on the platform and not bothering to help? How could someone physically walk by a wheelchair on an escalator? (Then again, I've seen people cut off blind folks with guide dogs to get on an escalator....)

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Ummm · 738 weeks ago

It's rude to jam up an escalator with a wheelchair. Trying to get past it isn't rude, it's necessary.

+8 Vote up Vote down

anon · 738 weeks ago

Welcome to Washington, where getting to work is more important than just about anything else. I saw a disabled man go up the platform-mezzanine escalator at Dupont one day. Near the top, he stumbled and fell. Some jerk in a suit yelled MOVE! and nearly stepped on the guy to rush past him. Sadly, this wasn't surprising to me at all. As for Metro employees, I stopped counting on them a long time ago.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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mr metro · 738 weeks ago

respect goes a long way for people. do you think a metro worker comes to work with an attitude? its usually developed after dealing with rude people.

+9 Vote up Vote down

hrh king friday 13 · 738 weeks ago

Apparently, the man with the prosthetic leg and the woman in the wheel chair believe in SLAVERY.

+2 Vote up Vote down

dddddda · 738 weeks ago

I'm sorry, but it's 100% common sense not to take strollers and wheelchairs on escalators, yet I see people do both all the time, often at stations with WORKING elevators. Metro need not be "proactive" in cluttering up the system with even more signage...that would ultimately be ignored. On the occasions I have had to see signs like the one pictured, people just walk right past them and push their double-wide stroller onto the escalator anyway.

There's also a man who uses the escalator in a wheelchair at federal triangle, by himself, every morning (for at least the last year). If he ever falls on someone, he'll heartily deserve the lawsuit.

-1 Vote up Vote down

Mike · 738 weeks ago

When I was working at Walt Disney World we were instructed to never, ever assist handicapped or disabled persons who immobilized themselves. We had to call qualified medical assistants, etc. to the scene. This was a huge liability issue. WMATA cannot train their entire workforce to handle these situations.

4 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Mike · 738 weeks ago

"WMATA cannot train their entire workforce...."
is the only part of your comment I agree with.
I guess if a handicapped person fell on the tracks, you would wait for qualified medical assistants" to arrive.
My guess is your either a lawyer or you work as Metro's escalator/elevator repair trainer.

0 Vote up Vote down

mr metro · 738 weeks ago

helping your fellow man is everyones duty. i have helped many when the escalator was broke or needed repair. everybody is different i guess its the way your brought up.
escalator mechanic

+3 Vote up Vote down

hrh king friday 13 · 738 weeks ago

Tell me, do you REALLY think WMATA employees are concerned about legal liability (or basic human decency for that matter)? OR Could this just be an example thier laziness and utter contempt for customers?

+10 Vote up Vote down

croissant · 738 weeks ago

I'm going with laziness and utter contempt for customers.

+8 Vote up Vote down

yellowrider · 738 weeks ago

to the OP--good for you! but it could be worse, at any minute a crowd of teens could have shown up and accosted both you and the folks you were helping. AND filmed the whole think and put it on youtube...

be careful out there.

+1 Vote up Vote down

anon · 738 weeks ago

What I want to know is ....

about "Metro Honoring Dead Employees" - can you get a list Unsuck on how these employees who struck and killed these other employees are being disciplined or even if they are still employed at metro.

+5 Vote up Vote down

GDopplerXT · 738 weeks ago

This sounds like a totally avoidable situation that was created by the utter lack of common sense displayed by passengers. You can't blame WMATA for stuff like this, this is totally on the customers.

I know that Metro is hardly convenient for folks in wheelchairs and WMATA does a terrible job of maintaining their elevators, but that doesn't mean that the customers get to abandon all common sense and blame someone else when things go badly.

4 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Anonymous · 738 weeks ago

You can't blame Metro for this? Elderly wheelchair-bound patients obviously trying to get to the GWU Hospital above the station having no way off the platform because the elevator is perpetually broken? That's not at all Metro's fault? Sure they could have continued to another station and taken a shuttle back to Foggy Bottom had they been notified of the closure, but how many non-commuters are aware of this as an option?

+4 Vote up Vote down

GDopplerXT · 738 weeks ago

No you can't. It's a dumb (or maybe I should just say risky) idea to take an occupied wheelchair up an escalator. The decision to do this was not made by Metro.

Like I said, blame Metro for their failures (i.e. broken elevators, though I'm not actually sure it was in this case, but it sounds like it was) but not for the subsequent poor decisions of customers.

+1 Vote up Vote down

JoeyB · 738 weeks ago

Can't they use Metro Access?!

+1 Vote up Vote down

Ummm · 738 weeks ago

That would be too sensible.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Ummm · 738 weeks ago

How stupid does someone have to be to try to take a wheelchair up an escalator? It is impossible to balance on its own, it blocks anyone from trying to get by, and creates an obvious hazard to everyone around it.

Would they try to take a wheelchair up a flight of stairs? Up a ladder? Crazy.

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Anonymous · 738 weeks ago

Are you missing the point slightly? Who cares whether they were stupid to try to take an elderly woman in a wheelchair up an escalator, the point is that it caused a potentially dangerous situation which WMATA did absolutely nothing to help with. Only 3 passengers out of hundreds offered any assistance whatsoever. What were passengers supposed to do? Chalk it up as stupidity and let the old woman in the wheelchair toppled backward down the escalator, taking 30 or 40 people with her? That would teach her a lesson.

+1 Vote up Vote down

GDopplerXT · 738 weeks ago

The point should be the dangerous situation should not have happened in the first place. We should not even be discussing how WMATA employees did or did not respond because there should have been nothing to respond to.

What were the passengers supposed to do, you ask? Should all "hundreds" of them have rushed over to help? Cram a few dozen more folks onto a jammed escalator? Sure, that sounds like it would have really helped. I mean, how many would have been the right number to help? And in what way?

+5 Vote up Vote down

WTF · 738 weeks ago

Metro won't keep you from having a picnic on the train, why would you think they would keep idiots from trying to kill themselves on the escalators? Do you believe in slavery?

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anon · 738 weeks ago

Many people here are missing the point. Set aside the fact that it was a woman in a wheelchair (not to mention a man with a prosthetic leg) for a moment. Whether they wish to admit it or not, it's part of WMATA's job to ensure our safety as riders and customers. The station manager in particular is charged with dealing with all problems and issues in his or her station. So if someone falls on the escalator, they are obligated to help. They are under no circumstances allowed to simply watch.

Even if the two vested employees were just regular WMATA workers, one of them (at least) should have ran for the station manager. I look at it like this: If I were the station manager, you can be damn sure I'd at least want to know if there was an incident in my station. Why? Because I'm responsible, that's why. It's my job. My superiors would want to know what I did (if this were a legit company, of course). So I'd want to know.

5 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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anon · 738 weeks ago

Look, we've seen this before! Something Bad happens to a rider in a station. They go to the station manager, who literally can't be bothered to attend to their issue. So it's not exactly implausible that WMATA workers would just watch volunteers do their job. Not in the least.

Finally, a word about the shuttles. I bet people don't like to use them, because you a) have to go to another station, b) find the station manager, c) request a shuttle, d) hope he or she will procure one... do any of these seem painless? Pain in the ass is more like it.

Shuttle buses are unreliable and chaotic, and if you're already handicapped, you don't want that aggravation if you can avoid it. Still - it's extremely foolish to take a wheelchair on an escalator, just as it is to take a full stroller on one. You're asking for trouble. So perhaps the elevator was down and the customer didn't want to go through the rigamarole of getting a shuttle. Bad decision, but there's some degree of logic there.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Ummm · 738 weeks ago

Also, because of the MetroAccess RapeCars.

+1 Vote up Vote down

bet · 738 weeks ago

Catoe the last Metro "boss" is in charge of Metro Access now!

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More is More · 738 weeks ago

I've had to take the shuttle bus before (from Petworth Metro to Columbia Heights since I was traveling to the airport with some serious luggage and all elevators and escalators were out of service at the Petworth Station). Now this was back in the day (before the yellow line extended beyond Mt. Vernon) and at that time, you didn't have to have the shuttle called; it was simply waiting there for in the event that you needed it. If I can recall correctly, they were not conducive to those with handicaps, especially those in wheelchairs. These weren't shuttles similiar to the MetroAccess vans; they didn't contain devices or lowering mechanisms to assist those in wheelchairs with getting in and out. The were plain, cargo passenger vans.

Now if the person in the wheelchair is physically able to get in and out of the shuttle by themselves or with minimal assistance, then great. But if they arent, it doesn't look like Metro is providing them feasible options.

So, you're right, most people probably decide not to use the shuttles and instead brave the escalators with their wheelchairs.

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mr metro · 737 weeks ago

how can you set aside something when an adult makes a dumb decision. not only did they endanger themselves they could have hurt a lot of people. do you think they were thinking about others or were they more concerned about getting to there destination.

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VeggieTart · 738 weeks ago

The majority of the blame lies with the moron who put a wheelchair on an escalator. I'm pretty sure every escalator has a symbol indicating that wheelchairs don't belong on escalators. Part of the blame lies with Metro who did nothing while chaos was breaking out, although it's possible they did not want to create even more chaos by interfering when it was clear that other passengers were helping.

To the OP--was the elevator broken at Foggy Bottom or was this just an example of idiocy.

For the record, I sometimes take the elevator, especially if the exit is closer to where I want to go. I'm also working through an injury sustained when I fell on a Metrobus (I was standing, driver stopped very short), and taking the elevator is a little less painless.

-1 Vote up Vote down

guest · 738 weeks ago

The following is the extent of training that, as a Metro employee, I have gotten in regards to dealing with situations like the one above:
202-962-2121

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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bet · 738 weeks ago

state what you heard . I can't get to the phone.

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jkuchen · 738 weeks ago

Um...that's the Metro Police emergency line....

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bet · 738 weeks ago

Metro employees are trained to assist customers PERIOD!!!

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anonymous · 738 weeks ago

Coming from a metro employee who cares vs one who does not; the onlookers could have called for assistance (if they needed assistance) or at the minimum asked if they could assist in any way.

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GlenmontGirl · 738 weeks ago

I witnessed a situation today where the Metro employees actually acted responsibly and well:

A woman slipped and fell while getting onto the train at Rhode Island Avenue this morning. The people closest to her helped her stand up and move over to a seat. One of them asked her if she was okay, and she shook her head no and clutched her arm. The train pulled away from Rhode Island Avenue and headed for the next stop. One of the Good Samaritans radioed the train operator, who responded on the intercom, and informed him of the situation. He radioed ahead to New York Avenue, the next stop. When we got there the driver announced that the train would hold momentarily. One of the other passengers stepped off the train and waved over the Metro employee who had been notified by the driver. The Metro employee got onto the train, picked up the injured woman's bags and helped her off the train and onto a bench on the platform. The train pulled away.

All told the thing probably took five minutes. Fellow riders helped the woman, the train driver responded as he should have and the Metro employee who helped her off the train was very considerate. And, because everyone worked together, the train wasn't even delayed more than a minute or two.

(I was sitting at the other end of the car, but would still have gotten up to help her if not for the fact that the people immediately around her were already doing so. As several posters above have mentioned, sometimes having too many people trying to help just confuses things.)

I don't normally have much good to say about Metro. But I was pleased with the way this situation was handled. And if the woman who was injured is reading this blog, I wish you a speedy recovery!

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Ummm · 738 weeks ago

Wow, and no single-tracking? I find this very hard to believe.

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mr metro · 737 weeks ago

i guess it feels better to be negative. grow up

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Shawn · 738 weeks ago

Saw this post today while at work. On the way home I walked past a woman going down the escalator at Metro Center with her child in the stroller and the stroller popped up on two wheels....Had a nice chuckle to myself at least.

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ryder · 738 weeks ago

To the poster - thank you for helping. The following was my experience: I was about to go up said escalator when everyone started shouting "get back" and people hurriedly came back down the moving escalator. At that point it looked like the escalator had stopped, and I could see a couple of metro workers at the top. I decided I should stay out of the way and go up the working escalator. As I passed the stopped escalator I saw a couple of good samaritan passengers and the metro workers helping people get up that had fallen down and asking people if they were hurt. I also saw a man with a wheelchair at the top apologizing to the people. I thought "who takes a wheelchair up an escalator?!".

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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mr metro · 737 weeks ago

did any of you read ryders comment. metro workers were helping. but i guess its just feels better to knock metro.

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ryder · 738 weeks ago

The whole situation happened very quickly - and was resolved by the time I walked up that small escalator. I am not a callous person rushing off to work and blind to other people in need. I saw an emergency situation, assessed whether I could be of any help (which I could not, there were already people helping and I would just be in the way). I observed this incident from a different perspective from you, but in my opinion the only person at fault was the man who took a wheelchair up an escalator. It seemed to me that everyone, fellow passengers and metro workers, acted quickly and responsibly to help the people who had fallen. I am glad that you and others were there, able, and willing to help.

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iolaire 71p · 738 weeks ago

I would like to point out that I'm very able and willing to help others. But if I saw three people assisting in a situation like this - I would assume that they had everything under control and that they would not benefit from me crowding in to help.