Unsuck DC Metro: Are Metro's Slow Escalators Actually More Dangerous?

Friday, December 16, 2011

Are Metro's Slow Escalators Actually More Dangerous?

This is a nice find from Mike:

Who brags about their escalators being 25 percent slower than normal escalators? Metro! That's who!

In case you can't make out the sign, it says:

Most escalators--like the ones you ride at shopping malls--travel at about 120 feet per minute (fpm). A Metro escalator travels at 90 feet per minute. We just think it's good to slow down, enjoy the view and be safe.

Whatever. Who comes up with this stuff, and how much do they get paid? I'll do it for half.

Assuming you find a working escalator, the slow speed definitely encourages a lot of people to walk. Apparently wear and tear increases if you walk a moving escalator.

Furthermore, I found this old report that actually included Metro, which "provides evaluations of special design features associated with escalators used in rail transit systems." I guess some of the findings could be outdated, but I doubt this one is.

Turns out slower escalators are dangerous.

The preferred design is a dual speed escalator. The 120 fpm speed should be used during the peak hours and 90 fpm during the off-peak hours. Even though the hourly capacity is not linearly related to speed, the increase in escalator capacity at the higher speed reduces problems of overcrowding at high volume stations. At low volume stations existing data indicates no real advantages to the higher speed. Escalators over 40 ft high (three level changes) should utilize the speed of 120 fpm to reduce extended travel time on escalators. Excessive travel times result in movement of passengers resulting in a hazardous operating environment.

Nice job Metro.

Update from a Metro escalator expert:

The code for escalators allowed a max speed of 125 fpm with A17.1d -2000 and earlier. A17.1-2000 and later sets the max speed at 100 fpm. The min. speed can not be less than 10 fpm. The early units in Metro had two speeds 90 fpm and 120 fpm because they were driven by two speed ac motors. The newer units have a variable frequency drive and so can be set to any speed. I believe that Metro uses 90 fpm because the early units could be made to run at 90 fpm by disabling the high speed contacts and running only on the slow speed. I think this was done because they felt it was safer and easier for people to get on and off ( especially older folks and people who are a little afraid of escalators). The slower speed also reduces wear and tear on the units.

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Comments (32)

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+6 Vote up Vote down

Nicky on the O Line · 692 weeks ago

I was just thinking about this last weekend when I got up an escalator at the Tyson's Corner mall in about 1/2 the time that it takes me to get up or down a platform escalator on metro. Amazingly, because the escalator was moving at a reasonable pace, I didn't feel the need to race up it as I usually do on metro (stomp, stomp, stomp, feel those escalator steps move beneath your feet).

Epic fail, metro.

3 replies · active 692 weeks ago

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Mike · 692 weeks ago

I notice the same thing at Pentagon City. It actually takes me by surprise after riding the very slow Metro escalators and then switching to the much faster Pentagon City Mall escalators. I also have noticed that older people ride the mall escalators just as much or more than older people on the Metro.

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Veteran Rider · 692 weeks ago

Agree 100%. The mall esclator is very noticeably faster than the Metro unit that you've just taken. Also I distinctly remember that when Metro first opened the escalators were noticeably fast, particularly the long ones at Dupont - it was even something that people talked about. (Times were simpler way back then, I guess.) I don't remember that Metro discussed or publicized it when they reduced the speed.

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@VeggieTart · 692 weeks ago

The escalators at Pentagon City are fast even when you don't compare them to Metro.

And enjoy the ride? Are you kidding me? Looking at blank walls? If you want people to enjoy the ride, Metro, perhaps doing something about those walls would be a good idea--like when there was that Norwegian (??) light display at Dupont South a few years ago. Have people paint murals. Do something. But if I'm not about to travel at a snail's pace down a looong escalator like Rosslyn looking at blank walls.

+14 Vote up Vote down

John · 692 weeks ago

How is David Lacosse still employed? The entire escalator management department should be axed. I've screamed this at the top of my lungs going on 2 years now. How the hell do these morons still have jobs? The escalators will not improve with these BOZOS in charge. You realize that Metro has stooped to having celebratory ribbon cutting ceremonies when they fix escalators, even though they go out of service a mere 2 days later? Dr. Gridlock, another Metro flack, says that Metro should do more of this. Can't wait to see a celebration every time a train runs on time - we're heading in that direction.

1 reply · active 692 weeks ago

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vvv · 692 weeks ago

well, honestly; a Metro train running on time *is* something to celebrate.....

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Emile · 692 weeks ago

What would also be good is if the Metro escalators were equipped with sensors that allowed them to turn on when someone is about to ride. As it is now the escalators are constantly on and this just seems like a waste of energy and causes more wear.

2 replies · active 692 weeks ago

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Matt G · 692 weeks ago

A great point. I have seen these at airports during off-hours...when I approached after arriving on a late flight, the Escalator, in idle, would sense my arrival, and spool up to transport me. It's ingenious.

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Justine · 692 weeks ago

They have something like that in Germany. It will go in the direction of the person who stepped on the escalator first. They tend to have more than one so that not all of the escalators are going in the same direction. Plus they actually work and fast.

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Guest · 692 weeks ago

Every escalator I ever went on in a European subway was MUCH faster than Metros'. Guess they're better at riding escalators over there.

+9 Vote up Vote down

John · 692 weeks ago

My favorite is the "exposed to the elements" excuse. There are tons of escalators at the platform level that are in poor condition. That excuse only fools morons like Dr. Gridlock.

3 replies · active 692 weeks ago

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Kat · 692 weeks ago

I want to know WHY there are street-level escalators that have remained uncovered all this time.

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Andrew · 692 weeks ago

Because the Q Street exit at Dupont Circle is kind of breathtaking. But that's it. No excuse for the others.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Veteran Rider · 692 weeks ago

Because it is breathtaking, Q Street was set aside for 'sepcial treatment', not the standard canopy design. However, that was several years ago when the canopy building began, and it seems that whole issue has faded away or been forgotten. I think there were a few other locations which were also supposed ot get special treatment. (But maybe that is special treatment, Metro-style - just being forgotten,)

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caity · 692 weeks ago

I agree with everything said so far. I don't feel the need to walk up the fast escalator at Pentagon City, but I cannot stand waiting on a Metro escalator.

Additionally, the motion sensor escalators in Berlin were amazing. I was there on a weekend when the U-bahn was fairly quiet but it still seemed like such a good idea and a great way to save power. I don't remember any escalators being too slow. London has HUGE escalators and I never saw them broken or too slow.

I just don't get why Metro isn't following what other systems are doing that works.

1 reply · active 691 weeks ago

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Schnitzelbank · 691 weeks ago

That's why I think we need to get some people from foreign transit systems to run Metro. Fire all of the current managers, turn Metro over for a few years, then make a gradual transition back to domestic control.

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Anon · 692 weeks ago

If Sarles, Stessel, Stessel's new "social media" deputy, and the rest of the Metro back office would put in a couple of hours a day riding the system and paying attention, they wouldn't to squander half a million bucks on another "secret shopper" program. Heck, why don't they instruct the Riders Advisory Council on what they'd like to learn from "secret shoppers" and encourage them to do it. For that matter, they could probably come up with twenty hours a week of secret shopping just by asking for volunteers on this blog.

That said, I applaud Metro for including a disabled perspective in the review. From reports Unsuck has compiled and those I've heard elsewhere, that seems like a customer group where there are many hidden problems, and it's probably a lot harder for existing Metro employees to ferret them out.

6 replies · active 692 weeks ago

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John · 692 weeks ago

If what I'm gathering is correct, I'm not too disappointed in this program. Is this to send people undercover to interact with Station Managers, metro employees, check on escalator repair crews, etc? I've long said Metro should do something like this, and document all these instances of surly, rude, employees who quite frankly don't give a crap about doing their job. If thats what this program is, then good for them (its a hell of a lot better way to spend money than conducting a study on what DC would be like without metro)

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 692 weeks ago

They have done this before not too long ago. Think it helped?

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former employee · 692 weeks ago

Mgmt. is aware of the "problem employees" And if they need to refresh their memory, they can take a look at all the griveance and arbitration losses.

The Union will never go for disciplinary action due to a "secret shopper". Union lawyers are much smarter than Metro lawyers. I bet there would be suspension and firings but at the end Metro will lose arbitration and pay 'problem employee" back pay. And the "great employee" who has a greiveance for unfair labor practice would have to wait years before his/her case goes to arbitration.

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John · 692 weeks ago

Who is involved in arbitration? How can they continue to rule in favor of the incompetent people? I strongly suspect they are being paid off.

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former employee · 692 weeks ago

Arbitrator is selected by both union and company. I know that Metro lawyers are often unprepared when time comes to arbitrate issues. Union attorney is prepared and has done his homework. Got give the Union that credit. Pay off... maybe. But considering the rest of JGB staff... I would bet on Metro legal department being incompetent.

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@savemetro · 692 weeks ago

Sure this is a great idea. They review the system, fire a few surly types. A few months later, they appeal with Local 689, get their jobs back, with back pay. Now Metro has to raise the fares. The service now sucks worse, because the surly types are now station managers. Its a vicious, vicious cycle. Kinda like flushing a toilet.

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Mark · 692 weeks ago

I lived in London for a year, and was fascinated at how fast the Tube escalators were compared to the ones here in DC. No one had any trouble getting on or off them in London. Are we Americans just too dumb and clumsy for zippier escalators?

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DC Denizen · 692 weeks ago

And do you really think they'll give us the full story when the study is done, or will we just get some sanitized executive study?

And if someone puts in a PARP request for the raw data, I'd be willing to bet $10 that they'll come back with "That would take too long for our staff to compile."

1 reply · active 692 weeks ago

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DC Denizen · 692 weeks ago

Sorry, this was supposed to be a response to Anon, John, and Unsuck above...

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Escalator Repairman · 692 weeks ago

Metro's slow escalators definitely lead to dangerous conditions on the platforms.

Step it up Metro 30 fpm more would really go a long way

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Huffy · 692 weeks ago

When I was last in Vienna the U-bahn, I acted like a normal Washingtonian on the escalators (sprinting down the left lane, then dashing for the train) till I realized everyone was staring at me. The difference? The escalators were much faster (not to mention better lit, but that's another topic), the trains came often. So doing a Metro-type sprint might, just might, save you 60 seconds. Big deal.

And as others have noted, if the problem is our litigation-happy society, then why are shopping-mall escalators so much faster? Sorry, WMATA, we're not buying.

2 replies · active 691 weeks ago

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Huffy · 692 weeks ago

Oops....just to clarify: I meant Vienna, Austria (not Vienna, Virginia)!

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Schnitzelbank · 691 weeks ago

In Berlin and Vienna, riding the U-bahn is almost relaxing! Miss one train, get the next, whatever. Late night service was faster than Metro at noon.
If Metro management thinks mall escalators are fast, they should ride on the Budapest subway. I was leery, but little grannies hopped on and off with no problems.

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Lisa · 692 weeks ago

If slow escalators are safer, why not reduce the speed even more. Eg, to zero. Oh, wait...

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Lisa · 692 weeks ago

I am no engineer but it makes sense that when you are on a moving conveyance, it is safer to be still than to move around. Faster escalators are hence safer because they reduce the need to walk up or down to make up for the slow speed.