The Backwashes of One-side Culture on the Escalator

The Backwashes of One-side Culture on the Escalator

　　“Please do not walk on the escalator”, this is a phrase in a propaganda activity, which JR Tokyo station decided to start on this December by deploying some security guards and message boards. This is the first attempt carrying on a full-scale operation in Tokyo station although this kind of awareness raising campaign has been there since before nationwide. However, this activity is not planned to spread all Japan, so it is very limited, broad effects cannot be suspected, and was launched for an only limited time, by February.

　

　　History of escalator trace back to the late 19th century, and Japan began to install escalators in Meiji era which was promising technology at that time. Actually, very first escalator, which was a protocol, was developed in America for making it easier to carry many passengers at stations. Escalator derive from turn-style stair (Kaitenshiki-kaidan), which acquired a patent in 1859 in America. Escalator as everyone know today was completed in 1900, which exhibited at Paris Exposition at the same year. After that, Fumidan-style automatic stair (Fumidanshiki-jido-kaidan) was invented, which was much closer to present escalator, and it won the 1st prize and installed in two department stores in America. Interestingly, “Escalator” obtained a trademark registration in 1910, this is why other companies were not able to use the term “escalator” until 1950. As of Japan, she had met the technology of escalator at Tokyo-Taisho-exposition on March 1914, in a sales copy of “our state-of-the-art automatic stair” received attention.

　　Today, not only Japanese but also people in the world have taken over “one-side culture” on the escalator, and most people believe that keeping one-side open is beneficial. It is said that it is unclear that whether or not this campaign produce positive effects for both the station and the passengers. In the world, most countries such as British, United States, France, Germany, Australia and China, have that culture, in other words, one-side culture is deeply ingrained there although whether people can open either the right side or the left side is different depending on the country. Of course, it can be argued that it would be annoying for business man who are always in a hurry if this one-side culture disappeared from the escalator. This is because they believe that such special route are set for them and it can build a win-win relationship between people and people in a hurry. However, with the rise of one-side culture on the escalator, various negative things have been happening. One-side culture has possibility of accident on the escalator, lowering transportation efficiency, and trouble tend to be occurred between passengers.

　　First of all, one disadvantage of one-side culture is that the possibility of accident is high rate. Between 2013 and 2014, the number of accidents at the escalator was 1,475, of which 882 accidents caused by "poor how to ride" such as falling without holding a handrail, stumbling by walking, which accounts for the whole of approximately 60%. (“Elevator Journal”). As the number of buildings increases, the number of escalators is increasing in proportion. As a result, accidents also continue to increase compared to the 1990s. It can be said that walking on the escalator is dangerous and the number of accidents is not decreasing every year. Futhermore, there are some people who are race to hospital. Even if a person fall down on the escalator, the escalator will continue to move, because it has to keep functioning. It is difficult to get up and he or she may get a much worse injury than when falling down the stairs. For most people, if people take a break, some of the injuries are fixed soon, but there are exceptions: at worst case, people lose their life by accident: drunk fall down died and a woman wearing a muffler tripped over and the muffler squeezed her neck and died.

　　Second of all, the one-sided opening culture lowered the transportation efficiency. According to a simulation research, forming two rows on the escalator tend not to make congestion.The research made 1,000 passengers and compared it when stopping side by side in two rows and when opening one side. The former is 1 minute 49 seconds earlier all participants finished riding (“NHK,” 2018). As mentioned earlier, it seems very inconvenient for a person in a hurry if there is one side opening habit, but most important thing is “safeness” when comparing speed when running and one’s safety. Even if you rushed to a short escalator in the station, it would be impossible to make up for and reduce the difference. In addition, a station in Britain has already showed an experimental outcome. Surprisingly, it reported the congestion rate decreased and transportation efficiency rose up by 30%. (“Nikkei Business Online,” 2018). Also, the other day, Tokyo station started to disestablish open one side, and the results are somewhat good one.. Thanks to this, it turned out that it was more efficient to line up in two rows, then convincing power would have increased. It has been found that not only safety but also transport efficiency is improved, and this will benefit all people who use the escalator regardless of whether they are in a hurry or not.

　　Lastly, another reason one-side culture should be diminished is troubles among passenger tend to be occurred. For example, people in a hurry often hit other’s bad or big baggage. In Japan (except Osaka and Sendai), many people stand on the left side on the escalator and keep the right side open for those who are in a hurry, people standing on the left side put on the shoulder bags or have carry bags, which somewhat enter the space on the right side, so people running on the right side often hit those baggage. In such a case, passengers are more likely to quarrel. In addition, since common sense varies depending on person, trouble happened between passengers. For example, there is a clash of opinion between those who think that rushing up one side of the escalator is a manner violation and people who do not care about it. Suzuki reports that “the other day, when a woman employee were walking on the escalator at the Mita station on the Toei Mita Line, there was a case that she was yelled by a man from behind, saying ‘Do not walk on the escalator.’ Thus, walking on the escalator causes some troubles among passengers unwillingly” (2017).

　　In summary, discontinuing one-side-opening custom would make a significant difference to the lives of people who use the escalator almost every day. By arranging in two rows the possibility of an accident decreases and transport efficiency improves because it can reach the upper floor more quickly. Also it will be beneficial for all passengers, as it will greatly reduce passenger collisions. Now is the time to change this habit now because Japan is having the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020. Or better yet, walking on the escalator should be prohibited as soon as possible.

Bibliography

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Hsiu-Han, C. & Kawashita, A. & Okouchi, H. (2012, September). Do You Keep Right on the Escalator? An Everybody Behavior under Cultural Contingencies. Memoirs of Osaka Kyoiku University, Ser. IV Education, Psychology, Special Support Education and Physical Culture.

Miyazaki, T. (2017, July). Is One-side-open on the Escalator a Lack in Common Sense, Diamond Online, 1. Retrieved from:

https://diamond.jp/articles/-/134952?page=2

NHK. (2018, November). If everyone stops,, it contributes to fasters. NHK. Retrieved from: https://www.nhk.or.jp/d-navi/2020/article_11.html

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NHK NEWS WEB. (2018, December).. (2018, December). Passengers Are Encouraged to Keep Stopping on the Escalator. NHK. Retrieved from: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20181217/k10011749751000.html

Suzuki, N. (2017, June). Miserable End of People Saying Do Not Walk on the Escalator, Making an Unreasonable Demand. Nikkei Business Online, 1. Retrieved from

https://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/interview/15/238739/062200257/

Toki, M. (2015, March). A Different Culture of One-sided on Escalators and Japanese Identity. Bulletin of Edogawa University.