Survey: Do You Use Escalators?

They're only slower than walking if you don't walk slowly, like an elderly or handicapped person. Of course, they're also inaccessible to people in wheelchairs.

My fiancée has arthritis and can't do long sets of stairs, so if I'm with her, I will use the escalator, other than that I will use the stairs.

often where there's an escalator, taking the stairs is not an option. the stair doors are marked with something to the effect of "emergency exit only - alarm will sound if door is opened". in public buildings the stairs are typically in some of the least secure feeling places - like at the end of long, dark corridors.

Long ago in school, I seem to recall learning that often facilities would install escalators to offset the capacitive load of certain types of electric lighting. Because the motors in the escalators are inductive, this brings the power factor back in line and reduces the magnitude of the apparent power, which is what billing is based on. Thus, by installing escalators, the cost of electricity could actually be reduced - eg, they could run them free or better.

Obviously they use energy, but as is typical with man made systems, there are quirks that provide negative incentives.

Normally, I prefer stairs. However, I'm making my way around town with a broken toe at the moment and find myself relying on the escalators at the train station a lot more. My neighborhood is not the safest, so I would be way too scared to get into an elevator alone. I'd feel very trapped in that little box, especially if a stranger got in with me.

If you're old, fine. Just stand to the side. If you have a ton of bags, fine. Stand to the side. If you're young and checking out chicks, fine. Stand to the side. Otherwise, move or get out of my way. When there's no stair option and people stand and block up the escalator, it can be frustrating. But I've learned to just sit back and enjoy the free ride.

I don't think it's any surprise that people need some more exercise in the US. Some stairs would do them good.

This is a tough issue - if the escalator is already running, then are you contributing to the power drain? Well yes as your weight makes the motors work harder. Is there a trade off between the energy used by the escalator and that used in your own energy consumption - food? yes of course there is. Maybe they should go slower - very slow - to tempt people to use stairs to get to their destination quicker?

I blew out both of my knees playing baseball, and while it doesn't affect my day to day life too much, stairs are a real killer on me. I caan walk for miles, but one flight of stairs just makes my knees ache. So, I always use the escalators and walk slowly up them. Between the escolator's movement, and and my walking it's faster then either regular stairs or waiting for an elevator, and using the escolator cuts out at least half the stairs my poor knees need to walk up. If one day all the escalators dissapeared, I'd probably have to take the elevator.

Really though, in the grand scheme of things I think escolators area pretty minor issue, and I always worry about picking fights over something as small as this. I think it dampens the more important message of finding a way to get cleaner electricity.

Since I have a toddler who is not yet walking, I often transport her in a stroller. It is virtually impossible to use a stroller safely on an escalator, so I don't generally use escalators. If I'm carrying her in my arms, I definitely would not use an escalator because of the tripping potential.

I agree with stradric. I use escalators, if available, as a means to arrive at my destination faster. NOT as a means of being lazy!

I almost never go anywhere where there is an escalator to begin with. So they are such a novelty to me that I enjoy riding them. There. I just came out as a big country bumpkin.

Of all the shopping centres I go to, NONE have a second floor of shops to visit so no ability to climb escalators OR stairs.
:-D

I also have to agree - while the only place we go to that has a serious height difference is the Mall...it's near impossible to find a staircase, AND it's faster (especially with a 3-year-old) to just use the escalator (or elevator, if we're near it). However, she DOES know how to use stairs, and in places where they DON'T have escalators (like at my grandparents' house from the main floor to the basement), we make do. We also don't use smallish escalators (like the one in the photo above) unless we're HEAVILY burdened (like the time we moved my daughter and I and our luggage, AND the dog through the airport).

However...I know that the Independence Center Mall in Independence, Missouri has both stairs AND escalators, and people use both in about the same amount. They have two levels and a recessed courtyard/food court, and they've located the stairs near the escalators and elevators (in a central area), so perhaps if places were to start making better use of their area in THAT way, then people would be more likely to use stairs?

I escalate because I am disabled and cannot use stairs. It is out of necessity, not want. I would far rather schlepp up & down stairs.

I have a mobility and blanace problems and find stairs and escalators difficult to use, so always try and avoid both, because of my balance problems I'm afraid I might fall, but sometimes the lift or elevator is a long walk from the escalator and so I take the escalator instead, so it all depends on what options are

I use the escalators here in Korea because it's a long walk up from the subway. BUT- often they only have escalators going UP. To go down to the subway you have to use the stairs.

The escalators here often have a motion sensor, so they aren't moving or are moving slowly until you walk past the sensors.

I do use them because I basically have to - the only place with escalators around here is a shopping mall, and the escalators are the only option throughout most of the mall. There used to be one flight of stairs in the middle of the mall but it was replaced a few years ago with a glass elevator. At least, I'm pretty sure the stairs are gone - haven't been to the mall since last year. (There are also 2 other elevators at each end of the mall, and the end and center anchor stores have their own.) Escalators seem faster than elevators and don't have a wait time.

I agree, these days you don't have a choice. Most of the big chain stores don't give you an option. It always makes me laugh when i have to use them in a sports and fitness store. Ha ha good topic