# Moving walkways in airports **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2023, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087 "2023-06-06T04:40:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/41 "2023-06-06T17:09:14Z")
It would make more sense when moving walkways were first introduced they would have been more for standing, considering rolling luggage wasn’t around yet. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/42 "2023-06-06T17:30:17Z")
Did you read any further that that? “While riding a moving walkway, passengers can either stand still, or keep walking on it.” And it’s pretty clear that by “walking passengers”, they mean everyone who is on foot, period: “In order to facilitate on-foot travelers, a conveyer belt with handrails was designed.” And it just gets worse, “The new system was advertised as assistance for tired travelers, to benefit those who could not walk long distances, and for travelers with short flight connections.” Hell, did you read _any_ of that?!? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/43 "2023-06-06T18:49:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > “The moving walkways at airports are primarily installed to assist walking passengers” That article may say “primarily”, but when I’m using an actual moving walkway at the airport, and I look down and see lanes of **equal** width for standers and walkers, it seems to me that “primarily” is not the right word. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/44 "2023-06-06T18:53:29Z")
The ones at National Airport have a loop recording “The moving walkway is ending” positioned to be heard about ten feet from the end. Unless I’m too stressed about catching my flight to have a sense of humor, I generally say, “_Repent_, for the end of the moving walkway is at hand!” ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/45 "2023-06-06T19:18:53Z")
Sometimes I think it might say, “The moving walkway is for loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in the moving walkway.” ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/46 "2023-06-06T19:31:53Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > “_Repent_, for the end of the moving walkway is at hand!” My day would be immensely brightened by unexpectedly hearing that. I’m sure you have provided a much-needed spot of amusement to weary travelers. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/47 "2023-06-06T19:32:58Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Elevators have even less capacity than escalators, and are often explicitly marked for “wheelchair use only”. Where do you find elevators marked for wheelchair use only? I’ve never seen that. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/48 "2023-06-06T19:36:49Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > “The moving walkways at airports are primarily installed to assist walking passengers” There are a number of non-walking passengers - those in wheelchairs or the ones who ride in the carts with the lovely beeping. Airports are full of people who rarely fly, which leads to chaos. At least the moving walkways help direct traffic. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/49 "2023-06-06T19:59:01Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > Sometimes I think it might say, “The moving walkway is for loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in the moving walkway.” “Don’t you tell me which zone is for loading, and which zone is for stopping!” ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/50 "2023-06-06T20:24:05Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > A problem in many US airports is that the moving sidewalks date from the 1980s when air travel exploded post-deregulation. Two 1980s-width Americans can pass, even with luggage in tow. Two 2020’s-width Americans? Not even close. I was picturing the moving sidewalks I’m familiar with (the ones at LAX with the mosaic tile walls), and you’re right. My sense memory is that they’re really pretty damn narrow! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/51 "2023-06-06T20:46:05Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I usually walk on moving walkways, but now I plan to start walking in the reverse direction to show my support for the right to stand. For a moment, this seemed to be a silly statement. Then I realized that, if you walk in reverse at the same speed the walkway is moving forward, you will in fact remain stationary! You’d get pretty tired after a while, though. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/52 "2023-06-06T20:57:24Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > … > I was picturing the moving sidewalks I’m familiar with (the ones at LAX with the mosaic tile walls), and you’re right. My sense memory is that they’re really pretty damn narrow! Interestingly, the other day I was in an anchor department store in this mall > **[Home | Galleria Ft. Lauderdale](https://www.galleriamall-fl.com/)** > > The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale is one of South FL’s premier shopping destinations with more than 100 fashion retailers. Visit and Shop with us today! The store was fitted out in the modern fashion with current fixtures, displays, and of course current merchandise. As I walked in something gave me pause that the place felt “off” or incongruous somehow, but I couldn’t pinpoint it. As we approached the center of the store I saw the directory signs near the central escalators showed it was a 4-story store! Here in very low-rise SoFL, a two story department store is a bit unusual and 3-story is eye-catching. 4 stories ?! WTF?? As we got closer it was a total time warp. I recognized the make and model of escalator from my small childhood in SoCal 60 years ago and 3000 miles away. Suddenly I was 2-1/2 feet tall. Sure enough, per wiki that store was built in 1954. As were the stores at the mall of my little kid-hood so long ago. There is a lot of parallel evolution of the development of southern Florida and Southern California in the post-war 1946 to 1970 era. They’re remarkably similar when you take a step back. The relevance to this thread and your post is that the escalator width was about 24", significantly narrower than _any_ I’d seen in the wild for decades. Much more narrow than the common 1980s “narrow” ones in airports. I’m a small guy, and it felt weirdly cramped riding up or down. Felt totally cool and remarkably nostalgic in a happy way. But narrow; very, very narrow. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/53 "2023-06-06T21:02:03Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As we got closer it was a total time warp. I recognized the make and model of escalator from my small childhood in SoCal 60 years ago and 3000 miles away. I’m wondering if it’s one that I remember from _my_ childhood – The Broadway department store in the Crenshaw area. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/54 "2023-06-06T21:10:02Z")
Nope. Our go-to mall when I was little little was Fashion Square in downtown Santa Ana. Later when South Coast Plaza was built it largely eclipsed Fashion Square. But IIRC Broadway was one of, if not the, anchor department store tenants. If so, your store and mine would probably have been indistinguishable on the inside. I still remember getting separated from my parents in a toy store in that mall at Christmas. I must have been about 3. Not yet able to really talk intelligibly to random strangers. My takeaway image is me standing in a dense forest of unfamiliar knees in dark trousers all at my eye level with no ability to find a familiar face way up there through the crowd. Scary stuff. Fortunately I hadn’t gotten too far from Mom and once wailing commenced I was soon rescued. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/55 "2023-06-06T21:12:28Z")
Ah, you were behind the Orange Curtain. I would drive all the way down to Costa Mesa (which took about an hour for us) I loved South Coast Plaza so much. I can still remember the sparkly black terazzo at that old Broadway, though. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/56 "2023-06-06T21:16:39Z")
I am semi-fond of the walkways due to excessive time spend at DIA (Denver International). Since I’m in Colorado Springs, by the time I’m in the concourse, I’ve gotten up, driven 90ish miles to the airport, spend 30ish minutes waiting, riding on the parking area to concourse tram, another hour going through security (standing) and a bumpy ride on the damn internal tram to get to the specific concourse itself. And then have to walk across 50ish gates many a time! I have flat feet, although otherwise healthy, but the sheer amount of time spent just getting to and thru the airport is exhausting in it’s own right, and the long time on my feet shuffling through security often leaves me happy to stand on the moving walkway when I’m going up to 1.3Km across the B gates. It’s just… yeah. But… if I’m running behind on a tight layover, I do fully understand the sentiment of the OP. People are funny, and put our own needs and preferences first. So I’m not throwing any stones! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/57 "2023-06-06T22:06:31Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Unless I’m too stressed about catching my flight to have a sense of humor, I generally say, “_Repent_, for the end of the moving walkway is at hand!” _It’s the end of the walkway as we know it. It’s the end of the walkway as we know it. It’s the end of the walkway as we know it, And I feel fine._ ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/58 "2023-06-07T00:32:41Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I do agree, there is something wrong with those special idiots that at the end of the belt or escalator, don’t know how to resume moving and block others. I wouldn’t punch them in the back of the head, but I do say “excuse me” loudly and probably a little snarkily. I have a bit of a “get out of jail free card” while dressed at work, but my comment while exiting at speed around a blocking crowd of the oblivious is a strongly toned: “That’s a _really_ bad place to stop. Keep moving!” I get the occasional dagger stared into the back of my head. The most common reaction is none at all since they’re in a world where only they exist. They and the signage they’re uselessly trying to interpret. My fellow humans are idjits. Good thing or they’d never put up with the crappy experience my employer (and the various governments) sell them. 😉 We used to have a rueful saying: “It’s a good thing people are born faster than we can piss them off. Otherwise we’d run out of customers eventually.” ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/59 "2023-06-07T01:18:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The relevance to this thread and your post is that the escalator width was about 24", significantly narrower than _any_ I’d seen in the wild for decades. Much more narrow than the common 1980s “narrow” ones in airports. I’m a small guy, and it felt weirdly cramped riding up or down. Felt totally cool and remarkably nostalgic in a happy way. But narrow; very, very narrow. Macy’s Herald Square still has a few wooden escalators. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > I have a bit of a “get out of jail free card” while dressed at work, but my comment while exiting at speed around a blocking crowd of the oblivious is a strongly toned: “That’s a _really_ bad place to stop. Keep moving!” But you’re an unequal pig; the plane kinda doesn’t go w/o you (unless you’re deadheading). I find that for flights that have connections it’s either \> 4 hrs or \< 45 mins, which means I’m OJing my way from one terminal to another. To my fellow travelers: Stay on your side, including your luggage & get the 'ell outta my way. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087/60 "2023-06-07T01:36:49Z")
“Why pretend, we know perfectly well what this is about. You want me to have an abortion.” (Surely, someone had to continue this line.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-walkways-in-airports/985087.md?page=4)