Over in another thread, there was some discussing about walking vs. standing on escalators. That got me thinking of the moving walkways found at most major airports. There seems to be two schools of thought on these. One is that they’re for standing on, so you can move through the airport without needing to walk much. The other is that they’re for walking on, to get you to your gate faster, especially when you’re in a hurry. Which camp do you fall into? If you’ve never used a moving walkway before just answer with what you would do if you encountered one.
I’m solidly in the “walk” camp now, although I used to stand on them long ago, when I was an unseasoned traveler. In fact nowadays I pretty much only use the moving walkways when I’m in a hurry. If I’ve got plenty of time before my flight I’ll just walk the whole distance to the gate without the aid of the moving walkways; I figure that’s a good way to get a bit of exercise between flights. But if I’m in a hurry, like when Delta makes me connect from Concourse A to Concourse F at MSP during a short layover, I will use the moving walkways, and I will walk on them. Thankful MSP has their walkways divided into two lanes marked “strand” and “walk” to help encourage the stand left, walk right etiquette.
If they’re wide enough, I use the same rules as Metro escalators: stand on the right, walk on the left. Otherwise, it depends on distance. If I know I’m in for a lot of walking later, like changing planes in DFW, I’m a-standin’.
What I meant was “what do you typically do on moving walkways?” I suppose I did leave off the possibility of “it depends on the situation”, but if that’s the case just pick the one you do the majority of the time.
Usually walk. I pretty much always encounter them in airports, and the chance to walk more than 10m is highly welcome after however many hours on a plane. If I’m tired, I’ll stand on the “cruising” side, almost always the right.
I chose Walk, because that’s what I almost always do. The exception is the airport at Salt Lake City, which has some wonderful photographs displayed next to the moving walkway. If I have time, I move to the right and stand so I can enjoy them.
I typically avoid them because there is a good chance I will get stuck behind a clueless family that not only is standing, but spread out so no one can pass.
Walk, because I’m about to be substantially immobilsed for a long period of time, and any opportunity for movement that I can take right now, I should.
YMMV, which is fine. But people who stand need to leave plenty of room for walkers to get by, because (a) many people prefer to walk for the reason just given; obstructing them is rude, and (b) some people need to walk (or run!) because they are trying to make a flight.
Enough of the standers on walkways ignore this simple and virtuous principle so that, if I’m running late, I generally avoid the walkways altogether.
In Romania, the rule is that people who choose not to walk will have to stand on the right side, allowing those in a hurry to walk on the left side. There are signs urging people to “station” on the right “part” if they don’t want to walk:
I used to walk. After my knees turned on me I stood. Assuming I ever go to an airport again I’ll stand.
Every one of these I can recall has plenty of room to stand on the right and walk on the left. And unlike escalators, walking by the standers is not dangerous.
Walk left, stand right. A rule I learned on the escalators in Toronto’s subways that holds as true in the airports I’ve passed through, in the US and Canada.
What I have found, especially at Toronto Pearson, but Calgary demonstrates this too, is that huge family/business/friends groups don’t always understand “walk left, stand right,” and totally block the moving walkway. If I’m heading for such a walkway, and I see a big group getting on one, I’ll avoid it. Walking quickly on the floor, I’ll often get to the end of the walkway before the group can ride there.
These days, stand, because of disability. Prior to that, sometimes I’d walk, sometimes I’d stand. It depended on how much of a hurry I was in. No hurry, no walking.
There’s a certain novelty to standing on a moving walkway. It’s quite peaceful to stand still but move on a flat surface, not quite the same as any other mode of transport.
All my journeys have required a fair amount of walking at one end or the other, so needing to exercise my legs was never a thing.
Why would anyone assume that they’re “for” standing or “for” walking?
They’re there to be used however you would like to use them.
If you want to walk, then do so.
If you want to stand, then do so.
If you want to put only your luggage on while walking alongside, then do so.
This. Before departure, I know I’m about to be immobilized for a few hours, so I tend to walk continuously until it’s time to board. Detroit’s McNamara terminal building is almost a mile long, and the TSA checkpoint inserts you right at the middle. If my gate is at one end, I’ll walk to the other end first, and then walk to my gate. More time? Add another loop, shortened if necessary.
I walk on the moving walkways after arrival to add an extra bit of speed because now I’m trying to get somewhere in a hurry - immigration/customs, baggage claim, or my ride home. I don’t mind people standing to the right in the walkway, or slowing my stride briefly while a slower walker is passing a standing person - but when 2+ people walk side by side on the moving walkway at 2 MPH, it’s kind of annoying; it’s kind of like mindlessly blocking both lanes on the highway.
This is what I do as well. Many places are so crowded that you’re bound to be obstructed by a party of standers. If the floor is then unobstructed I walk instead, faster than the walkway.
I do the same for down escalators where I have a free stairway option, everywhere except in subways where I’m more sure that people will be following etiquette. I take up escalators even if they are obstructed.
I’ve been conditioned to be in a hurry in an airport. The moment I enter the building I’m rushing; to and through security, to my gate, to the men’s restroom.
I think we had a similar topic before, because I remember mentioning the moving walkways in Shipol airport. My favorite ones are the ones at Zurich airport which have a moving belt which is bouncy, instead of the metal plates which is more typical.
I walk on moving walkways and stand on escalators.
In British English they are called travelators (travel + escalator).
I almost always walk. Not that many people block them at the airports I go to, so standers have not been a problem. Less so than on escalators usually.
Getting to the gate area faster gives me more time to stand in line at Starbucks.
