Why do stationary Escalators appear to move?

[Jetl3on]

Cant figure this out but, everytime I step onto stationary escaltors, the first few steps appear to, well.... move
Strange I know, but I cant explain it, I know they are not moving, but as soon as hit the first step, there is that initial hesitation and little wobble before you regain your compusure, until you get to the end and the same thing happens again, I have seen other people do the same thing.

And before anyone starts, no its not the Ganja.

[craste]

Yeah this defo happens.

[sneijder]

I feel your pain, I think it's something to do with them being so steep - and the steps are twice the height of a normal 'flight'. Feel like a borrower on them.

[simonrockman]

I once had a pointless argument (ok I may have been drinking) when the sign on the tube called a broken escalator a "fixed" staircase. I argued that it it was fixed it couldn't be broken.

[glazbagun]

I think it's a psycological thing. When I worked at Edinburgh Airport they shut down the moving floor for a couple of weeks and it took about a week for the disconcerting feeling to go away. I imagine that years of expecting the first step of an escalator to meet your foot on the way up have been ingrained in your muscle memory, which gets upset when things arent as they are expected to be.

[valve bounce66]

Jetl3on said:

Cant figure this out but, everytime I step onto stationary escaltors, the first few steps appear to, well.... move
Strange I know, but I cant explain it, I know they are not moving, but as soon as hit the first step, there is that initial hesitation and little wobble before you regain your compusure, until you get to the end and the same thing happens again, I have seen other people do the same thing.

And before anyone starts, no its not the Ganja.

could be the

[sneijder]

Moving walkways are a different kettle of fish, I walk FASTER than I would on a normal floor. I sometimes approach near lightspeed.

[TheEnd]

Jetl3on said:

Cant figure this out but, everytime I step onto stationary escaltors, the first few steps appear to, well.... move
Strange I know, but I cant explain it, I know they are not moving, but as soon as hit the first step, there is that initial hesitation and little wobble before you regain your compusure, until you get to the end and the same thing happens again, I have seen other people do the same thing.

And before anyone starts, no its not the Ganja.

Probably due to the fact you are well trained to get on, then automatically balance yourself for a moving one, even when you know consciously that it's not moving.

There is an actual psychological effect that happens in reverse, whereby you are on a moving object which stops, and you still get the feeling it's moving slightly, like a train rolling backwards at the station

[Nigel Worc's]

Jetl3on said:

And before anyone starts, no its not the Ganja.

you sure ?

[Owain]

Happened to me recently, I almost tripped up the step - pretty embarrasing
I knew it was static but still there's something different to normal steps!

[anonymous-user]

So glad it's not just me.

[sneijder]

I'll tell you the difference, razor sharp serrated steel edges. Designed in bunkers during WW2 to inflict maximum shin damage.

[uriel]

I had a car that occasionally wound't engage first gear and got a shock the first time when I stepped on the accelerator and the car didn't move because I subconsciously 'braced' for the effect of being pushed back into my seat so while the car stayed stationary, I bent forward from the waist and nearly head-butted the windscreen!

[Shaw Tarse]

sneijder said:

Moving walkways are a different kettle of fish, I walk FASTER than I would on a normal floor. I sometimes approach near lightspeed.

I kept walking & got nowhere!

[glazbagun]

sneijder said:

Moving walkways are a different kettle of fish, I walk FASTER than I would on a normal floor. I sometimes approach near lightspeed.

I love it when you get to the end and always hear the BAM! as people deccellerate far fafster than they thought they would.

[Marf]

sneijder said:

Moving walkways are a different kettle of fish, I walk FASTER than I would on a normal floor. I sometimes approach near lightspeed.

If you flapped your arms as well, would you take off?

[Vipers]

glazbagun said:

sneijder said:

Moving walkways are a different kettle of fish, I walk FASTER than I would on a normal floor. I sometimes approach near lightspeed.

I love it when you get to the end and always hear the BAM! as people deccellerate far fafster than they thought they would.

Worse still the buggers step off the escalator, and stop! BLOODY MOVE OUT THE WAY MORON......

Same as the morons who decide to have a huddle between the bus shelter and the shop window for a meeting on the pavement, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY MORON.

[leon_t]

Try sobering up...

[JRM]

glazbagun said:

I think it's a psycological thing. When I worked at Edinburgh Airport they shut down the moving floor for a couple of weeks and it took about a week for the disconcerting feeling to go away. I imagine that years of expecting the first step of an escalator to meet your foot on the way up have been ingrained in your muscle memory, which gets upset when things arent as they are expected to be.

I can't believe anyone is confused by this?!! It's what Glaxbagun says above, you are walking onto an esclator and your brain is expecting it to be moving and adjust accordingly after years and years of having to do so. When it isn't moving you get caught out.

One way to reduce the effect is to try and not look at the esclator (odd though it sounds), but when getting off them, after you know where you need to put your foot, look up and ignore the fact you are on the esclator and then you don't trip up

[Famous Graham]

glazbagun said:

When I worked at Edinburgh Airport they shut down the moving floor for a couple of weeks

There isn't one. Unless you mean the escalator or it was years ago.